was at this time carried on to a great extent by those who lived along the shores of the Solway; a charge which he always solemnly denied, and which there is not a particle of evidence to support. On the contrary, the very first entry of licensed goods from England, made in the Isle of Man after it was annexed to the crown, stands in his name in the Custom House books at Douglas, being of the first rum regularly imported there. His commercial speculations in the West Indies were various and extensive. His letters in relation to them, written at different subsequent periods, may in general be more conveniently introduced in their chronological order. In 1771 he saw his relations in Scotland for the last time. In 1773 he went to Virginia, to arrange the affairs of his brother William, who had died childless and intestate. He left funds at Tobago and elsewhere, which the faithlessness of his agents prevented him from realizing as he had expected. He was soon to be called upon to act in the great struggle for liberty, whose coming events were to swallow up in their importance the calculations of private interest.

There can be no doubt that at this time he thought he had determined to devote the rest of his life to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, study, and domestic life; or as he phrases it, in one of his favourite quotations, to "calm contemplation and poetic ease." In his letter to the Countess of Selkirk, in which he affirms that such was his fixed purpose, he also speaks of having been led to "sacrifice not only his favourite scheme of life, but the softer affections of his heart, and his hopes of domestic happiness." We have no data from which to infer that these schemes, affections, and hopes, revolved around any ascertained and existing orb, and centre of attraction; or that Paul felt any more distinct longing than that inspired by the general besoin d'aimer, proper to his age and imaginative temperament. The latter was vastly different from that given by our modern poets and moralists to their corsairs and pirates, and pilots in disguise. Paul's letters show throughout that he had a sense of moral and religious obligation, tinged with a true chivalric

feeling, such as does not belong to robbers and cut-throats. His early education was in Scotland. We find, too, that Thomson was his favourite poet. It is unnecessary, in addition to his own reiterated assertions, to cite the common-places of those who have best studied human nature, and whose remarks have become proverbs, or parallel cases in real life,-to strengthen our belief that it was his intention at this time to abandon the sea-service; to plant and sow, and reap and gather, in the due seasons of seed time and harvest; to take care of an interesting family; and accept the terms of the curse which a distinguished profligate once thought so dreadful, of "being married, and settled in the country."

It would, however, be equally unwise to believe, that this dream of "calm contemplation and domestic ease," would not, under the most favourable circumstances for the encouragement of the illusion, soon have proved its relationship to all the waking and sleeping family of phantasms. Paul was born for excitement and for action; and his rural and pastoral meditations were but the solicited relaxations of the mind, craving them as the body does its natural repose.

It is not unlikely that at this time the details and associations of West India trading voyages seemed disgusting to him. It would appear indeed, from the following passage in a letter already referred to, addressed to the Hon. Robert Morris three years after this period, that his commercial affairs had become temporarily entangled. He says, "I conclude that Mr. Hewes has acquainted you with a very great misfortune which befell me some years ago, and which brought me into North America. I am under no concern whatever, that this, or any other past circumstance of my life, will sink me in your opinion. Since human wisdom cannot secure us from accidents, it is the greatest effort of human wisdom to bear them well." It is evident from his relations to the distinguished person he was writing to, from the frankness of his language, and his subsequent arrangement of all his obligations, that this "great misfortune" must have been a disappointment in business, on which no shadow of censure

could, without iniquity, be cast. This disappointment, or one which was connected with it, is probably referred to in the letter inserted below, addressed to a valued friend, Mr. Stuart Mawey of Tobago, just before Jones sailed from Boston, fully commissioned as an officer of the United States.* It must be confessed

"DEAR SIR,

* "Boston, 4th May, 1777.

"After an unprofitable suspense of twenty months, (having subsisted on fifty pounds only during that time,) when my hopes of relief were entirely cut off, and there remained no possibility of my receiving wherewithal to subsist upon from my effects in your island, or in England, I at last had recourse to strangers for that aid and comfort which was denied me by those friends whom I had intrusted with my all. The good offices which are rendered to persons in their extreme need, ought to make deep impressions on grateful minds; in my case I feel the truth of that sentiment, and am bound by gratitude, as well as honour, to follow the fortunes of my late benefactors.

