ted.

My grandfather had earned much commendation from his superiors. He had
sailed two cruises as master's mate of the Cabot, and was then serving
as master of the Trumbull, Captain Saltonstall. This was shortly after
that frigate had captured the two British transports off New York.

Captain Jones has been at pains to mention in his letters the services
rendered him by Mr. Carvel in fitting out the Ranger. And my grandfather
gives a striking picture of the captain. At that time the privateers,
with the larger inducements of profit they offered, were getting all the
best seamen. John Paul had but to take two turns with a man across the
dock, and he would sign papers.

Captain Jones was the first to raise the new flag of the stars and
stripes over a man-o'-war. They got away on November 14, 1777, with a
fair crew and a poor lot of officers. Mr. Carvel had many a brush with
the mutinous first lieutenant Simpson. Family influence deterred the
captain from placing this man under arrest, and even Dr. Franklin found
trouble, some years after, in bringing about his dismissal from
the service. To add to the troubles, the Ranger proved crank and
slow-sailing; and she had only one barrel of rum aboard, which made the
men discontented.

Bringing the official news of Burgoyne's surrender, which was to cause
King Louis to acknowledge the independence of the United States, the
Ranger arrived at Nantes, December 2. Mr. Carvel accompanied Captain
Jones to Paris, where a serious blow awaited him. The American
Commissioners informed him that the Indien had been transferred to
France to prevent her confiscation. That winter John Paul spent
striving in vain for a better ship, and imbibing tactics from the French
admirals. Incidentally, he obtained a salute for the American flag.
The cruise of the Ranger in English waters the following spring was a
striking fulfilment, with an absurdly poor and inadequate force, of the
plan set forth by John Paul Jones in the Annapolis Coffee House. His
descent upon Whitehaven spread terror and consternation broadcast
through England, and he was branded as a pirate and a traitor. Mr.
Carvel was fortunately not of the landing party on St. Mary's Isle,
which place he had last beheld in John Paul's company, on the brigantine
John, when entering Kirkcudbright. The object of that expedition, as is
well known, was to obtain the person of the Earl of Selkirk, in order to
bring about the rescue of the unfortun