Part 5

In a footnote to the remarks of the preacher, the historian in referring to the great exodus from Ireland to the American colonies, remarks that “Ireland has always been a hive from which America has derived sturdy hewers of wood to subdue the forests.” In 1622, Rev. Patrick Copland was appointed first president of the College of Virginia and general manager of all its properties. The college was founded by King James in 1622 and was established at Henrico City, fifteen miles below Richmond. (See _Old Churches and Families of Virginia_, by Bishop William Meade.)

At this period there must have been a goodly number of Irish in Virginia, if we are to judge from the contents of a little book, “suitable for a projected school in Virginia,” prepared in 1621 by an English Puritan minister named John Brinsley. The book was intended as “a plea for learning and the school master.” The author stated that “the incivility among manie of the Irish, the Virginians, and all other barbarous nations” grew “from their exceeding ignorance of our Holy God and of all true and good learning.” On another page the author said it was his unfeigned desire to adapt the book “for all functions and places, and more particularly to every ruder place, and more especially to that poor Irish nation with our loving countrymen in Virginia.”

How very solicitous he was for the “uncivil” Irish! To him, of course, they appeared rude and uncivil because they did not in those days speak in the English tongue, but in their own undefiled and mellifluous Gaelic. The book was presented by Brinsley “at a court held for Virginia on December 19, 1621,” on which occasion a committee was appointed to determine whether the book was suitable for distribution among the school children. This circumstance is related by the historian Neill.

[Illustration:

FRANCIS J. QUINLAN, M. D., LL. D.

New York City. ]

WALSH’S IRISH REGIMENT OF MARINE ARTILLERY, FRENCH ARMY.

BY T. H. MURRAY, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE SOCIETY.

A few years ago there was issued from the government printing office at Washington, D. C., a volume entitled: _A Calendar of John Paul Jones Manuscripts in the Library of Congress_.

The volume is of great interest, is arranged chronologically and contains 883 entries. Most of these mention letters written to and from Jones during the Revolution and cover a great deal of ground relating to that trying period. These records are very valuable.

Frequent mention is made in them of Walsh’s Irish Regiment of Marine Artillery, French Army, and the Calendar, as published, also mentions other people of Irish birth or blood who took a prominent part in the struggle for American liberty. We extract from the book:

1779. Feb. 5 =Fitz-Maurice=, ——, Chevalier de. _A captain in Walsh’s Irish regiment, French army._ “Quimper.” [Quimber, France.] Letter to Capt. [John Paul] Johnes [Jones], L’Orient. Recommends “Mr. [Edward] Stack a Lieutenant of this Regiment”, who desires service under Jones; his abilities; recommends also “Mr. [Eugene] Macarty” [Macarthy]; requests that information be given “those Gentlemen” respecting their pay and prize money; it is necessary for them to obtain leave from Court; desires information regarding method of procedure.

1779. Mar. 1. =Fitz-Maurice=, ——, Chevalier de. _A captain in Walsh’s Irish regiment, French army._ Quimper, [Quimber, France.] Letter to Capt. [John Paul] Jones, [L’Orient]. Acknowledges receipt of letter of 26th ult.; is pleased with success of his journey to Paris; makes him his “most sincere compliments” on his fine command [the _Bon Homme Richard_]; thanks him for his offer to accompany him; only possible by order of the King; “would cheerfully comply” with such orders if given; “our Gentlemen desire their compliments to you.”

1779. Mar. 3. =Macarthy=, [Eugene.] _A lieutenant in Walsh’s Irish Regiment, French army._ Quimper, [Quimber, France.] Letter to Capt. [John Paul] Jones, L’Orient. Has heard that Jones has received the command of a frigate of 40 guns [the _Bon Homme Richard_] and that he desires officers; wishes to “make a Campaigne * * * under command of a Gentleman who has Distinguished himself by his Superior talents”; requests information on all things relating to his purpose.

