[Taltarzac725]

It seems like getting an accurate telling of a battle's actions is often impossible and has made many a historian quite drowsy trying to do so. John Paul Jones' letters to Ben Franklin often brought that out. There is quite a lot of irony in the uncertainty surrounding the words most associated with Jones may never have actually been said by him. There is an outage of fact checkers in pretty much any battle because of the fog of war and the truth often gets pruned and very dramatic sounding legends put in their place.

http://www.thehistorychannelclub.com...begun-to-fight

From above linked article about The Battle of Flamborough Head involving the flagships Serapis and the Bonhomme Richard

“I answered him in the most determined negative,” Jones wrote to Franklin a few days after the battle.

Several contemporary accounts have Jones answering, “I may sink, but I’m damned if I’ll strike” (i.e., strike the colors). Midshipman Fanning heard him say, “Yankees do not haul down their colors until they are fairly beaten.” A deserter from his crew was quoted as describing Jones’ response in this colorful fashion: “Whenever the devil was ready to take him, he would rather obey his summons than strike to anyone.”

It is hardly surprising that there are so many differing accounts of what an officer said in the heat of battle. After all, nobody listening was in a position to write it down. What is worth noting is that virtually every eyewitness account of the battle agrees that this dramatic exchange, worthy of a Hollywood screenplay, really did take place.

Jones himself offered a version of his response in a memoir he wrote to French King Louis XVI some eight years after the battle. “I do not dream of surrendering, but I am determined to make you strike.” Similar words appear in a London Evening Post account a few weeks after the battle that offers Jones’ side of the story.

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

May 1, 2013 Word Jumble answers.

Cease.
Weapon.
Smooch.
Young.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

It seems like getting an accurate telling of a battle's actions is often impossible and has made many a historian quite drowsy trying to do so. John Paul Jones' letters to Ben Franklin often brought that out. There is quite a lot of irony in the uncertainty surrounding the words most associated with Jones may never have actually been said by him. There is an outage of fact checkers in pretty much any battle because of the fog of war and the truth often gets pruned and very dramatic sounding legends put in their place.

http://www.thehistorychannelclub.com...begun-to-fight

From above linked article about The Battle of Flamborough Head involving the flagships Serapis and the Bonhomme Richard

During the Battle of Flamborough Head, Pierre Landais, Captain of Alliance had fired on both the Serapis as well as the Bonhomme Richard as they were locked in a struggle. Pierre Landais was a Continental Naval Captain supported by Arthur Lee. Franklin got involved with this lengthy and bitter dispute about who should captain the Alliance now that the Bonhomme Richard lay sunk off the Yorkshire coast. This internecine fray did not cease until Landais commandeered the Alliance and sailed away. http://youtu.be/z0gHj9TxVRc

After the battle, however, on another front in the struggles Jones had with social acceptance, Franklin provided young Jones with just the right weapon in an initiation into the Nine Sisters Masonic Lodge as well as a visit to King Louis XVI. We can just see Franklin and Jones smooching the hand of the King. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Neuf_S%C5%93urs

[Taltarzac725]

Garlic.
Zealot.
Agent.
Sense.

For checking today's Word Jumble answers-- http://www.uclick.com/client/sea/tmj.../03/index.html

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Garlic.
Zealot.
Agent.
Sense.

Franklin was something of a zealot with respect to his idealism towards the motives of the French for helping the fledging Americans. On the other hand, John Adams was very much a realist who put garlic on the dish served by Franklin to the French which really spiced things up between Franklin and Adams who rarely saw eye-to-eye. Adams even saw Franklin as sometimes being the champion and agent of the from countries whose people worshipped Ben Franklin. John Adams seemed in hindsight to have the best sense of where history would prove the real motives were. http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=9677

Mr Adams has given Offence to the Court here by some Sentiments and Expressions contained in several of his Letters written to the Count de Vergennes. I mention this with Reluctance, tho’ perhaps it would have been my Duty to acquaint you with such a Circumstance, even were it not required of me by the Minister himself. . . . It is true that Mr Adams’s proper Business is elsewhere, but the Time not being come for that Business, and having nothing else here wherewith to employ himself, he seems to have endeavour’d supplying what he may suppose my Negociations defective in. He thinks as he tells me himself, that America has been too free in Expressions of Gratitude to France; for that she is more obliged to us than we to her; and that we should shew Spirit in our Applications. I apprehend that he mistakes his Ground, and that this Court is to be treated with Decency & Delicacy.

