p236  XVII.

His Excellency M. de La­fayette

John Barry could have saved himself a tedious trip. Arriving in Philadelphia on October 12, he found everything he had come to secure already arranged, and learned that John Brown had passed him somewhere along the road, northward-bound with orders. Congress had legislated Board of Admiralty and Navy Boards out of existence on September 3, 1781. With the navy reduced to two frigates, and the nation almost bankrupt, marine administration required simplification and economy. In lieu of an Agent of Marine, who had been contemplated for some months, the operation of "our unfortunate navy" had been vested in the Superintendent of Finance. Thus, Robert Morris, who had been the guiding spirit of the original Marine Committee five years earlier, had assumed complete naval authority. John Paul Jones had spoken prophetically during that Boston breakfast with John Barry in late August.

Scarcely had the ink dried on the Congressional resolve before Morris had tackled the navy problem. His first step had been to draft John Brown as clerk — a wise move, for the latter, as secretary of Marine Committee and Board of Admiralty in turn, was conversant with all past naval policies, commitments and mistakes. The second, had been to concentrate on measures to get the Alliance and Deane outfitted and manned. To accomplish this, and to appoint a Deputy Agent of Marine for New England, Brown had left Philadelphia, on September 21, bearing Morris's orders to Barry and copies of Congressional resolutions aimed at making the naval service more attractive to seamen.

All this the Captain learned, when, with Sarah safely ensconced in the Austin homestead, he repaired to Morris's office. The latter was surprised to see him, but welcomed opportunity  p237 for a first‑hand, authentic picture of the situation of the Alliance and Deane — a none too roseate one as Barry presented it. In turn, the financier described measures taken to get the frigates to sea; then leafed through his letter book.

"Ah, here it is," he said, "a copy of your instructions sent with Mr. Brown. I trust the Deane has a full crew by the time the Alliance is ready. You will note, both ships are under your command, with latitude to you as to cruising ground and duration of your cruise."

The Captain concluded his call in an optimistic frame of mind. With Morris taking hold, matters looked brighter. Also, the latter had granted him a week's stay in Philadelphia, and had complimented him upon his achievements in the Alliance. Of that week little information exists. As to formal business, he notified Congress he still awaited final decision on the three mutineers under death sentence in Boston gaol. His inquiry, referred to a committee, set clerks scurrying around for the court-martial proceedings, which could not be found. Eventually, Congress commuted the sentence, sparing the lives of the trio if they would "serve during the war." As Barry would not receive them on the Alliance, they were turned over to the army.

Several friends dined at the Austin home on the afternoon of August 18, with the Captain presiding over a table graced by a succulent sea‑turtle. After that Barry set off for Boston, cheered by a last minute note from Morris:

Thirty‑six hours later, an express rode into Philadelphia with momentous tidings — Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown.

* * *

John Brown had made excellent progress in Boston. Despite wounded feelings, the Navy Board had given every assistance, and he had countered by continuing it in office until both frigates were ready for sea. With the Deane, it was largely the matter of a crew. With the Alliance, it meant a complete job of  p238 re‑outfitting. She required new fore and mainmasts, a full set of canvas and a thorough overhauling. Brown had found a wealthy Boston merchant, Thomas Russell, who was willing to make ample advances. With funds available, repairs to the Alliance went forward. She was ready for sea — barring a crew — when, on October 26, a courier from the south dashed in with news of Yorktown, to be followed, next day, by John Barry. The Captain had not tried to keep pace with wild-riding expresses, who had overtaken and passed him on the road.

Barry, Brown, Nicholson and the Navy Board put their heads together to produce, on October 30, an appeal for seamen. They painted a glowing picture to "shew the Advantage of this Service to be superior to any other." Officers and men would be entitled to the whole of any vessels of war captured, to a bounty for each gun taken, and to the half of any merchantmen and their cargoes. There was a bounty for entering — ten dollars to a seaman, six dollars to a landsman. Wages would be eight dollars monthly for seamen, six dollars for landsmen. Bounty and wages would be paid "punctually in Silver or Gold." Hard money! That was something!

