ashington.

The "Alliance," which Captain Barry took charge of in September, 1780,
was so named in honor of the alliance with France. As a further
compliment to the French, Captain Pierre Landais, a Frenchman, had been
appointed Captain. He was relieved of the command and Captain Barry
succeeded him. These were the only commanders the "Alliance" ever
had--Landais the Frenchman and Barry the Irishman. Landais is buried in
St. Patrick's cemetery, New York; Barry in St. Mary's, Philadelphia. One
in faith and one in endeavor for our country.

The "Alliance" was the only American vessel in the expedition sent out
by King Louis XVI, under John Paul Jones, which resulted in the ever
memorable encounter with, and capture of, the "Serapis" by the "Bonne
Homme Richard," commanded by Captain John Paul Jones. During the battle
the "Alliance" twice fired into Jones' vessel and did damage. For this,
on arrival in France, he was called on to make explanations and John
Paul Jones, as Commodore of all American vessels in Europe, was
appointed by Commissioner Benjamin Franklin, on June 16, 1780, to take
"command of the 'Alliance' in her present intended voyage to America."
But Silas Deane supported Landais, who ordered Jones off the vessel and
set sail for America. On the voyage, his mental faculties becoming more
erratic, the officers took the command from him and entrusted it to
Lieutenant James Degges.

On arrival at Boston, Captain Barry was appointed to the command and the
Courts of Inquiry and Courts-Martial tried Landais and dismissed him
from the service. He died in New York in 1818 and is buried in St.
Patrick's graveyard.

Captain Barry now commanded "the most perfect piece of naval
architecture" than which the navies of France or England had none more
complete. Landais and Barry were the only duly commissioned and
regularly appointed by Continental authority commanders of the
"Alliance," who at sea, on voyage or in battle ever directed her
operations, yet a block of timber of the "Alliance" exhibited in the
Revolutionary Relic Museum at Independence Hall is inscribed: "Commanded
by John Paul Jones during the Revolutionary War."

There is no mention of its chief commander, John Barry, and that
ignoring of his right to recognition is within sight of his statue
erected by THE FRIENDLY SONS OF ST. PATRICK, of Philadelphia, March 16,
1907. Let that Society now secure the Commodore's right to the command
his country gave him.