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- 4923
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:05.591Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 4871
- text
- When the party arrived on the beach, they found Captain Paul writing
with pencil on paper held up against the smooth tableted side of the
cliff. Next moment he seemed to be making his signature. With a
reproachful glance towards the two officers, he handed the slip to
Israel, bidding him hasten immediately with it to the house and place
it in Lady Selkirk’s own hands.
The note was as follows:
“Madame:
“After so courteous a reception, I am disturbed to make you no better
return than you have just experienced from the actions of certain
persons under my command.—actions, lady, which my profession of arms
obliges me not only to brook, but, in a measure, to countenance. From
the bottom of my heart, my dear lady, I deplore this most melancholy
necessity of my delicate position. However unhandsome the desire of
these men, some complaisance seemed due them from me, for their general
good conduct and bravery on former occasions. I had but an instant to
consider. I trust, that in unavoidably gratifying them, I have
inflicted less injury on your ladyship’s property than I have on my own
bleeding sensibilities. But my heart will not allow me to say more.
Permit me to assure you, dear lady, that when the plate is sold, I
shall, at all hazards, become the purchaser, and will be proud to
restore it to you, by such conveyance as you may hereafter see fit to
appoint.
“From hence I go, Madame, to engage, to-morrow morning, his Majesty’s
ship, Drake, of twenty guns, now lying at Carrickfergus. I should meet
the enemy with more than wonted resolution, could I flatter myself
that, through this unhandsome conduct on the part of my officers, I lie
not under the disesteem of the sweet lady of the Isle of St. Mary’s.
But unconquerable as Mars should I be, could but dare to dream, that in
some green retreat of her charming domain, the Countess of Selkirk
offers up a charitable prayer for, my dear lady countess, one, who
coming to take a captive, himself has been captivated.
“Your ladyship’s adoring enemy,
“JOHN PAUL JONES.”
How the lady received this super-ardent note, history does not relate.
But history has not omitted to record, that after the return of the
Ranger to France, through the assiduous efforts of Paul in buying up
the booty, piece by piece, from the clutches of those among whom it had
been divided, and not without a pecuniary private loss to himself,
equal to the total value of the plunder, the plate was punctually
restored, even to the silver heads of two pepper-boxes; and, not only
this, but the Earl, hearing all the particulars, magnanimously wrote
Paul a letter, expressing thanks for his politeness. In the opinion of
the noble Earl, Paul was a man of honor. It were rash to differ in
opinion with such high-born authority.
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