it was indeed good treasure!

The _Mellish_ was found to contain ten thousand complete uniforms,
including cloaks, boots, socks and woollen shirts, for the winter
supply of General Howe's army; seven thousand pairs of blankets; one
thousand four hundred tents; six hundred saddles and complete cavalry
equipments; one million seven hundred thousand rounds of fixed
ammunition (musket cartridges); a large quantity of medical stores;
forty cases of surgical instruments; and forty-six soldiers who were
recruits sent out to join the various British regiments then serving
in the Colonies.

The larger prize--the _Biddeford_--carried one thousand seven hundred
fur overcoats for the use of the Canadian troops; eleven thousand
pairs of blankets, intended partly for the British troops in Canada,
and partly for the Indians then in British pay along the northern
frontier; one thousand small-bore guns of the type then known as the
"Indian-trade smooth-bore," with hatchets, knives, and boxes of flint
in proportion, to arm the redskins. There were eight light six-pounder
field guns and complete harness and other equipage for the two
four-gun batteries of horse-artillery. Also some wines and table
supplies for Sir Guy Carleton and a case of fine Galway duelling
pistols for a British officer then serving in Canada.

"These I will appropriate as mine own portion," cried Captain Jones.
"And also a share of the wines, for I must have something to drink the
health of mine enemy in." And--so saying--he chuckled gleefully. It
had been a rich haul.

But the Captain was not happy. His pet project was to cruise in
European waters, and he wanted to get near the British coast with a
ship--or better--a squadron of some force.

"Cruises along the American coast," said he, "will annoy the enemy and
result in capture of small ships and consorts from time to time. But
who--forsooth--will hear of this in Europe? We will add nothing to our
prestige as a new nation if we win victories upon this side of the
ocean."

All who heard him were much impressed by the vehement earnestness of
his arguments.

"You have had so much success, Mr. Jones," said they, "that we feel
you will have still greater good fortune in future years."

And Jones said to himself: "Oh, if I only could get the chance!"

It soon came, for on June the 14th, 1777, the Continental Congress
passed the following resolution:

"_Resolved:_ That Captain John Paul Jones be appointed to