"Almanack," except that he
called him "Poor Richard." This was a well-merited compliment to the
great and good man, who was then Commissioner from the United States
to France, and a firm friend to the ardent John Paul. The vessel had
forty guns, "and," writes the Minister of Marine, "as you may find
too much difficulty in enlisting a sufficient number of Americans, the
King permits you to levy French volunteers, until you obtain a full
crew."

John Paul hastened to get her ready for a cruise. "I mounted
twenty-eight long twelve-pounders on the gun-deck," he says, "put
eight of the long nines on the quarter-deck, and discarded the
six-pounders of her old battery. This gave her a battery of forty-two
guns, throwing two hundred and fifty-eight pounds of metal in a single
broadside. She was the fair equivalent of a thirty-six gun frigate."

From February to June she was worked over; refitted; resparred. On
June 19th, 1779, the gallant John Paul Jones swung out into the
English Channel; he, himself, in command of the _Good Richard_, which
carried a crew of three hundred and seventy-five, not more than fifty
of whom were Americans. Four other vessels were with him: the
_Alliance_, a thirty-two gun frigate; the _Pallas_, a twenty-eight gun
frigate; the _Vengeance_, a twelve gun brig; and the _Cerf_, a cutter.

On the second day out the _Alliance_ fouled the _Richard_, causing so
much damage to both, that the squadron was compelled to return to port
for repairs, which--with other transactions--consumed six weeks. But
the accident was a lucky one, for numerous American sailors, who were
in English prisons, were shortly exchanged with English seamen in
French dungeons; and thus Paul Jones was able to man the _Good
Richard_ with one hundred and fourteen native Americans, who were
anxious to have a crack at those who had captured them but a short
time before.

Finally, with refitted ships and reorganized crews, Paul Jones was
ready to sail from the roadstead of Isle de Groaix, in the early part
of August, 1779, bound upon his cruise around the British Islands.
There were four ships in this squadron: the _Good Richard_; the
_Alliance_, under Pierre Landais (a depraved and dishonest Frenchman);
the _Pallas_, under Cottineau (an honest Frenchman); and the
_Vengeance_, a sloop-of-war. The prevailing winds were light and
baffling, so the squadron moved slowly.

War had been declared between France and England, and thus the English