The "superior" service did not end there. Clothing and slops would be provided at cost. Men wounded in action would receive $200 each out of all prizes taken, before division was made, and their prize shares also. Public hospitals would care for all wounded, and those disabled in the service would be given half‑pay for life. To this munificent offer, a preamble read:

This appeal was placed in the Continental Journal, on Thursday, November 1. The printer set it in his largest font of type, spaced it out a full column deep, and inserted it in the middle of page three for all to read. It was the most commanding advertisement appearing up to that time in an American news­paper. On the day it was published, the Alliance's muster  p239 roll contained but 102 names, including forty-five commissioned and warrant officers. Four officers had not returned. Hacker had gone privateering. Lieutenant of Marines Warren was still suffering from wounds. Surgeon Kendall had quit after a dispute with Barry over prize money. Chaplain Balch had resigned.

To fill vacancies, aged Hezekiah Welch, exchanged from Halifax, was promoted to first lieutenant. Patrick Fletcher moved up to Welch's former berth, and Nicholas E. Gardner was restored to a lieutenancy as third officer. Captain Parke and Lieutenant Elwood, of the marines, were back, as was John Buckley, sailing master. Dr. John Linn, of Boston, had shipped as surgeon. Chaplain and second lieutenant of marines posts were filled December 1. James Geagan, a navy surgeon, assumed the chaplaincy. The marine lieutenant was young William Morris, nephew of Benjamin West, the celebrated painter.

Of the fifty-seven enlisted men on board — seamen, landsmen and marines — only twenty-four had served during the previous cruise. John Kessler, in his enthusiasm, wrote, "Such was the attachment of the crew to Captain Barry that, on their being paid off and the question put whether they would ship again, they cheerfully agreed to enter." Had this been the case, the manning of the Alliance would have been no problem; the advertisement in the Continental Journal, unnecessary. However, as Kessler also pointed out, Barry "refused to admit such as had conducted themselves grossly amiss." This barred a number of hands, including all but one of the lesser mutineers.

With the appeal for seamen repeated weekly, and drummer and fifer playing merrily at the rendezvous, Barry was hopeful his ship would fill quickly. But seafaring men were slow to sign up. Several ex‑officers of the Alliance and those of the Deane started a whispering campaign detrimental to frigate and captain. Barry caught the under-current of scurrilous gossip, and traced some of it to his former surgeon. On November 10, he wrote to the Navy Board in an effort to stifle it. Against Dr. Kendall he preferred charges "for mis‑conduct on the passage & Quitting the Ship after her Arrival without leave," and demanded a court-martial. As Kendall, he said, had "propagated falsehoods to the prejudice of my Character, I must request that you will appoint a Court of Inquiry on my Conduct  p240 the last voyage." Several weeks later, the Board made tardy acknowledgment. It had heard no reports against his character, and believed a court of inquiry unwarranted. Kendall, the Board pointed out, had quit the service, and was not subject to court-martial.

November ended with forty-seven additional hands recruited, and the receipt of a letter from Morris. The latter had written, on November 9, hoping the Alliance was ready for sea.

"Perhaps men may be wanting," Morris continued, "but should that be the case a Letter from the Minister of France which will be delivered you with this will I trust enable you to get a considerable number of good seamen.

A cryptic concluding sentence read: "You are to await my further orders which shall soon be dispatched."

The letter from the Minister of France was addressed to the French consul at Boston, directing him to procure French hands for the Alliance. The Captain liked not the implications. Something seemed afoot which boded ill for a joint cruise.

* * *

Boston church bells pealed joyously, on December 10. None other than the celebrated Marquis de La­fayette had arrived! With him was a notable cavalcade; his cousin, the Viscount de Noailles who had sailed to France in the Alliance the year before; Major General Du Portail, chief engineer of the American army; Lieutenant Colonel Gouvion, also of the engineers; Major LaColombe, of La­fayette's staff, and Major-Captain Poirey, the Marquis's secretary.

"Only the name of the marquis De La Fayette," enthused a Boston editor, "immediately calls to our mind, without a recapitulation, a series of various and important services rendered by him in the cause of America, besides his late brilliant ones in Virginia."

