JASPER, was a man of strong mind, but as it had not been cultivated by education, he modestly declined the acceptance of a commission, which was offered to him.His conduct, however, merits particular notice, and his name is entitled to a page in the history of fame. At the commencement of the revolutionary war, Jasper enlisted in the second South Carolina regiment of infantry, commanded by colonel Moultrie, as a sergeant. He distinguished himself in a particular manner at the attack which was made upon Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan's island, the 28th of June, 1776. the warmest part of the contest, the flag-staff was severed by a cannon ball, and the flag fell to the bottom of the ditch, on the outside of the works. This accident was considered by the anxious inhabitants of Charleston as putting an end to the contest, by striking the American flag to the enemy. The moment that Jasper made discovery that the flag had fallen, he jumped from one of the embrasures, and mounted the colours, which he tied to a sponge staff, and replanted them on the parapet, where he supported them until another flag-staff was procured. The subsequent activity and enterprise of this patriot, induced colonel Moultrie to give him a sort of a roving commission, to go and come at pleasure, confident that he was always usefully employed. He was privileged to select such men from the regiment as he chose to accompany him in his enterprises. His parties consisted of five or six; and he often returned with prisoners before Moultrie was apprised of his absence. Jasper was distinguished for his humane treatment when an enemy fell into his power. His ambition appears to have been limited to the characteristics of bravery, humanity and usefulness, to the cause in which he engaged. When it was in his power to kill, but not capture, it was his practice to permit a single prisoner to escape. By his sagacity and enterprise, he often succeeded in the capture of those who were lying in ambush for him. In one of these excursions, an instance of bravery and humanity is recorded by the biographer of general Marion, which would stagger credulity, if it was not well attested. While he was examining the British camp at Ebenezer, all the sympathy of his kind heart was awakened by the distresses of Mrs. Jones, whose husband, an American by birth, had taken the king's protection, and been confined in irons for deserting the royal cause, after he had taken the oath of allegiance. Her well-founded belief was, that nothing short of the life of her husband would atone for the offence with which he was charged. Anticipating the awful scene of a beloved husband expiring upon the gibbet, had excited inexpressible emotions of grief and distraction.

Jasper secretly consulted with his companion, sergeant

Newton, whose feelings for the distressed female and her child, were equally excited with his own, upon the practicability of releasing Jones from his impending fate. Though they were unable to suggest a plan of operation, they had determined to watch for the most favorable opportunity, and make the effort. The departure of Jones and several others (all in irons) to Savannah, for trial, under a guard consisting of a sergeant, a corporal, and eight men, was ordered upon the succeeding morning. Within two miles of Savannah, about thirty yards from the main road, is a spring of fine water, surrounded by a deep and thick underwood, where travellers often halt to refresh themselves with a cool draught from the pure fountain. Jasper and his companion considered this the most favorable to their enterprize. They accordingly passed the guard and concealed themselves near the spring. When the enemy came up, they halted, and only two of the guard remained with the prisoners while the others leaned their guns against trees in a careless manner and went to the spring.Jasper and Newton seized two of the muskets, and disabled two sentinels. The possession of all the arms placed the enemy in their power, and compelled them to surrender. The irons were taken off, and put into the hands of those who had been prisoners, and the whole party arrived at Perrysburg the next morning and joined the American camp. There are but few instances upon record, where personal exertions, even for self-preservation from certain death would have induced resort to an act so desperate of execution. How much more laudable was this where the spring to action was roused by the lamentation of a female, unknown to the adventurers.

Subsequent to the gallant defence of Sullivan's Island, colonel Moultrie's regiment was presented with a stand of colors by Mrs. Elliot, which she had richly embroidered with her own hands, and as a reward for Jasper's particular merit, governor Rutledge presented him with a very handsome sword. During the assault against Savannah, two officers bad been killed, and one wounded endeavoring to plant these colors upon the enemy's parapet of the spring hill redoubt. Just before the retreat was ordered, Jasper endeavoured to replace them upon the works, and while he was in the act, received a mortal wound and fell into the ditch. When the retreat was ordered he recollected the honorable conditions upon which the donor presented the colors of the regiment, and among the last acts of his life succeeded in bringing them off. Major Horry called to see him soon after the retreat, to whom, it is said, he made the following communication: "I have got my furlough. That sword was presented to me by governor Rutledge for my services in defence of Fort Moultrie; give it to

my father, and tell him, I wore it in honor. If the old man should weep, tell him his son died in hopes of a better life.— Tell Mrs. Elliott that I lost my life in supporting the colors, which she presented to our regiment. Should you ever see Jones, wife and son, tell them Jasper is gone, but the remembrance of that battle which he fought for them, brought a secret joy into my heart, when it was about to stop its motions forever." He expired in a few minutes after closing this sen

tence.

JOHNSON, FRANCIS, was a native of the state of Pennsylvania. He had just commenced the practice of the law, when the revolutionary war commenced; when abandoning his private pursuits, he joined the late general Anthony Wayne in raising a body of men, which were commanded by Wayne as colonel, and Johnson as lieutenant colonel. Upon the promotion of colonel Wayne, the subject of this memoir succeeded to the command of the fifth Pennsylvania regiment; with which he was present at many of the most sanguinary conflicts, during the war; at Ticonderoga, Stoney Point, Monmouth, Brandywine, and other battles. After the restoration of peace, he held several oflices of honour and profit, under the government of his native state; and in his declining years, (having had his fortune materially injured by misplaced confidence) he was elected to the very lucrative and honourable office of high sheriff of the city and county of Philadelphia. He was elected to this by those who differed with him in political opinion, thereby shewing (however true the charge of ingratitude may be against republics generally) that the people of republican America have not forgotten the services of those to whose exertions they are indebted for the liberty they now enjoy.

