once come over to her, never afterwards leave
her, but spend their lives with her. She strongly resembles America
in this: that she is beautiful in youth, and her beauty increases
with age; her tongue also is blue, and forked as lightning, and her
abode is among impenetrable rocks.

Having pleased myself with reflections of this kind, I communicated
my sentiments to a neighbor of mine, who has a surprising readiness
at guessing any thing which relates to public affairs; and, indeed,
I should be jealous of his reputation in that way, were it not that
the event constantly shows that he has guessed wrong. He instantly
declared it his sentiment that Congress meant to allude to Lord
North's declaration in the House of Commons that he never would
relax his measures until he had brought America to his feet, and
to intimate to his Lordship that, if she was brought to his feet,
it would be dangerous treading on her. But I am positive he has
guessed wrong; for I am sure Congress would not, at this time of
day, condescend to take the least notice of his Lordship in that or
any other way. In which opinion I am determined to remain your
humble servant."

On the 8th day of February, 1776, one of the committee on naval affairs,
Mr. Gadsden, who represented South Carolina in the General Congress,
presented that body with a flag that was made of yellow silk with a
rattlesnake upon it (see Drayton's American Revolution, Vol. II, page
172; see Fig. 10). No one can tell what became of this flag, yet it was
placed in the hall of Congress in a conspicuous place near the seat of
John Hancock. Some claim that it was this flag that Paul Jones hoisted
on his ship, and others that it was taken South to Fort Moultrie. So
therefore we have, as late as April, 1776, a navy of seventeen vessels,
proper committees of Congress to look after them, a commander-in-chief,
to wit: Esek Hopkins, who was named for that position December 22, 1775;
but no national flag had been made nor one even adopted in July, 1776
(see Jay's letter to the committee), nor in October (see Richard's
letter, dated October 15, 1776), both written months after the date
fixed upon in the Ross claim; but the supposition is that, so far as the
navy is concerned, it either flew the Grand Union or a flag similar to
the Gadsden device, and this is borne out by the records. As to who was
the first