One man heard of La­fayette's arrival without elation. He was John Barry. His lack of enthusiasm was traceable to one reason. With the Marquis had come letters, and one of them, from Robert Morris to Barry, conveyed the unwelcome intelligence that the Alliance had been assigned to carry La­fayette and his staff to France. As the Captain pointed out long afterwards,  p241 "few of the Ships belonging to the United States were ever suffered to cruise, but were sent on private service and ordered not to go out of their Way, but to keep clear of all Vessels whatever." Here was a case in point. The previous letter from Morris was fully explained. Instead of a cruise, with prospects of stout blows and choice prizes, he must now skulk across the Atlantic to deliver his passengers safely to France. Nor would these altered plans sit well with the hands he had beguiled on board under promises of a profitable cruise.

No, Barry did not cheer the arrival of the Marquis. Instead, he sat down to read one of the longest letters of instruction Thomas Morris had ever written. It was dated November 27, and the writer opened with real penitence over the necessary alterations in Barry's orders required because La­fayette's mission was by Washington's direction, and "on business of the utmost importance to America." There was, the Captain noted, the inevitable caution against cruising. He was to "avoid all Vessels, and keep in mind, as your sole object, to make a quiet and safe passage."

Compensating for this was a paragraph permitting a short cruise in European waters after depositing his passengers in France. Even this permission was circumscribed by instructions to return to a French port not later than March 1, 1782, receive dispatches, and sail promptly homeward, preferably for Philadelphia. There was considerable about courtesy and consideration to be shown to his guests, and frugality during the voyage.

Fearing the Alliance was still underman, Morris had inserted a vague and indecisive clause in the orders:' "Should she still want men, and part of a crew are engaged for the Deane, they had best be turned over to the Alliance, so as to compleate her Complement." Also, there were French seamen to be procured as directed in the previous letter. All efforts failing to fill the roster, Barry should enlist La­fayette in a joint appeal to Governor Hancock for permission to impress seamen.

Still hopeful of recruiting efforts, Barry refrained, until December 18, from asking Sam Nicholson for men from the Deane. That morning he examined his roll. It numbered 182, and he needed 240. Reluctantly, for he knew the imperfection  p242 of his orders, the Captain wrote Nicholson. Citing the paragraph from Morris's instructions, he pointed out his failure to procure a full ship's company.

"Therefor I am obliged to call upon you for forty men to enable me to proceed to Sea agreeable to the orders," he continued, "and I must request you will have the said Number ready to be delivered by 12 of Clock to morrow to one of my Officers."

A suave reply came next morning. Nicholson had read Barry's letter, and noted the quotation from Morris's instructions. He wished "your orders, for taking my Men were positive," as he might not become involved in disagreeable circumstances. His officers had heard rumors that men from the Deane were to be drafted into the Alliance, and had petitioned him against it. A copy of their petition was enclosed. Captain Barry could see the officers had enlisted neighbors and neighbors' children from their respective home towns, engaging them specifically for a cruise in the Deane. These recruits absolutely denied the said Samuel's authority to transfer them elsewhere. But, so great was his regard for the good of the service, that he would offer a suggestion.

"I will go with you or any of your officers, on board the Deane," he concluded, "and muster every man and join my utmost exertions to yours to induce them to go on board of your Ship."

Barry knew the offer was meaningless; that Nicholson had no intention of forcing any men out of his frigate, and that the Deane's officers, circulating false rumors among the hands, would frustrate a personal appeal. Nevertheless, he sent an officer on board her in King's road to go through the farce of asking for volunteers. A handful responded. Meanwhile, an advance guard of French seamen — most of them "Sick and Allmost Naked" — had been herded down to the Alliance. Barry saw them off from the Long wharf, and determined to make another try for proper seamen from the Deane. He wasted few words.

"It is indispensable necessary for the public Good that the Frigate Alliance under my Command should immediately proceed to Sea with the Honble Major General the Marquis de La Fayette." Thus he wrote on December 20. "And as I am not  p243 sufficiently manned for that purpose, I do hereby direct that you will immediately deliver to one of my Officers . . . forty good men from your ship."

Nicholson replied December 21; a carefully worded refusal:

"If Capt. Barry has any power or Authority, to order my Men from the Ship they were positively inlisted for, I beg to be made acquainted with it, at present Such proceeding is Quite new to me and I believe unprecedented in any Service whatever."

La­fayette, with his staff, had gone down to the Alliance several days before. To him Barry turned that evening.

