ive spirit of one
who was at his best amid the more earnest exertions required by a life
at sea, seeking the destruction or capture of the armed vessels of the
enemy. So again he became a privateersman in the service of his State.
He so served three months.

On June 26, 1781, Captain John Paul Jones was appointed, in succession
to Barry, to superintend the construction of the "America," while Barry
was doing service at sea in command of the "Alliance." The expense of
launching and equipping the "America" was paid from the shares of the
United States "in the prizes taken by Captain Barry" in the first cruise
of the "Alliance" under his command. The Board of Admiralty were
directed to assign these shares to Robert Morris by Resolution of
Congress, June 3, 1781. The "America" when launched in November, 1781,
was presented to France to replace the "Magnifique," wrecked in Boston
Harbor.

The Continental Marine Committee, knowing well Barry's worth, on
September 5, 1780, appointed him "to the command of the Continental
frigate 'Alliance' now in the port of Boston." He was "directed to
repair there as soon as possible to get the ship ready for sea with all
possible despatch." The "Alliance" was the largest and finest vessel of
the Continental Navy.

Thus we see again that the best available position was always given to
Captain Barry. The first armed cruiser under direct Continental
authority--the "Lexington"--was given him, then the "Effingham," of 32
guns, the largest armament of any vessel, was assigned him, and he was
made Senior Commander of the Port of Philadelphia. On its destruction by
the British, while he was operating in the lower Delaware, he was
appointed to the "Raleigh." On its loss, for which Captain Barry
suffered no detriment, he was made commander of the projected expedition
to Florida. When that enterprise was abandoned he was given command of a
fleet of the Navy of Pennsylvania. At the termination of the cruise the
appointment to construct the best vessel the country had projected was
given him. Then he was commissioned to the "Alliance," the best and
finest vessel the United Colonies ever possessed. In that he remained as
commander while the war continued, and at its close he was Commodore of
all armed vessels remaining in the service of the Colonies, just as
Washington was Commander-in-Chief of all the forces, military and naval,
at the end of the war. As commander of the fleet, Barry was second to
W