Page:History of Paul Jones.pdf/20

 with America, had taken an early and active part against his country, and rendered himself obnoxious to the British government, until he was taken in an armed cutter, and carried into New York. The Americans perceiving the danger to which he was then exposed, tried every means in their power to obtain his release; and, as a last resort, sent a very strong remonstrance to Sir George Collier, commander of the Raisonable, off New York, threatening severe retaliation: and for this purpose Henry Hamilton, Esq. Lieut. Governor of Dehors; Philip Degean, a justice of peace; and William Lambe, captain of volunteers, were singled out by the Governor of Virginia. A young gentleman also was put in irons, and confined in a dungeon at Boston, all of whom should be dealt with in the same manner as Cunningham should be dealt with in England. To this remonstrance Sir George Collier returned a firm and spirited answer, denying that any of his prisoners were treated with inhumanity; to which he added, "that as it was the practice of civilized nations to punish those guilty of offences against their king and country, after having a fair trial in a court of justice, Gustavus Cunningham being so considered, was therefore about to be sent off to England, to receive the punishment due to his crimes."—Cunningham was sent to Falmouth in July, 1799, and lodged in the castle; but in a short time he effected his escape by digging out under the foundation of the castle, and got over to France, where he met with Jones, with whom he sailed for Corunna.

From this period until the year 1783, we know but little of the proceedings of Jones; but, in December that year, he arrived in London from Paris, with despatches from the American Congress to John Adams the American resident,