omme Richard' to
go near her."

To this absurd stipulation Jones agreed. Landais, having thus assumed
complete charge of the prize, showed his incompetence by sending her,
together with a prize taken by the "Alliance," to Bergen in Norway.
The Danish Government, being on friendly terms with England,
immediately surrendered the vessels to the British ambassador; and the
cause of the young republic was cheated of more than two hundred
thousand dollars through the insane negligence of the French captain.

Ever thereafter, Landais manifested the most insolent indifference to
the orders of Capt. Jones, to whom, as his superior officer, he should
render implicit obedience. He came and went as he saw fit. The
"Alliance" would disappear from the squadron, and return again after
two or three days' absence, without apology or explanation. Jones soon
learned to look with indifference upon the antics of his consort, and
considered his squadron as composed of the "Richard," "Vengeance," and
"Pallas" only.

On the 15th of September, the three vessels lay off the port of Leith,
a thriving city, which was then, as now, the seaport for the greater
city of Edinburgh, which stands a little farther inland. Jones had
come to this point cherishing one of those daring plans of which his
mind was so fertile. He had learned that the harbor was full of
shipping, and defended only by a single armed vessel of twenty guns.
Shore batteries there were none. The people of the town were resting
in fancied security, and had no idea that the dreaded Paul Jones was
at their very harbor's mouth. It would have been an easy matter for
the three cruisers to make a dash into the harbor, take some
distinguished prisoners, demand a huge ransom, fire the shipping, and
escape again to the open sea. Had Jones been in reality, as he was in
name, the commander of the little fleet, the exploit would have been
performed. But the lack of authority which had hampered him throughout
his cruise paralyzed him here. By the time he had overcome the timid
objections of the captains of the "Vengeance" and the "Pallas," all
Leith was aroused. Still Jones persevered. His arrangements were
carefully perfected. Troops were to be landed under command of
Lieut.-Col. Chamillard, who was to lay before the chief magistrate of
the town the following letter, written by Jones himself:--

"I do not wish to distress the poor inhabitants. My intention is only
to demand your contribution