Gents Mag 1825 part 2 p.427

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	introduction
	list, 2nd qtr 19th century
	Gentleman's Magazine 1825 part 2 p.427
biography   John Paul Jones
	Biography, John Paul Jones book review The Life of John Paul Jones, from original Documents in the Possession of John Henry Sherburne, Esq. Register of the Navy of the United States. 8vo. pp.320. Murray. BEFORE entering upon the review of this work, we beg to lay down certain premises. 1. That Paul Jones was not an American. 2. That the American war was a civil war. 3. That American war naval-fighting was, with very few exceptions, not spirit-proof. 4. That our American war ministry was a feeble one. 5. That the merit of Jones, and of all the officers in the American service, is and must be English, and is not greater nor so great as that of many gallant warriors who fought under the British flag in the subsequent revolutionary war. John Paul (Jones) was the son of John Paul, a gardener, and was born July 1747, at Abergland in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright in Scotland. He received the rudiments of his education at the parochial school of Kirkbean. The contiguity of his residence to Solway Firth, gave him an early predilection for a seafaring life; and at the age of twelve he was apprenticed to a merchant in the American trade. When his apprenticeship was expired, he made several trading voyages, and suffered from the ill conduct of his partner. In 1773 he was arranging the affairs of a brother who had died intestate in Virginia, and was (probably through pecuniary difficulties) then living in a very retired manner in America. About the time mentioned he adopted the name of Jones. In the 28th year of his age, he offered his services to Congress, and was appointed a first Lieutenant in the American Navy. The Alfred, in which he was employed, proved unsuccessful, but the courts-martial held in consequence were so advantageous to the reputation of Jones, that he was appointed to the command of the Providence, a sloop of 12 six-pounders. When Congress directed the building of thirteen frigates, he was, however, disappointed in obtaining the command of one. He was not discouraged, but wisely exhibited zeal, by memorializing the American Government concerning the improvement of their Navy, and cruizing very successfully against our trade. He also planned expeditions against the Newfoundland fishery, the coast of Africa, &c. Such was American war fighting on our part, that he escaped in his humble sloop two frigates, after a sharp contest with one of them. In 1776 he commanded a squadron against Isle Royal, made several captures, and soon after was promoted to the rank of Captain. In his command of the Ranger, he made a descent upon Whitehaven, spiked the cannon in the fort, landed a boat's crew in St. Mary's Isle (which crew without his approbation carried away the Earl of Selkirk's plate), and captured the Drake of Twenty guns, off Carrickfergus, the Captain and Lieutenant being both killed. That a single frigate could effect all this in the very chops of the channel, was evidently neglect in our Government. The steed was stolen, because they did not lock the stable door. But there was another error. The treatment of the American prisoners of war in England was so impolitically harsh *, that every American sailor was thus stimulated to prefer death to captivity; and as the naval tactics of the two countries were the same, and as locality of birth was the only distinction between English and Americans, it is not to be wondered at that the latter were successful: but could they have been so, if they had not been of English character and habits? The merit of success is due to Great Britain, if the answer to this question be the just one. It appears also, that they would have been much more mischievous to us, if there had not existed in their Navy the very evil which certain of our popular Reformers want to introduce into our own, and which would have the same result, as their pretended amelioration of the Combination Laws. - We allude to the proposed Trials by Jury, and
	* Subscriptions were raised for them in the towns of England.
	abolition
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