ate Americans suffering in British
prisons. After the celebrated capture of the sloop-of-war Drake, Paul
Jones returned to France a hero.

If Captain Jones was ambitious of personal glory, he may never, at
least, be accused of mercenary motives. The ragged crew of the Ranger
was paid in part out of his own pocket, and for a whole month he
supported the Drake's officers and men, no provision having been made
for prisoners. He was at large expense in fitting out the Ranger, and he
bought back at twice what it was worth the plate taken from St. Mary's
Isle, getting but a tardy recognition from the Earl of Selkirk for such
a noble and unheard-of action. And, I take pride in writing it, Mr.
Carvel spent much of what he had earned at Gordon's Pride in a like
honourable manner.

Mr. Carvel's description of the hero's reception at Versailles is
graphic and very humorous. For all his republican principles John Paul
never got over his love of courts, and no man was ever a more thorough
courtier. He exchanged compliments with Queen Marie Antoinette, who was
then in the bloom of her beauty, and declared that she was a "good girl,
and deserved to be happy."

The unruly Simpson sailed for America in the Ranger in July, Captain
Jones being retained in France "for a particular enterprise." And
through the kindness of Dr. Franklin, Mr. Carvel remained with him. Then
followed another period of heartrending disappointment. The fine ship
the French government promised him was not forthcoming, though Captain
Jones wrote a volume of beautiful letters to every one of importance,
from her Royal Highness the Duchess of Chartres to his Most Christian
Majesty, Louis, King of France and Navarre. At length, when he was
sitting one day in unusual dejection and railing at the vanity of courts
and kings, Mr. Carvel approached him with a book in his hand.

"What have you there, Richard?" the captain demanded.

"Dr. Franklin's Maxims," replied my grandfather. They were great
favourites with him. The captain took the book and began mechanically to
turn over the pages. Suddenly he closed it with a bang, jumped up, and
put on his coat and hat. Mr. Carvel looked on in astonishment.

"Where are you going, sir?" says he.

"To Paris, sir," says the captain. "Dr. Franklin has taught me more
wisdom in a second than I had in all my life before. 'If you wish to
have any business faithfully and expeditiously performed, go and do it
yourself; otherwise, send