"I do not think that I have Power invested in me to put Capt. Nicholson under an arrest for non Compliance with my order," the Captain wrote, "as the resolves of Congress are very defective in this & many other respects in the Marine department. Perhaps if you and Viscount de Noailles was to come up to Boston you might point out some mode how I am to get men."

Before the Marquis could return to the city, Barry went down to the Alliance, on December 22. An unexpected influx of recruits at the rendezvous — seventeen in one day — plus the French seamen, had encouraged him to sail, even though "very indifferently manned." The crew totalled 255 — 218 Americans and thirty-seven Frenchmen. His last official act in Boston had been to give Nicholson a curt order to proceed on a cruise, "strictly observe at all Times either in foreign or domestic ports, not to expend a Shilling of the publick money more than absolute Necessity calls for." He issued the order contrary to inclination, and remarked drily, he had no reason to think any regard would be paid it.

To Robert Morris, that same day, he voiced his opinion on inadequate naval regulations, warning that, unless matters were improved, "you can never expect any thing from your Navy." Had there been "a proper mode of Court Martial," he would have put Nicholson under arrest. Commenting upon the latter's contention that transfer of men to another ship was unheard of, the Captain was caustic.

"The reason it is quite new to him," he wrote, "is that he is a stranger to all other Services, or he is determined not to obey a Senior Officer."

 p244  Fretting to be gone — he would "rather be under sail than at anchor" — La­fayette was delighted to see delay ended. He and his staff were housed comfortably on the Alliance. John Brown had laid in all necessary stores, remembering Morris's injunction, "we are not rich enough to be extravagant nor so poor as to act meanly." Wind bound in King's road, Barry found opportunity to send to Boston two important documents for Brown. One was an "Account of Stores under the Care of the Several Officers belonging to the Continental Ship Alliance"; one of the most complete inventories existing today of a Continental frigate. The other was a statement of the Captain's account against the United States. It had grown to formidable proportions. Not a penny of pay, of shore subsistence, of sea allowance, or of bounty for guns and men captured had he received since entering the service. Due him was the sum of $5,299.36.

On Christmas eve of 1781, with a breeze from the right quarter, the Alliance stood to sea.

* * *

While the British in New York knew the Alliance, "bound to old France with the marquis La Fayette," was on the point of sailing from Boston, no efforts were made to intercept her. The winter season, as usual, had ended enemy blockading. No hostile sails were sighted as the frigate sped along through seas frequently boisterous, but with the wind continuously over her stern.

As the days passed, John Barry thanked his lucky star he had shipped the thirty-seven Frenchmen. He had realized his American hands formed "a Poor Ship's Crew," and a short time at sea convinced him he had "thought them much better than I have since found them to be." Not only were they a sad lot — not a dozen actually able seamen on board — but they were grumblers. For their discontent, there was some justification. Barry's orders, as they knew, precluded any possibility of prize-taking, and most of them had shipped for a cruise, not for a cautious voyage to France.

While no strange vessels appeared on the horizon, their complaints were hoarsely whispered wishes that "the Marquis was in France." When, however, in the first week of January, 1782,  p245 the Alliance changed course to avoid "a ship which appeared as if she could give them sport," dissatisfaction became apparent. Ordinarily, Barry promptly would have punished such indications of insubordination. That he did not, but "was governed by a sullen silence," convinced John Kessler that the Captain, torn between duty and inclination, also was wishing himself rid of the Marquis. Whatever Barry's feelings, he concealed them from his guests. His unfailing courtesy quite won their hearts, and La­fayette was enthusiastic over the "happy voyage." Also, the latter and De Noailles promised their help with the Minister of Marine to secure the Captain fifty or sixty French seamen to enable him to make his proposed cruise in European waters.

Un­event­ful and most rapid was this winter voyage. On January 17, after a passage of twenty-three days, the Alliance cast anchor off L'Orient. That day Barry wrote to Franklin, announcing his arrival with his distinguished passengers. He hoped his Excellency would have dispatches in safe hands for him at L'Orient by March 1, when he expected to sail for home. In the interval, he planned a cruise, and asked the Doctor to join with La­fayette and de Noailles in procuring him French seamen, by which means, "I hope to have it in my Power to release some of my Poor Countrymen in English Prisons." He supposed he would have to surrender the Frenchmen he had brought with him; if so, he could not put to sea without additional hands.