1779. Mar. — =Fitz-Maurice=, ——, Chevalier de. _A captain in Walsh’s Irish regiment, French army._ “Quimper”, [France.] Letter to [Capt. John Paul] Jones, L’Orient. Hopes he mentioned “Lts. [Edward] Stack and [Eugene] Macarty” [Macarthy] only in writing to Court; impossible for Fitz-Maurice himself to accompany Jones; latter should have seen that “such expeditions are not fitt for persons of my rank”; if Jones has taken any steps relative to Fitz-Maurice joining him hopes he will “countermand” them; requests information respecting the “conditions, treatment &c.” which will be given the “two Gentlemen” of whom he wrote. Endorsed by Jones: * * * rec’d May 1st.

1779. May 20. =Fitz-Maurice=, ——, Chevalier de. _A captain in Walsh’s Irish regiment, French army._ “Painbœuf,” [France.] Letter to Capt. [John Paul] Jones, L’Orient. Acknowledges receipt of letter of 1st inst.; considers Jones’s offer as a mark of “favour and friendship”; regrets that Jones mistook the “sense” of his letter [of March —, 1779]; regards the offer [to take Fitz-Maurice on the _Bon Homme Richard_] in a “most flattering light”; did not desire any steps taken “opposite the Court” as he feared Col. [Francois Jacques Comte] Walsh[-Serrant]’s opposition; it might serve as an impediment to Fitz-Maurice’s future advancement. Addressed care of [James] Moiland [Moylan].

1779. Jun. 14. =Walsh-Serrant=, [François Jacques,] Comte de. _Colonel of the Irish regiment of marine artillery, French army._ Paimboeuf, [France.] Letter [to Capt. John Paul Jones, Groaix]. Reputation of Jones in Walsh’s regiment is such that [James Gerald] O’Kelly, sub-lieutenant of grenadiers, wishes to join his two comrades [Edward] Stack and [Eugene] Macarthy in serving under his command; feels it best that O’Kelly should serve against the common foe wherever he wishes; recommends him in the highest terms.

1779. Jun. 18. =Moylan=, J[ames.] _Merchant and United States commercial agent at L’Orient._ L’Orient, [France.] Letter to [Capt.] John P[aul] Jones, [Groaix]. Introduces “Mr. [James Gerald] O’Kelly”; he has resigned from Walsh’s regiment in hopes of “going under your orders”; has strong recommendations; “he will cheerfully embrace” any vacancy on the “_Poor Richard_” [_Bon Homme Richard_].

1779. Jun. 18. =Nesbitt=, Jonat[han.] _Banker, L’Orient._ L’Orient, [France.] Letter to [Capt.] John P[aul] Jones [Groaix]. Introduces “Mr. [James Gerald] O’Kelly, Lieutenant of Grenadiers in the regt. of Walsh”; his recommendations; service to O’Kelly will be regarded as a favor to himself.

1779. Oct. 21. =Stack of Crotts=, _A captain in Walsh’s Irish regiment, French army_. “pinboeuf” [Paimboeuf, France.] Letter [to Capt. John Paul Jones, The Texel, Holland]. Requests information respecting [his son] Edmond [Edward?] Stack, Lieut., Walsh’s Irish regiment; was appointed [Lt. Col. of Marines] on the _Bon Homme Richard_; fears he is dead; if he has served like a “gentleman and a Soldier I Shant half regret his death”; “his loss will lie heavy ’pon me the rest of my days.”

1779. Oct. 22. [=Stack=, Edward.] _A lieutenant in Walsh’s Irish Regiment, French army, and formerly Volunteer on U. S. S. “Bon Homme Richard.”_ The Texel, [Holland]. Affidavit respecting escape of deserters. Escape on Oct. 1st? of twenty-six seamen from the _Serapis_; with aid from the _Pallas_ sixteen men were captured; five were drowned and five escaped; Capt. [Denis Nicolas] Cottineau [de Kloguene] gave an account of this occurrence to the Commandant of the Road of Texel [Commodore —— Reimersima]. Attestation of “Lt. Col” [Antoine Felix] Wiebert [Wybert], Richard Dale, Samuel Stacy, John Mayrant and Beaumont Kroube [Groube], officers of the United States squadron, that the above statement is correct and that the deserters were enlisted and swore allegiance to the United States.

