284. 
<¢ Pad the Zarl been on board the Ran-. 
ger, the following evening, he would-have 
{een the awful pomp and dreadful carnage 
of a fea engagement ; both affording ample 
fubje&ts for the pencil, as well as melan- 
chaly; refletion for the contemplative 
mind,—Humanity ftarts back at fuch 
fcenes of horror, and cannct but execrate 
the vile promoters of this detefted war, 
For hey, twas they unfheath’d the ruthiefs 
5+) Ap kades: 
And heav’n fhall af the havock it has made. 
“The Britith fthip of war Drake, 
mounting 20 guns, with more than her 
complement of men, befides a number of 
volunteers, caine out from ‘Carrickfergus, 
in order to attack and take the continen- 
tal fhip Ranger, of 18 guns, and fhort 
of her complement of officers and men.— 
‘Fhe fhips met, and the ‘advantage was 
difputed with great fortitude on each fide, 
for an hour and five minutes, when the 
gallant commander of the Drake fell, and 
victory declared in favour of the Ranger. 
—His amiable lieutenant Jay mortally 
wounded, befides near forty of the inferior 
officers and crew killed and wounded.— 
A melancholy demonftration of the un- 
certainty of human profpeéts, and of the 
fad reverfe of fortune, which an hour can 
produce.—I buried them in a fpacious 
grave, with the honours due to the me- 
mory of the brave. 
<< Fhough I have drawn my fword in 
the prefent generous ftruggle for the 
rights of men, yet I am not in arms 
merely as an American, nor am I in pur- 
fait of riches.° My fortune 1s liberal 
enough, having no wife nor family, and 
having lived long enough to know, that 
riches cannot enfure happinefs. I pro- 
fefs myfelf a citizen of the world, totally 
unfettered by the little mean diftinctions 
‘of climate or country, which diminifh 
the benevolence of the heart, and fet 
bounds to philanthropy. Before the war 
bevan;-I had, at an early time of life, 
wfthdrawn from the fervice, in favour of 
‘¢ calm contemplation and poetic eafe.”” 
~ J have facrificed not only my favourite 
fcheme of life, but the fofter affections of 
the heart, and my profpects of domettic 
happinefs; and: Tam ready to facrifice 
Original Letter of Paul “fones. 
my life alfo, with cheerfulnefs—if that 
forfeiture would reftore peace and good- 
will among mankind. | 
<¢ As the feelings of your gentlé heart 
cannot, in that refpect, but be congenial 
with mine, let me intreat you, Madam, 
to ule your felf-perfuafive arts with your 
hufband, to endeavour to ftop this cruel 
and deftructive. war, in. which Brifain. 
never can fucceed. Heaven can never 
countenance the barbarous and unmanly 
practices of the Britons in» America, 
which favages would blufh at, and which, 
if not difcontinued, will foon be retali- 
ated in Britain, by a juftly enraged) peo- 
ple. Should you fail in this (for I am 
perfuaded you will attempt it, and who 
can refiit the power of fuch an advocate ?) . 
your endeavours to effect a general ex- 
change of prifoners will be an act of. 
humanity; which will afford you golden 
feelings on a death-bed. 
‘<¢ T hope this cruel conteft will foon be . 
clofed ; but, fhould it continue, I wage 
no war with the fair! I acknowledge their 
power, and bend before it with profound 
fubmiflion! Let not, therefore, the ami- 
able Countefs of Selkirk regard meas an 
enemy: I am ambitious of her efteem 
and triendfhip, and would do any thing 
confiftent with my duty, to merit ity ~~ 
«© Thehonour of a line from your hand, — 
in anfwer to this,-will lay me under a; 
very fingular obligation. And, if? I 
can render you any acceptable fervice in 
France, or elfewhere, J hope you {ee into 
my character fo far as to command me 
without the leaft grain of referve. I. 
with to know exattly the behaviour of- 
my people, as I am determined to punith 
them, if they have exceeded their liberty. 
‘¢ T have the honour to be, with much 
efteem, and with profound refpect, Ma- 
dam, your mott obedient, and moft hum- 
ble fervant, Rs 
(Signed) J. PQjoNnes, 
“* Ranger, Breft, 8th May, 1778.” 
Note, It. is a well known fa@t, that.at.the 
fale, he purchafed the plate, cand ‘returned 
the whole that had been carried away, to the. 
Countefs of Selkirk; not the moft trifling 
» DE RQSs + 
article being mulling. 
