the best she, too, possessed and, finally, while the
native-born traitor almost paralyzed the hearts of the patriots, gave to
the foreign-born and staunch Catholic, the foremost vessel in her navy,
one "so swift, so warlike, stout and strong," as to be the admiration of
Europe's most expert naval commanders, while America had dismissed from
her service, as incompetent, the native-born Esek Hopkins, the first
Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of the Colony. It is somewhat singular,
therefore, that the foremost naval commanders of the Navy during the
Revolutionary War were John Barry, of Ireland, and John Paul Jones, of
Scotland--"foreigners," as John Adams spoke of both in 1813.

The lines of the Poet of the Revolution, Philip Freneau, may most
appropriately be inserted here, to show the regard in which the vessel
was held while John Barry was its commander:

"When she unfurls her flowing sails,
Undaunted by the fiercest gales,
In dreadful pomp she plows the main,
While adverse tempests rage in vain.
When she displays her gloomy tier,
The boldest Britons freeze with fear,
And, owning her superior might,
Seek their best safety in their flight.
But when she pours the dreadful blaze
And thunder from her cannon plays,
The bursting flash that wings the ball,
Compels those foes to strike or fall."

"She was in many engagements and always victorious--a fortunate ship--a
remarkably fast sailer--could always choose her combat--could either
fight or run away--always beating her adversary by fight or flight,"
Philadelphia's annalist, Watson, made that record of her.

Such was the vessel commanded by Captain John Barry, the Wexford boy, in
the closing and eventful year of the Revolution, which established our
country's Independence and Liberty, to become the home of countless
thousands of all lands who might enjoy the Liberties John Barry had so
conspicuously aided in winning.

CHAPTER X.

THE "ALLIANCE" SAILS FOR FRANCE--CAPTURES A BRITISH CRUISER--RETURN
TO AMERICA--THE LOSS OF THE "LA FAYETTE"--MUTINY.

The selection of John Barry, at this crisis in our country's struggle
for Liberty and Independence, to the command of the foremost ship of the
new Republic is a most conspicuous and honorable testimony to his
merits, abilities and services. None additional is needed.

The "Alliance" was selected to convey Colonel John Laurens as a special
Commissioner to France to seek "