1779. Nov. 25. =Walsh-Serrant=, [François Jacques,] Comte de. _Colonel of the Irish regiment of marine artillery, French army._ Paris. Letter to [Edward] Stack, [The Texel?, Holland]. Has received orders from the [French] Court for the embarkation of the second battalion of his regiment for the Antilles; impossible for him to remain with [Capt. John] Paul Jones; hopes this order for his immediate return to his regiment will reach him through [Paul François de Quélen,] Duc de La Vauguyon; he has the thanks of the King [Louis XVI] for his brave conduct while with Jones.

1785. Apr. 13. =Jones=, [John] Paul. _Capt., U. S. navy._ Paris. Certificate to [Lieut.] Edward Stack. Gives an account of Stack’s services on the _Bon Homme Richard_; with the consent of [Benjamin] Franklin gave him a commission of brevet lieutenant of marines in the U. S. navy; on being ordered to the West Indies in Nov. 1779 Stack received from Louis XVI a commission of captain and a reward of 400 livres; now wishes to join the Society of the Cincinnati; Jones has no doubt that he merits the honor; considers that “a similar opinion” from Comte d’Estaign, Comte de Rochambeau, Marquis de Lafayette, Marquis de Saint Simon and Col. Humphreys “at the foot hereof” with the payment of a months wages into the charitable fund of the Society will give him standing in America as a member.

1785. Apr. 17. =Macarthy=, [Eugene.] _A Captain in Walsh’s Irish regiment, French army._ Paris. Certificate regarding “Commodore” [Capt. John] Paul Jones. Certifies that at the time of the

## action between the _Serapis_ and the _Bon Homme Richard_ the

latter vessel was rendered unseaworthy; on deciding to abandon her the care incidental to transporting the wounded to the _Serapis_ prevented Jones from saving his personal effects or those of the crew.

1785. Apr. 19. =Stack=, [Edward.] _A Captain in Walsh’s Irish regiment, French army._ Paris. Certificate regarding [Capt. John] Paul Jones. Certifies that neither Jones nor his crew were able to save their personal effects after the engagement between the _Bon Homme Richard_ and the _Serapis_.

One battalion of the Regiment of Walsh fought at Savannah. The rest of the command also rendered valiant service during the war, as did likewise the Regiment of Dillon. The following general extracts are also from the John Paul Jones papers:

1776. Nov. 3. =Gallagher=, Bernard. _Midshipman, U. S. brig “Providence.”_ Boston. Letter to Capt. John [Paul] Jones, Philadelphia. Taken prisoner by the _Gen. Gates_, Capt. William Kilton, and carried into Canser [Canso, Nova Scotia]; attempted to escape but was captured and put in irons by Capt. [ ] Dawson; owing to representations of Capt. [ ] Dory was “fetched to Halifax”; confined for two weeks; then taken to Marblehead, [Massachusetts] on the _Carlisle_; arrived at Boston Nov. 2d with James Rogers and George Nicholson; left Benjamin Allen, John Fears and [ ] Munroe ill on the _Carlisle_; hopes to reach Philadelphia before Jones’s departure; wishes his chest sent to James Gallagher.

1776. Nov. 15. =J[ones,]= J[ohn] P[aul.] _Capt., U. S. S. “Alfred.”_ _Alfred_, off Newfoundland. Orders to Philip Brown. Appoints him to command the prize _Mellish_; is to accompany the _Alfred_ and render assistance if called on; if separated is to proceed to nearest port in the United States, preferably Rhode Island. “By order of the Senior Officer, James Hogan, Secretary.” Autograph draft signed.

1777. Jan. 18. =Gallagher=, Bernard. _Master, U. S. merchant ship._ [Philadelphia?] Letter to Capt. John Paul Jones, Boston. Has written two letters to him; last was sent in care of John Manley; wishes money due [George] Lovie [Lavie?] and [James] Beckup to remain unpaid until his articles [list enclosed] of which they disposed to widow Weeding and others in Newport, are returned; if money be allowed him, wishes it remitted to Conyngham & Nesbitt, Philadelphia merchants, of whose private ship he is engaged as master; the _Favorite_ has been retaken and carried to the Bermudas; has seen [ ] Wesley and [ ] Hardy.

