Why was John Paul Jones given an honory pardon by Whitehaven?

Whitehaven was town that was famous in the American Revolutionary War that had an important role in both the Revolutionary War and in John Paul Jones’s life. John Paul Jones began his naval career in Whitehaven which is ironic with its involvement in the Revolutionary War.

In 1778, two years after the beginning of the war, Jones decided he wanted to attack Whitehaven. His leaders in his navy were not wanting to do this which angered Jones. He later wrote words against his leaders’ wishes.

However, the attack never happened since the windy weather made them stop the attack. This is probably the reason he got a pardon from Whitehaven because he never attacked them and his thoughts to attack were in good faith.