Page:History of Paul Jones.pdf/9

 insisted on the enterprise, in the hope of getting possession of the person of Lord Selkirk, for whose ransom they anticipated a considerable sum might be realized. This Jones declared was the object of their first visit; in which having failed, they began to murmur on their return on board, and insisted on landing again, and plundering the castle, he was reluctantly obliged to give his assent. As a proof of his innocence, he added, that he would endeavour to purchase of them the plunder they had so disgracefully brought away, and transmit the whole, or such as he could obtain, to her ladyship

Several years elapsed without hearing from Jones, and all hope of the realizement of his promise had vanished; but, in the spring of the year 1783, to the great and agreeable surprise of her ladyship, the whole of the plate was returned, carriage paid, precisely in the same condition in which it had been taken away, the tea-leaves remaining in the tea-pot as they were left after the breakfast, on the morning of their visit to the castle.

The report of the landing of Jones's party had spread rapidly through the country, and it reached London with every species of exaggeration. Lord Selkirk received the report, with all the additions it had accumulated in its progress to London, that his castle had been burnt to the ground, and his family made prisoners; he immediately left the capital, and hastened northward; and it was not until he had reached about half-way, that his anxiety was relieved by correct information of the real state of the affair.

Jones, on clearing the land, now stood to the northward, and towards evening making the Irish coast, he entered Belfast Loch, and as he proceeded, either burning or capturing several fishing-boats. He was soon descried by Captain Burdon,