[1777. Mar.] =Manley=, John and others. _Capts., U. S. navy._ [Boston.] “Uniform dress for the Navy agreed to at Boston by the major part of the Captains.” Signed by Captains John Manley, Hector McNeill, Dudley Saltonstall, E[lisha] Hinman, Joseph Olney, John Roche, John Paul Jones, Hector McNeill for Thomas Thompson, Joseph Olney for Abraham Whipple. Copy by Hector McNeill.

1778. May 10. =MacNamarra=, —— Chevalier de. _Lieutenant French ship of war “Charmante.”_ Brest, [France.] Letter to Capt. [John Paul] Jones, [Brest]. Regrets not having seen him before leaving; desired to compliment him on his success; reasons therefor; “Le Chevr. de Clonard,” his friend, expresses his regrets also; apologizes for writing in French; will wait for him at San Domingues.

1778. Nov. 10. =Moylan=, James. _Merchant and United States commercial agent at L’Orient._ L’Orient, [France.] Letter to Capt. J[ohn] P[aul] Jones, Brest. Acknowledges receipt of his letter by [Joseph] Whittal [Whitall]; has received his letter of 4th inst. also; information respecting ships suitable for purchase; the _Beaumont_ not yet returned from America; the _Turgot_ sold; recommends the _Duras_ [_Bon Homme Richard_]; sends orders from Samuel Smalliorse of the _Hampden_ for £670 to [Lieut. Peter] Amiel; [Capt. Thomas] Bell sends “compts.”

1778. Dec. 19. =Mehegan=, John. _Clergyman and chaplain to Comte d’Orvilliers._ Brest, [France.] Letter to [Capt.] John Paul Jones, [L’Orient]. Has not heard from him for sixteen days; regrets being deprived “of news of a man * * * so much valued and esteemed”; hopes to be informed by him respecting the “encouragement you so merit”; regards to [Lieut. Peter] Amiel; message is being sent by [ ] Le Lay; compliments to [James] “Moyland”; the “Colfat” wishes to be remembered; an escaped prisoner from the British ship _Losely_ offers Jones his services; [ ] Monier wishes his nephew to enlist as a volunteer.

1778. Dec. 21. [=Jones=, John Paul.] _Capt., U. S. navy._ L’Orient, [France.] Letter to “The Revd. John Mayhagan” [Mehegan], Brest. Capt. Thomas Bell may deliver this letter to him; if so, requests that Mehegan obtain for Bell two hogsheads of porter belonging to Jones but now with the King’s store; one is to be taken to Robert Morris, the other is for Bell and J[ohn] Brown. Autograph draft.

1778. Dec. 23. [=Jones=, John Paul.] _Capt., U. S. navy._ L’Orient, [France.] Letter to “The Revd. Father John” [Mehegan], Brest. Acknowledges receipt of letter of Dec. 19th by [ ] Le Lay; is not “occupied either by Love or War”; to write would have given him some “token of existence merely not of Life”; a few days will “remove my doubts or realize my fears”; will write him the “true account”; has given Capt. [Thomas] Bell a letter to him respecting the delivery of his [Jones’s] porter; has sent to the American Commissioners the memorial of [British] prisoners; will do all in his power to effect an early exchange; [Lieut. Peter] Amiel is well and returns his compliments; “Present my compliments to the Bishop, and the _Calfateur_”; congratulates him on the safe delivery of the Queen [of France]; “She is a _Sweet Girl_ and deserves to be Happy”; requests that inventories of prize ships at Brest be sent to John Ross, Nantes, and [Joseph] Whitall, Bordeaux, in care of [John] Bonfield [Bondfield]. Autograph draft.

