lson, No. 1. Those to whom stronger armament had been given
had not been early or foremost in service or activity. Some of them did
not, later, justify any outranking, if that were the case. Captain Barry
was early in the struggle, foremost during its continuance and latest in
service.

Jones declared that some gentlemen in the first days of the Navy did not
join the Navy as "they did not choose to be hanged, as the hazard was
very great." But Captain John Barry did not hesitate. He came quickly
from London to engage in the conflict, and from the very first day of
his return to America was active in service and on duty. Still rank was
not necessary to "open the door to glory," for No. 7 became the chief
officer of the Navy and No. 18 achieved imperishable fame and popular
renown. The pay of the Captains was sixty dollars a month. The uniform
was: Blue cloth with red lapels, slash cuff, stand-up collar, flat
yellow buttons, blue breeches, red waistcoat with yellow lace.

Interested in the Navy, Captain Barry was also concerned in affairs on
land. So when on November 25, 1776, a meeting was held at the Indian
Queen Hotel, Philadelphia, to consider accusations against those
"suspected as Tories and unfriendly to the cause of America," Captain
Barry was there. We may be sure he was earnest and active in any
measures to restrict the operations of those inimicable to Liberty or
engaged in efforts detrimental to the Patriots' endeavors.

Captain Barry, on November 30, 1776, united with Captains Biddle, Read,
Alexander and John Nicholson in a memorial to Congress. It was referred
to the Marine Committee, who were directed to pursue such measures as
they might think proper. What the memorial related to has not been
discovered after long continued endeavor to ascertain. It is not among
the papers of the Continental Congress nor mentioned in the records of
the Marine Committee, which have been preserved at the Library of
Congress.

At this time affairs were serious with General Washington. The battle of
Long Island, in August, had been disastrous. Forts Lee and Washington,
the bulwarks of the Hudson, had been lost and the sad and gloomy, but
marvelously strategic, retreat across New Jersey was being conducted by
Washington, pursued by Lord Cornwallis.

Washington "was at the end of the tether." "In ten days this army will
have ceased to exist," was his almost despairing cry to Congress,
calling for aid to strengthen his disap