"I have lately seen Mr. Sicaton, (late manager on the estates of Arch. Stuart, Esq.) who informed me that Mr. Ferguson had quitted Orange Valley, on being charged with the unjust application of the property of his employers. I have been, and am extremely concerned at this account; I wish to disbelieve it, although it seems too much of a piece with the unfair advantage which, to all appearance, he took of me, when he left me in exile for twenty months, a prey to melancholy and want, and withheld my property, without writing a word in excuse for his con duct. Thus circumstanced, I have taken the liberty of sending you a letter of attorney by Captain Cleaveland, who undertakes to deliver it himself, as he goes for Tobago via Martinico. You have enclosed a copy of a list of debts acknowledged, which I received from Mr. Ferguson when I saw you last at Orange Valley. You have also a list of debts contracted with me, together with Ferguson's receipt. And there remained a considerable property unsold, besides some best Madeira wine which he had shipped for London. By the state of accounts which I sent to England on my arrival on this continent, there was a balance due to me from the ship Betsy of 9097. 15s. 3d. sterling; and in my account with Robert Young, Esq., 29th January, 1773, there appeared a balance in my favour of 2811. 1s. 8d. sterling. These sums

that the phrase "a very great misfortune, which brought him into North America," cannot at this time be very clearly explained. It is enough, that no inferences can be drawn from it prejudicial to his character. A very natural irritation after the treatment he had received, will account for the tenor of his expressions in the commencement of the letter from Boston; which an English writer speaks of as being "affecting, from their mixture of recklessness and feeling."*

exceed my drafts and just debts together; so that, if I am fairly dealt with, I ought to receive a considerable remittance from that quarter. You will please to observe, that there were nine pieces of coarse camlets shipped at Cork, over and above the quantity expressed in the bill of lading. It seems the shippers, finding their mistake, applied for the goods; and, as I have been informed from Grenada, Mr. Ferguson laid hold of this opportunity to propagate a report that all the goods which I put into his hands were the property of that house in Cork. If this base suggestion hath gained belief, it accounts for all the neglect which I have experienced. But however my connexions are changed, my principles as an honest man of candour and integrity are the same; therefore, should there not be a sufficiency of my property in England to answer my just debts, I declare that it is my first wish to make up such deficiency from my property in Tobago; and were even that also to fall short, I am ready and willing to make full and ample remittances from hence upon hearing from you the true state of my affairs. As I hope my dear mother is still alive, I must inform you that I wish my property in Tobago, or in England, after paying my just debts, to be applied for her support. Your own feelings, my dear sir, make it unnecessary for me to use arguments to prevail with you on this tender point. Any remittances which you may be enabled to make, through the hands of my good friend Captain John Plaince, of Cork, will be faithfully put into her hands; she hath several orphan grand-children to provide for. I have made no apology for giving you this trouble: My situation will, I trust, obtain your free pardon.

"I am always, with perfect esteem, dear Sir, your very obliged, very obedient, and most humble servant,

"STUART MAWEY, Esquire, Tobago."

"J. PAUL JONES.

* Life of Jones, from Sherburne's Collections, page 20. London, Murray, 1825.

His taking possession of his brother'sestate,encouraged for the time being his imaginary predilection for still life; and he looked for sufficient remittances from those to whom he had confided the management of his affairs, to enable him to realize his vision of tranquil seclusion from the bustle of the world. In the latter hope, as has been mentioned, he was disappointed; and from this reason, if from no other, retirement must have become insufferable to a young man of his temper, at the stirring epoch,

When transatlantic Liberty arose,

Not in the sunshine, and the smile of heaven,

But wrapped in whirlwinds, and begirt with woes.

In every point of view he was then fitted to act the part it fell to his lot to perform in the ensuing drama. Nature had made him a hero; circumstances had prepared him to command men, and give an emphatic direction to the developement of their energies; and these qualifications, united with the integrity of his heart and mind, rendered him worthy of co-working with the band of brave spirits who came forth with free and uncorrupted souls, and in the power and majesty of truth, to vindicate the rights which they knew how to exercise, as well as to assert. Though his education as a seaman had been principally in the merchant service, he had sailed frequently in armed vessels; and how sound his opinions were, acquired by observation or study, on the subject of naval discipline, will appear from his letters to the continental authorities; while his great practical skill in all his manœuvres and engagements is perhaps more admirable than his daring and desperate courage. One of his English biographers* observes: "It is singular that during the first years of the American navy, with the exception of Paul Jones, no man of any talent is to be found directing its operations. Had it not been for the exertions of this individual, who was unsupported by fortune or connexion, it is very probable

* Life of Paul Jones, from Sherburne's Collections. London, Murray, 1825.