g
the tobacco."

Captain Barry then "made for the Delaware." Though her bottom was
"perfectly sound when bore down at Providence," Barry believed the run
on the rock caused the leak. The damage to the "Alliance" was serious
enough to warrant Congress appointing a committee to examine the
condition of the ship. On September on their report Congress ordered the
ship "to be unladen and her cargo freighted to Europe on the best
terms." The Agent of Marine was directed to discharge officers and crew,
have her surveyed and a report made of the expense "necessary to give
her a good repair." Five hundred hogsheads of the tobacco were reshipped
on the "Princess Ulrico" [480 hhds.] and the "Four Friends" [20 hhds.].

Had the voyage to Amsterdam been made, Barry would have stopped at
London. Robert Morris gave him a (July 24, 1783) letter of introduction
to Messrs. Bewickes & Mourgue of that city stating that: "He has proved
himself a brave and deserving officer in the service of his country and
a worthy man in every station of life." (Crimmin's Autographs.) He also
had a letter from John Paul Jones to friends in Paris.

In pursuance of the Act, Robert Morris, Agent of Marine, appointed as
surveyors Captains John Barry and Thomas Read and Messrs. Thomas
Penrose, Joshua Humphreys, Jr., and Benjamin G. Eyre. The latter were
shipbuilders. They estimated the repairs would cost 5866-2/3
dollars--that it was not necessary to keep the "Alliance" for the
protection of commerce and it would be to the interest of the Union to
dispose of her. A resolution to direct the Agent of Marine to dispose of
her by public auction was adopted on June 3, 1785. She was sold on
August 1, 1785. So Congress parted with its last and its best vessel.
The new Nation was without a ship or flag on the ocean. Captain Barry
had the first Continental vessel. He commanded the last one. Great must
have been his satisfaction when given the "Lexington." Sad, indeed, must
he have been in parting with the "Alliance."

She was purchased by Coburn & Whitehead for L2287 or $7,700 in
certificates of public credit. They sold to Robert Morris "at a great
profit." She became a merchant vessel and in June, 1787, made a voyage
to China, returning September, 1788. She was of 724 tons--a large ship
for those days. After all her perilous voyages and wonderful escapes
from the enemy she was beached on Petty's Island in the Delaware River
opposite Kensington, Philadelphia. Part of