To ascertain what disposition was to be made of those on board, he went off to call upon M. Clouet, Commissary of the port.

"I have thirty-seven subjects of France on the Alliance, Sir," he explained, "shipped through your consul in Boston, and I would like your directions about them."

M. Clouet beamed: "I will be delighted to receive them at once, my dear Captain. Pray, give me an order for them, and I will at once relieve you of them."

"I am a little apprehensive they had fallen in debt to the United States," Barry replied. "While I have allowed them the same wages as my own people, they came aboard almost naked, and have drawn heavily on the ship's stores. If you will settle their accounts, I will release them to you now."

 p246  "To be sure, Sir, to be sure," the Commissary agreed. "Their accounts I will gladly settle."

The Captain wrote out the order. Reaching in his pocket, he produced a second paper, a detailed account showing a balance of better than seventy pounds due the Alliance from the Frenchmen. The Commissary's smile vanished.

"An account like this, I cannot pay," he protested. "You will have to submit it to the Minister of Marine."

"Now look here," said Barry, a bit provoked. "You have not dealt candidly with me. You may have the men, and I shall submit the account to the Minister of Marine. But, sir, I shall not take your word again."

With that, he went back to the Alliance, released the Frenchmen, and told La­fayette what he thought of the Marquis's fellow-countrymen. On the morrow, he saw his guests ashore and off for Paris. Afterwards, an officer sought him out and presented a well-filled purse. M. de La­fayette had sent it to the Captain, who, perhaps, might find himself in need of funds while establishing a line of credit in France. There were Frenchmen and Frenchmen!

* * *

Despite the Marquis's influence at Court, John Barry was not optimistic over prospects for more French hands. Nor, from previous experience in L'Orient, did he expect help from port authorities in reclaiming his own countrymen from French or neutral vessels. There were American seamen in every French port. The task was to find them. Thomas Barclay, the new consul, to whom he would have applied, had chosen the inopportune time of the Alliance's arrival to be absent in Holland. So Barry turned to young James Moylan, still serving as deputy consul, and the pair drafted an appeal to M. Thevenard, the friendly Intendant, and M. Clouet, the tricky Commissary. The Captain had heard of Americans on French privateers at St. Malo and Morlaix, and had delegated Chaplain Geagan to go after them.

"We find ourselves under the Necessity of Solliciting your good Offices," Barry and Moylan wrote, "in procuring for the Said Frigate all the American Sailors we are authorized to  p247 Claim in your Jurisdiction, & to have the Goodness to grant us Letters in favour of Mr Geagan."

The Chaplain got the necessary approval, journeyed up through Brittany to the two channel ports, and procured nine seamen. An angry protest from one French owner rolled Paris-ward to Dr. Franklin over the seizures, but Barry had the men on board by January 27, and there they stayed. Efforts around L'Orient were not so success­ful. By the end of January, the Captain was writing to Barclay in Holland, assuring the consul his presence "is much wanted here."

"There are a Number of Americans on board French and Neutral Ships," he told Barclay, "& it is out of my Power to procure one of them."

By Captain Thomas Truxtun, in the letter-of‑marque ship St. James, who sailed from L'Orient on January 31, Barry forwarded a letter to Morris conveying a similar word-picture of his troubles. He had heard nothing from La­fayette regarding French seamen. In fact, from Franklin had come word that the Marquis had not yet called, and that the former feared La­fayette's efforts would not succeed. Franklin had wanted to know if the Alliance would carry public goods, and, as Captain pointed out to the Superintendent of Finance, his orders had not touched upon that subject. Before making a decision, he wanted to examine the frigate, but, "If the Goods are valuable, I shall take same on board."

"I am using every effort in my Power to procure men," Barry's letter to Morris continued, "but am much afraid it will be Attended with a great Expence and loss of time."

Writing to Franklin, on January 31, Barry expressed surprise the Marquis had not yet waited on his Excellency. As of the public goods, the Captain was deliberately vague. He had no orders, but, "I think it my Duty to serve my Country in that or any other way." However, instead of agreeing to take goods on board, Barry told Franklin he would give vessels with public cargoes a safe convoy. In conclusion, he pointed to a factor that undoubtedly caused his guarded reply:

"My Orders being to Sail the first of March I Could wish not to be detained after that time."

