Whitehaven at that time was a city of 50,000 inhabitants and the harbor was filled with shipping.

His plan was to sail in among the craft and burn them all.

It seemed like the idea of a man bereft of his senses, but there was not the slightest hesitation on his part.

Such enterprises often succeed through their very boldness, and his belief was that by acting quickly he could accomplish his purpose and strike a blow at England that would carry consternation to the people and the government.
Captain Jones had in mind the many outrages committed by British vessels along our seacoast, for, describing his purpose in a memorial to Congress, he said his intention was, by one good fire in England of British shipping, "to put an end to all burnings in America.".