The King [Louis XVI], a young and virtuous Prince, has, I am persuaded, a Pleasure in reflecting on the generous Benevolence of the Action, in assisting an oppress’d People, and proposes it as a Part of the Glory of his Reign: I think it right to encrease this Pleasure by our thankful Acknowledgements; and that such an Expression of Gratitude is not only our Duty but our Interest. A different Conduct seems to me what is not only improper and unbecoming, but what may be hurtful to us. Mr Adams, on the other Hand, who at the same time means our Welfare and Interest as much as I, or any Man can do, seems to think a little apparent Stoutness and greater Air of Independence & Boldness in our Demands, will procure us more ample Assistance. It is for the Congress to judge and regulate their Affairs accordingly. [French Foreign Minister] M. De Vergennes, who appears much offended, told me yesterday, that he would enter into no further Discussions with Mr Adams, nor answer any more of his Letters. He is gone to Holland to try, as he told me, whether something might not be done to render us a little less dependent on France.
(Letter from Franklin to Samuel Huntington, President of Congress, August 9, 1780. National Archives, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, ARC 6277098)

[Taltarzac725]

http://www.chron.com/entertainment/c.../comic/Jumble/

Affect.
Obese.
Ounce.
Driver.


Timed test on today's Word Jumble answers-- http://www.uclick.com/client/sea/tmj.../04/index.html

If you cannot wait until tomorrow this has a timed the Word Jumble puzzle for today-- http://www.uclick.com/client/sea/tmj.../06/index.html

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Affect.
Obese.
Ounce.
Driver.


Timed test on today's Word Jumble answers-- Jumble | Seattle Times Newspaper

The Patriot - Yorktown Siege & British Surrender [HD] - YouTube

Many a Frenchman probably became obese celebrating the affect of the 1781 Battle of Yorktown on the peace negotiations. Franklin got back in the driver's seat after this American victory after Lord Cornwallis surrendered leaving the English Lord without an ounce of pride.

[Taltarzac725]

Novel.
Decay.
Nearly.
Outlaw.

[Taltarzac725]

On July 27, 1783, Franklin wrote Joseph Banks: "I join with you most cordially in rejoicing at the return of peace. I hope it will be lasting, and that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats; for, in my opinion, there never was a good war, or a bad peace. What vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility! What an extension of agriculture, even to the tops of our mountains; what rivers rendered navigable, or joined by canals; what bridges, aqueducts, new roads, and other public works, edifices, and improvements, rendering England a complete paradise, might have been obtained by spending those millions in doing good, which in the last war have been spent in doing mischief; in bringing misery into thousands of families, and destroying the lives of so many thousands of working people, who might have performed the useful labor!"

Oh that we could outlaw war and its decay. What a nearly Utopian world it might be but how truly novel as well.

[Taltarzac725]

Sunday's Word Jumble answers:

Trill.
Elope.
Nether.
Sexton.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Sunday's Word Jumble answers:

Trill.
Elope.
Nether.
Sexton.

Ben Franklin knew he was soon for the nether regions and the sexton would soon be ringing the bells for his funeral. He tried to keep his actions trill in the lingo of 2010s Hip-Hop. This means both true and real and least as far as he could given his very charming manner. He could see, for instance, the use of the hot air balloons he had observed while in France and their use in war but probably also joked with various mademoiselles that these ladies should elope with him before it was too late. http://www.sandiegohotairballoons.co...g_history.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloonomania

Monday's Word Jumble. Answers tomorrow. http://www.chron.com/entertainment/c.../comic/Jumble/

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Icing.
Beware.
Switch.
Igloo.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Icing.
Beware.
Switch.
Igloo.

I wonder if Ben Franklin would now be surprised that his name can be found adorning streets next to igloos to that of the avenue on which you could find a T.G.I. Friday on 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philly to roads where you must always be beware of your surroundings in major urban areas. Would this be icing on his birthday cake or something he would wish switched to something else?

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble - Houston Chronicle


Chaos.
Avoid.
Bitten.
Emerge.

Today's timed Word Jumble puzzle.
http://www.uclick.com/client/sea/tmj.../08/index.html

Franklin's celebrity might have had a misguided affect on the French as they were bitten by democratic bug which they caught from him and others like him like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and even took up Franklin's idea of a unicameral legislative body which avoided the two headed snake idea brought up by Franklin of two headed snake trying to get through brush which dies of thrist because one head wants to go left around the branch and other other desires the right side. Chaos in other words. The Americans avoided the problem of power being in too few hands with no checks and balances leaving the chance that a very gifted leader would emerge and steer people towards violence and hatred. http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclop...nch-Revolution

[Taltarzac725]

Jumble - Houston Chronicle

Ahead.
Appear.
Double.
Husky.

http://www.uclick.com/client/sea/tmj.../09/index.html