Meanwhile, he had determined to sail on his cruise with the  p248 first fair wind, and was getting provisions and additional gunner's stores on board. To M. Thevenard, he appealed again.

"As I have Complyd with the treaty of Alliance between his most Christian Majesty and the United States," he wrote on February 5, "in delivering all the Frenchmen I had on board the Said Frigate I expect you will give Orders to Deliver all the Americans on board French Vessels, and in L'Orient, to me, or a sufficient Number of them to Mann the Alliance."

Nothing came of the effort. On the Alliance's roll were 256 officers and men — a net gain of eighteen Americans over the number who had arrived in her. Nor, while the wind held them in port for a few days, was the number augmented, save for a few volunteers. The delay gave Barry opportunity for two interesting letters. One was to the Delap brothers, at Bordeaux, his third effort to extract information from that firm on the affairs of his dead brother.

"I Shall take it Kind," he implored them on February 9, "if you will send me an Acct of My Brother Pathricksº affairs in your hands — You being the only People that Can have any Knowledge of what he may have at Bordeaux."

The other, that same morning, was to none other than Captain de Galatheau, late of the Marquis de La­fayette. That worthy, having escaped from England, had the effrontery to ask for an accounting of all prizes taken by the Alliance after the ships had parted.

"You say you suppose you have a right to a part of the Prizes the Alliance took after you were taken," Barry replied. "You may as well Suppose you have a right to a part of all the prizes the Alliance may take, as long as She bears that name."

Then he paid his respects to De Galatheau for deserting his consort, and charged the subsequent capture of the Marquis de La­fayette to that action.

"Now Sir," Barry continued, "lett me ask you what is become of your Officer who Run away with the Briggt Minerva, or had he your Orders Contrary to mine to Come to France . . . so brave a man as Capt Galletheau would despise any thing that was mean, or give Orders Contrary to the Man he took his Orders from."

 p249  The letter took the wind out of the Frenchman. No more was heard of his "extraordinary" claims. On the afternoon of that day, February 9, the Alliance put to sea. Barry was off on his cruise in European waters. In his company sailed Captain John Angus, in the letter-of‑marque brig Antonio, bound for Philadelphia, and glad of the frigate's convoy for a short distance off shore.

Three days later, in Paris, La­fayette was informing Franklin the Alliance was entitled to a cruise, and the Minister of Marine would permit the Captain "to get all American sailors in any French harbor." A bit belated, this cooperation, to do John Barry any good.

* * *

Through winter seas, with the wind blowing in fitful gales, the Alliance and brig Antonio pushed their way southwest through the Bay of Biscay. On the second day out, Barry sought his cabin to indite two letters to Philadelphia. One was to Robert Morris; the other, to John Brown. Each was brief because the Captain wanted to get them into John Angus's hands before foul weather separated him from the Antonio. To Morris, he predicted a fruitless cruise, because "almost all the Trade in Urope is carried on in Neutral Bottoms." He promised strict compliance with the order to sail home from L'Orient around March 11, and touched upon his troubles getting properly manned in France. In a lighter vein, to Brown, he dwelt upon his crew, 248 strong, including "a great number of half built Gentlemen" — an enlightening reference to the volunteers. Solicitude for his beloved Sarah bobbed up in the postscript. Would his friend Brown look out for a house for Mrs. Barry, "near the Bridge or that part of the town?"

Both letters were in Angus's custody, when Barry set off in pursuit of a suspicious sail. The quarry made a valiant effort to escape, throwing most of her guns, boats, anchors and deck gear overboard. The Alliance hauled abreast of her to discover she was an American brigantine, bound from Bordeaux to Alexandria, Virginia. When the Antonio came up, Barry placed the nearly defenceless vessel under Captain Angus's care. He left the pair, on the morning of the fourth day, when  p250 in longitude 13° west, and veered northward. He was in the path of the trade between Great Britain and Portugal — a good spot for prizes.

