{"id":"01KG8AKKFXPSJ3T4X884YFPY41","cid":"bafkreidpgrjkmwnhttpr6hlr5e26e3eqdk5ibfo2rac5zkmgv64rzaqw5q","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":4923,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:05.591Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1DKC9HHJRKY25JZBEXW","start_line":4871,"text":"When the party arrived on the beach, they found Captain Paul writing\r\nwith pencil on paper held up against the smooth tableted side of the\r\ncliff. Next moment he seemed to be making his signature. With a\r\nreproachful glance towards the two officers, he handed the slip to\r\nIsrael, bidding him hasten immediately with it to the house and place\r\nit in Lady Selkirk’s own hands.\r\n\r\nThe note was as follows:\r\n\r\n“Madame:\r\n\r\n“After so courteous a reception, I am disturbed to make you no better\r\nreturn than you have just experienced from the actions of certain\r\npersons under my command.—actions, lady, which my profession of arms\r\nobliges me not only to brook, but, in a measure, to countenance. From\r\nthe bottom of my heart, my dear lady, I deplore this most melancholy\r\nnecessity of my delicate position. However unhandsome the desire of\r\nthese men, some complaisance seemed due them from me, for their general\r\ngood conduct and bravery on former occasions. I had but an instant to\r\nconsider. I trust, that in unavoidably gratifying them, I have\r\ninflicted less injury on your ladyship’s property than I have on my own\r\nbleeding sensibilities. But my heart will not allow me to say more.\r\nPermit me to assure you, dear lady, that when the plate is sold, I\r\nshall, at all hazards, become the purchaser, and will be proud to\r\nrestore it to you, by such conveyance as you may hereafter see fit to\r\nappoint.\r\n\r\n“From hence I go, Madame, to engage, to-morrow morning, his Majesty’s\r\nship, Drake, of twenty guns, now lying at Carrickfergus. I should meet\r\nthe enemy with more than wonted resolution, could I flatter myself\r\nthat, through this unhandsome conduct on the part of my officers, I lie\r\nnot under the disesteem of the sweet lady of the Isle of St. Mary’s.\r\nBut unconquerable as Mars should I be, could but dare to dream, that in\r\nsome green retreat of her charming domain, the Countess of Selkirk\r\noffers up a charitable prayer for, my dear lady countess, one, who\r\ncoming to take a captive, himself has been captivated.\r\n\r\n“Your ladyship’s adoring enemy,\r\n\r\n“JOHN PAUL JONES.”\r\n\r\nHow the lady received this super-ardent note, history does not relate.\r\nBut history has not omitted to record, that after the return of the\r\nRanger to France, through the assiduous efforts of Paul in buying up\r\nthe booty, piece by piece, from the clutches of those among whom it had\r\nbeen divided, and not without a pecuniary private loss to himself,\r\nequal to the total value of the plunder, the plate was punctually\r\nrestored, even to the silver heads of two pepper-boxes; and, not only\r\nthis, but the Earl, hearing all the particulars, magnanimously wrote\r\nPaul a letter, expressing thanks for his politeness. In the opinion of\r\nthe noble Earl, Paul was a man of honor. It were rash to differ in\r\nopinion with such high-born authority.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AK6WA1KHMDWH63DATBJFN","peer_type":"subsection","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1DKC9HHJRKY25JZBEXW","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKKFXXGM7GXFHYQ3JQVP3","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:09.725Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:16.457Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}