Description:

PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER REPORTS ON THE VICTORY OF JOHN PAUL JONES AT FLAMBOROUGH HEAD
Fine historical content newspaper, "The Pennsylvania Packet, or the General Advertiser" (Philadelphia: Printed by John Dunlap) Jan. 22, 1780, 4pp. folio, featuring on the second page a letter describing American naval commander JOHN PAUL JONES''s (1747-1792) victory over the British frigate HMS SERAPIS at the Battle of Flamborough Head on Sep. 23, 1779. In part: "Last Wednesday the red flag was hoisted at the castle, as a signal that the enemy was in sight. It proved to be Paul Jones and his squadron ... The squadron consisted of eight vessels: they sailed from L''Orient to the western coast of Ireland, from thence to the north shore of Scotland ... Having cruized six days between Berwick and Humber, they met the Baltic fleet, escorted by a 40 and a 20 gun ship. They first attacked Jones''s ships; the contest continued 4 hours, when Jones''s fire was interrupted, but the British man of war was finally obliged to strike, on the coming up of the American frigate Alliance, one of Jones''s squadron. Jones''s crew were then obliged to call for the boats of the Alliance, to save them, as their ship was sinking. This sailor and six other took that opportunity to escape. They add the following particulars: Towards the end of the combat, the British Captain called to Paul to strike, or he would sink his ship the next broadside. The intrepid American answered, ''Sink me if you can. If I must go to the Devil, I had rather strike to him than to you.'' Jones fought in sailors frock and trousers, with a large girdle round his waste, in which hung twelve pistols, and a large cutlass in his hand. The sailors say they saw him blow out the brains of seventeen of his men, for abandoning their posts ... The Seraphis (the vessel he now fought with and took) was new, and built on a new construction, sailed wonderfully fast, and was copper bottomed. Twenty-five vessels in different divisions have been sent in pursuit of Jones, but it is thought he is gone towards Norway..." Interestingly, the pithy turn of phrase attributed to Jones by this writer differs from that which has entered the annals of American history: "I have not yet begun to fight!" This famous quote was first reported forty-two years after the battle, and it is likely that this report contains a far more accurate description of Jones''s words to the captain of the Serapis. Original folds, very fine, with original, uncut deckled edges. Besides this newspaper, Dunlap was also responsible for printing the first published copies of the Declaration of Independence, commonly referred to as the "Dunlap Broadside".

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December 10, 2016 11:00 AM EST
Wilmington, DE, US

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