In one week, the Captain's preliminary fear, that the trade of "Urope" was in neutral bottoms, was confirmed. Vessels were sighted, chased and spoken — always a neutral. He tallied them in his journal, about February 20. Sixteen spoken, and "Not a Sign of an English vessel to be Seen the whole Cruize." The sea was full of ships, but not a one dared he take despite suspicions regarding owner­ship or destination.

Heavy winds prevailed. Some of the "half built Gentlemen" were desperately sea‑sick. February drew towards a close, and he abandoned the profitless questing. Back through the Bay of Biscay sailed the Alliance, to arrive off L'Orient on February 26. The return was hailed by delight by Americans in that port. Rumor had captured the frigate three times; first, by a fifty gun ship; next, by a seventy-four; finally, by a sloop-of‑war. Barry laughed at the reports, and inquired about dispatches from Paris. To his disgust, he learned none had arrived. Dr. Franklin seemed as dilatory as M. de La­fayette in handling matters for the Alliance.

* * *

In John Barry's soul had been growing deep distrust of his own countrymen in France, and of all French authorities and merchants. Two voyages to L'Orient had given him opportunity to see and hear "the Ignorance or Villany" all around him. To return from a barren cruise, and find no dispatches soured him the more. Almost he lost faith in Franklin. Barclay was still absent in Holland. Moylan had gone to Nantes. No other Americans in port had his confidence. He was sorely tempted to up sail for home, carrying out his orders to depart March 1. Then, because he realized the importance of dispatches, he decided to write to Franklin, and remain at L'Orient until the return of the post from Paris.

That letter of February 27 was exceedingly business-like, almost peremptory, in fact. He was disappointed Franklin had not sent the dispatches to L'Orient. Because the Alliance needed a few supplies, he would wait a little while — long enough for a prompt reply to his letter. After that, he would sail with  p251 the first fair wind. Nor did he intend to be bothered further on the matter of public stores. With Barclay away, there was no one to get them ready, and he would not be delayed.

When the letter had gone off, Barry felt better. He had relieved his mind. An anonymous note arrived on board shortly after and stirred him up anew. It reported three Americans in prison at L'Orient. They had been members of the crew of a neutral ship, and had been gaoled for refusal to serve longer. He sent an officer on shore with a note to M. Thevenard, asking the men be delivered to him. Several hours later, the officer returned empty-handed, and with a new story of villainy. M. Thevenard could do nothing. The captain of the neutral had trumped up an account against the men of 1,200 livres, and they were being held as debtors.

Scarcely crediting the tale, Barry went to L'Orient, and found it true. He could have the men upon the payment of the amount charged against them — an exorbitant, padded bill. He refused grimly. He did not intend to pay tribute to a scheming neutral captain and conniving port officers. Next morning, he sat down to tell Franklin of the chicanery which convinced him the French "mean to trample upon us." At considerable detail, he described his troubles over the Frenchmen whom he had brought from Boston, of his inability to secure American seamen, and of this latest demonstration of French avarice and deceit.

At that point, the long-awaited letter from Franklin was placed in his hands. He read it, and grew angrier. The good Doctor had taken it upon himself to instruct Barry to go to Brest, receive a quantity of public goods assembled there, and go out in convoy with a French fleet around the middle of March. The dispatches would be sent to Brest for Barry to pick up upon his arrival. The Captain took up his pen and continued his interrupted letter. He had just received Franklin's letter of February 10. While it pained him to say so, it was out of his power to go to Brest.

"As there are but two Frigates belonging [to] the Continent," he explained, "it will not do to break Orders — I would go so far for His Excellency Doctr Franklin as aney Man in the World, but I cannot think at present that it is advisable."

Once more, he pointed out that the absence of Barclay made  p252 it impossible to consider public goods for the Alliance. Also, why send powder? When he left Boston, there had been 200 tons of powder drifting around the harbor in a vessel, because every magazine in the town was already full. So that Franklin could re‑direct his dispatches, he would defer sailing to the return of the post, "which is Stretching my Orders further than I wish for."

Feeling he had been a little sharp in his refusals, the Captain, on March 4, wrote again to Franklin. He explained that a frigate was no safe receptacle for dry goods. In a gale every place in the ship was wet, owing to "her working so much in bad Weather."