1779. Mar. 9. [=Jones=, John Paul.] _Capt., U. S. S. “Bon Homme Richard.”_ [L’Orient, France.] Letter to Capt. John Plaince, Cork, [Ireland]. Has been impossible to forward the within bill until now; “It is the last of the set drawn by Mr. [ ] Newberry”; those drawn by [Louis Daniel] Charrier are lost; letter [of Mar. 9, 1778] will explain everything, both as to “present and future Remittances from the same hand”; this letter “contained no Sentiment whatsoever that did not * * * flow directly from the Heart of the Author”; Miss Plaince’s answer to letter of June 1st was received open; “interruption of that correspondence has been owing to no change of Sentiment * * * and the parties are now and will continue real Friends.” Autograph draft.

1779. Apr. 11. [=Jones=, John Paul.] _Capt., U. S. S. “Bon Homme Richard.”_ L’Orient, [France.] Orders [to Lieut. Peter Amiel, Brest]. Is to proceed to Paimboeuf to join [Matthew] Mease with Americans who have enlisted to serve under Jones; if wind is favorable is to bring them to L’Orient in vessel provided by [Jonathan] Williams; otherwise to come by land; hopes that others will join them when they know that Jones is about to sail for America; is then to proceed to Angoulême to the cannon foundry of [Louis] Sezarac L’ainé et fils; is to send proportions of 8 and 18 pounders to [James] Moylan; instructions governing his stay at Angoulême. Secretary’s draft.

1779. Apr. 30. [=Jones=, John Paul.] _Capt., U. S. S. “Bon Homme Richard.”_ L’Orient, [France.] Letter to “Revd. father John” [Mehegan, Brest]. Is informed by [Jonathan] Williams, his “Friend and Attorney”, that the American agent at Nantes [John D. Schweighauser] wishes a revaluation made of the Countess of Selkirk’s plate; has given his consent to this; thinks [ ] Cortentine will feel affronted at the revision of the first estimate; directions concerning the revaluation; requests that Mehegan be present; judges that Williams will forward [plate] to L’Orient when revalued; desires a chaplain; arrived from Paris a few days since; met [Lt.] Gen. [Louis Guillouet, Comte] d’Orvilliers “on the road”; is “this day so sick” that he writes in bed; wishes an early reply.

1779. May 1–3. [=Jones=, John Paul.] _Capt., U. S. S. “Bon Homme Richard.”_ L’Orient, [France.] Officers of auxiliary vessels under command of. (May 1.) _Pallas_: Denis Nicolas Cottineau de Kerloguen [Kloguene], Captain; Henry Ange François Le Meignan, Pierre François Magonet and Beninge Worle des Essart Mischateau, Lieutenants; François Pettibon de La Masc, Master; Maurice O’Connell, Capt. of Marines; Jean Petit, Surgeon. (May 2.) _Cerf_: Joseph Varage, Captain; Armand Coudre La Coudrais, Lieutenant. (May 3.) _Vengeance_: Philippe Nicolas Ricot, Captain; Pierre Vinet de Nantes and Nicolas Lejoille de St. Valery, Lieutenants; Jean Beaudot de Rennes en Bretagne, Master.

1779. May 18. =Manoville=, ——, Le Chevalier de. Brest, [France.] Letter to Capt. John Paul Jones, [L’Orient]. Understands that he can obtain from Jones some Irish salted butter; if such is the case would like to purchase some.

1779. Dec. 17. =O’Connell=, [Maurice.] _Capt., U. S. marines._ Rotterdam, [Holland.] Letter to [Capt. John Paul] Jones, The Texel. Regrets that he could not have seen Jones before leaving the Helder; considered himself too old to be under [Capt. Paul de] Chamillard’s orders; if he had been embarked with Jones, would not have left; has been taken for “the brave Paul Jones” in many places; as a result has been highly complimented; will rejoin him if needed; letters should be addressed to him in care of “Marquis De Brancas” [Louis Marie Bufile Brancas, Marquis de Lauraguais?]; wishes Jones would write a line to [Benjamin] Franklin in his behalf. Endorsed: “From Captain O’Connally * * *”

1780. May 15. =Sarsfield=, ——, Count. [Paris.] Letter to [Capt. John Paul] Jones, Passy. Understands that Jones is to leave on Wednesday, [May 17th]; wishes an interview before that time; will remain at home Tuesday afternoon; would go to Passy but fears that they will miss each other; “will certainly call upon Dr. [Benjamin] Franklin Wednesday morning”; if Jones postpones his departure until the afternoon will be happy to wish him Godspeed.

