Serapis_, was as brave a man as ever drew a
sword, but he was no match for the indomitable personality of the
American commander. After several hours of such fighting as had
scarcely been seen before on the narrow seas, he struck his flag. The
_Alliance_, accompanied by a jealous and incapable Frenchman, had
contributed nothing to Jones's success. Indeed, she had twice poured
her broadsides into the _Richard_. The American vessel was so wrecked
below and aloft that she sank alongside, and Jones had to transfer the
survivors of his crew to the English frigate. The aggregate of the two
crews was nearly seven hundred, of which about three hundred and fifty
were killed or wounded.

It is the greatest pity that the poverty of America did not permit
Jones to get to sea in a proper frigate, or in a ship of the line,
before the close of the war. After the Revolution, in which he had
borne so conspicuous a part, so much so that his exploits had
electrified both continents, he took service under Catherine of Russia,
carefully reserving his American citizenship. In her service he fought
four brilliant actions in the Black Sea, in which he had to contend
with the usual discouragement of indifferent personnel and wretched
material, and in which he displayed all his old-time qualities, winning
his usual successes, too.

Worn out in unrequited service, disgusted with Russian court intrigues
of which he was the victim, resentful of the infamous Potemkin's brutal
attempts {287} at coercion, he asked leave of absence from Catherine's
service and went to Paris, where, in the companionship of his friends,
and in the society of the beautiful Aimee de Telison, the one woman he
loved, he lived two years and died at the age of forty-five.

IV. A Hero's Famous Sayings

Besides the memory of his battles, Paul Jones left a collection of
immortal sayings, which are the heritage of the American Navy and the
admiration of brave men the world over. When the monument which is to
be erected shall be ready for inscriptions, these may with propriety be
carved upon it:

"_I do not wish to have command of any ship that does not sail fast,
for I intend to go in harm's way!_" Brave little captain.

"_I have ever looked out for the honor of the American flag!_" It is
the truth itself.

"_I can never renounce the glorious title of a citizen of the United
States!_" The title was one which Paul Jones signally honored.

Last, but not least,