"In Short a Frigate is by no means Calculated to Carry Goods. They are in General so Sharp built that they can but [S]Carsly carry Provisions and Water for their Crew in passage from Europe to America, espessially if they Chace every vessell they see."

On the matter of goods — public or private — Barry was adamant. Brown had given him an order to receive "four or five Boxes or Bales" from Jonathan Nesbitt & Co., at L'Orient. When that firm tried to increase the shipment, the Captain clamped down. Five bales he would receive and no more. Also, he accepted a shipment of claret and a small box for the Chevalier de la Luzerne, French Minister at Philadelphia. To other importuning shippers, he turned a deaf ear. John Bondfield, merchant at Bordeaux, had "some small Objects for your friends in Phila," and wanted permission to put them on the Alliance. Barry told him there was an express order of Congress against carrying private property. Moylan, from Nantes, suggested "a point adventure to gather," in the way of a joint outlay for merchandise to be shipped in the frigate. The Captain replied that Congress had forbidden such ventures, and he was determined to break no Congressional resolves.

A certain Alexander Thomas, who styled himself, "not a Son of Marrs," asked for passage on the Alliance, promising payment upon arrival in America. As Thomas was introduced by Jonathan Williams, Jr., the Captain would have agreed, save for a postscript to the letter of application.

"If it is agreeable to you that I should put in the Ship two or three trunks," Thomas wrote, "I will pay you handsomely  p253 for such indulgence — The most inevitable Secrecy if required will be Kept, respecting the Trunks."

Barry let loose some of his long pent‑up wrath in reply:

"I would advise you, to Ship yourself and Trunks in some other Vessel than the Alliance, for I assure you, you shan't go in her, as I am determin'd to Keep Clear of the Censure of all of your Character — You say you can't Fight neither, and yet you want to go in a Frigate — a Verry unfit Vessel I assure you. I advise you to take passage in a Vessel without Guns, and then you need not be under any Apprehensions for fear of being hurt."

By contrast, he welcomed as a passenger, Captain John Foster Williams, noted Massachusetts privateersman just escaped from a British prison; also, Dr. Aaron Dexter, of Boston. Similarly, he extended the same privilege to Captain Samuel Smedley, of Connecticut, although scarcely expecting an acceptance, as "The Ladies in Nantes are so Captivating, that I suppose they draw all your Attention."

Another instance of French duplicity came to the Captain's attention on March 6. Four Americans had escaped from Forton prison, in England, and reached Havre de Grace, where they had been seized and imprisoned. One of them, a Philadelphia youth, heard of Barry's presence in L'Orient, and wrote him a piteous letter of appeal. Their captors intended to force them upon a French man-of‑war at Brest. Barry sent the letter post-haste to Franklin, adding his own indignant comments:

With the time of departure approaching, the Captain was busy clearing up correspondence. Letters had poured in from all directions, even a number from American prisoners in England. One was from John Green, his one‑time fellow skipper with Willing, Morris & Co. before the war, and now languishing in Mill prison, Plymouth. To Green, Barry penned a long letter of good cheer. When he had been in Philadelphia the previous October, he had seen Mrs. Green "and all your little  p254 ones but John who was gone to Sea with his uncle." They were all in good health. Philadelphia was flourishing. If he were fortunate enough to take any English vessels, he would insist that Green be exchanged.

Another letter brought back visions of an incident of 1779 — the futile efforts of the Confederacy to impress men from his brig Delaware. The writer was Stephen Gregory, that senior lieutenant, who had backed down when Barry threatened to open fire on the frigate. Gregory was at Nantes — another case of an escape from a British prison — and had been offered command of a merchantman for Virginia. Would Barry, as senior Continental officer in France, grant him leave of absence until he could hear properly from America? The Captain granted a six months' leave, and promised his good offices to have it extended later, if necessary.

Franklin's dispatches came finally, arriving on March 15, with a letter wishing Barry "a prosperous voyage," but warning that he would be blamed for refusing to go to Brest for the public goods. The Captain returned a courteous acknowledgment, although boiling at the delay which had kept him a half-month past sailing time.

"Shall Sail in a few hours for America," he wrote, "and as for the Ships' going to Brest I can assure your Excellency that she is not fit to take in Dry Goods."

There would be no more delays, the Captain vowed. He was homeward-bound at last.

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