NEHEMIAH WALTER, BORN IN IRELAND, 1663.

At a meeting of the Cambridge (Mass.) Historical Society held in Cambridge in 1906, a paper was read by William Coolidge Lane, Esq., in which he devoted some attention to the career of Nehemiah Walter. The matter is of so interesting a nature that we here reproduce a portion of the paper, the title of which is “The Nehemiah Walter Elegy on Elijah Corlet.” Walter was born in Ireland in 1663 and came to New England in 1679. Mr. Lane tells us that he became a minister highly esteemed here.

At the age of thirteen he is said to have readily conversed in Latin. He had been apprenticed to an upholsterer in 1674, but it was found that his tastes were altogether literary. After coming to this country, he was at first placed under Ezekiel Cheever, the Boston schoolmaster, but entered college almost immediately, in 1680. He was butler in 1683, and graduated in 1684. Soon after, he made a voyage to Nova Scotia, where he became proficient in French, but returned to study in Cambridge, and was often employed by Corlet as his assistant. “It reflected a luster on his character that the memorable Mr. Elijah Corlet, master of the Grammar School in Cambridge, used to express a distinguishing value for him by employing him to officiate at times in the care of his school when obliged to be absent himself, always esteeming his place well supplied by Mr. Walter, and fully confiding in his skill, prudence and diligence.”

The Elegy was composed when he was but three years out of college, and was still studying for the ministry in Cambridge. In 1688 he was ordained as a colleague with John Eliot in Roxbury, Mass., then 84 years old. His people in Roxbury, and Eliot himself, showed a deep affection for him, and the liveliest satisfaction at having secured him for their minister. Walter continued as the minister of the church in Roxbury up to 1750, so that his ministry and Eliot’s together covered a period of one hundred and eighteen years. He was for many years a member of the corporation of Harvard College, and sided with Increase Mather, his father-in-law. After Mather’s exclusion from the presidency, he attended no more meetings of the corporation, and was considered to have abdicated his office.

[Illustration:

HON. EUGENE A. PHILBIN.

A Regent of the University of the State of New York.

A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY. ]

IRISH INFLUENCE IN THE LIFE OF BALTIMORE.

BY D. J. SCULLY OF BALTIMORE, MD.

It is a peculiar thing to study out fairly, even without setting down aught except that which can be actually proved, what an important part Irishmen have taken in shaping this Irish-named city which in the estimation of those who do not stop to think, is deemed an “Anglo-Saxon” community. This phrase, Anglo-Saxon, is now the thing, especially among some educators. It is a handy phrase. It may mean something, but as often means nothing in particular.

It is like the stuff coined at trial tables, such as “brain-storms” and “Dementia Americana,” sufficient for the atmosphere of a courtroom, but no where else on earth, where common sense is supposed to prevail. Hence the delicious and unmeaning phrase, “Anglo-Saxon” this and “Anglo-Saxon” that, as used by the educated few, to mislead the so-called uneducated many. It is naturally a bold man who would call an Irishman an Anglo-Saxon to his face, but the average American educationalist and writer does not make such statements to the Gael in propria persona.

He does it at long range, and hides behind his school book and his inkwell until the storm has passed by. The Irish who have influenced and who have directed in many ways the past of Baltimore laid no claim to be Anglo-Saxons and no one in their day sought to claim them as such. They were rather proud of their Irish birth and descent and made no effort to hide it. But it was a fact that it was no shame in those days to be Irish, and nobody thought so, not even the English.

If it had been so awful to be Irish, no doubt the early settlers and founders of the city would have never allowed it to be named Baltimore. Prior to the Revolution the most important merchants and educators, and even professional men in the town, were Irish by birth. They laid the foundation of the town’s trade and commerce and built it up not only morally and physically, but financially. The man who laid the foundation of the town’s trade was Dr. John Stevenson, who, although a physician, had an eye to trade, and coming direct from Ireland deemed it wise to establish a line of ships between this city and Irish ports.