Colonel Johnson died in Philadelphia, on the 22d February, 1815, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. He was a benevolent and kind friend, and beloved and respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

JONES, PAUL, one of the most enterprising and resolute mariners America had, during the contest with Great Britain, was born in Galway county, Scotland, in 1747, and could lay claims to but humble parentage. His father had been a gardener to the earl of Selkirk. His original name was John Paul. The son received the same name, and was taken into the family of the earl of Selkirk, and was there educated under a private tutor. At the age of fifteen, from what cause is not at present known, he took up with a seafaring life, and after a regular apprenticeship, became master of a vessel, engaged in the West India trade. In one of his voyages to Tobago, a mutiny arose in the ship, which was

quelled, but not without the death of one of the mutineers.-
When arrived at Tobago, he delivered himself up to trial, and
was acquitted. After acquittal, he returned to England, and
was threatened with imprisonment, in order for a new trial.
Feeling, probably, the injustice of such a measure, he quitted
his country, and took refuge in America. He arrived here at
a most important period. The colonies were on the eve of a
separation from the parent state. The conflict had begun,
and Jones, under his assumed name, having received a lieute-
nant's commission, embarked on the expedition against New
Providence, under commodore Hopkins.

At his return, he was appointed to command a sloop of
twelve guns, and a short time after, to a ship of eighteen guns.
In this he cruised, in 1778, around the coasts of England and
Scotland, made a descent upon the coast of Scotland, near the
earl of Selkirk's house, and carried off the family plate, which
was afterwards restored. He landed also at Whitehaven, in
Cumberlandshire, but without causing material injury to the
inhabitants. In cruising, the same year, off the Irish coast,
he discovered a British vessel, by the name of the Drake, in
the harbour of Waterford, and challenged her to combat. The
challenge she accepted, and was beaten:*

In

In the summer of 1779, a squadron was fitted out, over
which Mr. Jones was appointed commander. He sailed in
the Bonne Homme Richard of forty guns, and four hundred
and fifteen men. This squadron sailed from France on the
14th of August, and was successful in making a variety of
captures, both of merchant vessels, and vessels of war.
a gale, he was separated from the rest of his forces, but was
rejoined by them about the first of September. He then cruis-
ed about the north-east coast of Scotland, and formed the dar-
ing plan of levying a contribution upon the town of Leith.-
This was to be effected by putting himself off as the command-
er of a British squadron, till his plan could be put in execu-
tion, and then to demand a ransom of the town for one hun-
dred thousand pounds, on the alternative of suffering a total
destruction of the town. This deception was discovered, just
as the squadron had hove to before the town of Leith. On
this he immediately put to sea, and on the 22d of September
arrived at Flamborough head.

When cruising off Flamborough head, about two leagues
from the shore, on the 22d September, at 2 o'clock, P. M. he
descried the Baltic fleet, for which he had been so long on the
look-out, under convoy. The fleet was convoyed by a fri-
gate and a sloop of war. Preparations were immediately
made for action.

When the hostile ships had sufficiently neared, their respec* After an engagement of an hour, the Bapt. & Lieut. of the Drake being both mortally wounded. Jones returned to Brest in 28 days, with 200 prisoners. Goldsborough, 19.

tive captains hailed each other, and commenced the scene of carnage, at moon rise, about a quarter before eight, at pistol shot distance. The English ship gave the first fire from her upper and quarter deck, which Jones returned with alacrity. Three of his lower deck guns on the starboard side, burst in the gunroom, and killed the men stationed at them, in consequence of which, orders were given not to fire the other three eighteen pounders mounted on that deck, lest a similar misfortune should occur. This prevented him from the advantage he expected to have derived from them in the then existing calm. Having to contend alone with both the enemy's ships, and the Bonne Homme Richard having received several shot, between wind and water, he grappled with the larger vessel, to render her force useless, and to prevent firing from the smaller one. In effecting this object, the superior manœuvering of the larger ship embarrassed him greatly. He succeeded, however, in laying his ship athwart the hawse of his opponent's. His mizzen shrouds struck the jib-boom of the enemy, and hung for some time; but they soon gave way, when both fell along side of each other, head to stern. The fluke of the enemy's spare anchor, hooked the Bonne Homme Richard's quarter, both ships being so closely grappled fore and aft, that the muzzles of their respective guns touched each other's sides. The captain of the enemy's smaller ship judiciously ceased firing, as soon as captain Jones had effected his design, lest he should assist to injure his consort. In this situation, the crews of both ships continued the engagement for several hours. Many of the guns of the American ships were rendered useless, while those of the English remained manageable. Some time after, a brave fellow, posted in the Bonne Homme Richard's main top, succeeded in silencing a number of the enemy's guns. This man, with a lighted match, and a basket filled with hand grenades, advanced along the main yard, until he was over the enemy's deck. Being enabled to distinguish objects by the light of the moon, wherever he discovered a number of persons together, he dropped a hand grenade among them. He succeeded in dropping seve ral through the scuttles of the ship; these set fire to the cartridge of an eighteen pounder, which communicated successively to other cartridges, disabled all the officers and men, and rendered useless all the guns abaft the mainmast. The enemy's ship was, many times, set on fire, by the great quantity of combustible matter thrown on board, and with much difficulty and toil the flames were as often extinguished. Towards the close of the action, all the guns of the Bonne Homme Richard were silenced, except four on the fore-castle which were commanded by the purser, who was dangerously