826 Ann. Naval Expeditions, &c. of the English,

17 07. present incognito, a Petition given in bythe Sheriffs of London, and subscribedby about two Hundred of the most emi-nent Merchants of the City, was read,complaining of the Great Losses theyhad lately sustained at Sea, for Wantof Convoys and Cruizers, and begginga speedy Remedy. A very warm De-bate ensued, and several remarkableSpeeches were made on that Account,which ended with the appointing aCommittee to receive Proposals for En-couraging of Trade and Privateers inthe Wes-Indies, and resolving to hearthe Merchants farther in a Grand Com-mittee, the six and twentieth. TheCommons had, about the same Time, thesame Matter under their Consideration.They had ordered, the thirteenth, aState of the Navy, from the Beginningof the War, and several other Accountsand Estimates to be laid before theHouse. The fifteenth, a Petition fromseveral Merchants of London was pre-sented to that House, containing the sameComplaints as to the Lords. The seven-

teenth, they voted the same Supply forthe Navy as they had done for the fore-going Year. The nineteenth, they or-dered some farther Estimates and Ac-counts to be laid before them relatingto the Navy. (m)

The seven and twentieth, the Com-mons, in a Grand Committe, -took intoConsideration the State of the Navy,and Trade of the Nation, and a greatmany Merchants were admitted into theHouse, to make good the Allegations,in their Petition, (n) Several Days wereafterwards employed on the same Af-fair, the Complaints against AdmiralWhetstone and the Commadores Edwardsand Kerr examined into, (0) and manyother Papers and Accounts were calledfor; The Lords likewise took theseMatters under their Considerations, thefourth of December, and took severalResolutions; But as I shall resume thisMatter, at the Beginning of my Rela-tion of the Occurrences of the ensuingYear, I shall say no more of them here.(P)

CHAP.

Barnes.- .

Annals ofE- Ann.

(m) Great Losses were made (fays Bp Bur-net) and all was imputed to the Weakness, or toa worse Disposition, in some, who had Credit withthe Prince, and were believed to govern thatwhole Matter : For, as they were entirely posses-sed of the Prince's Confidence,so when thePrince'sCouncil were divided in their Opinions, the Deci-sion was left to the Prince, who understood verylittle of thofeMatters, and was always determinedothers. By this Means, they were really LordHigh Admiral, without being liable to the Law,for Errors or Miscarriages. This Council wasnot a legal Court, warranted by any Law, tho’they assumed that to themselves ; Being Councel-lors, they were bound to answer only for theirFidelity. Not only the Prince, but the Queen,likewise, concerned Herself much in this Mat-ter: And both looked on it as a Design levelledat their Authority.

In the Prosecution of the Enquiry, it appear-ed, that many Ships of War were not fitted out,to be put to Sea ; But lay in Port neglected, andin great Decay ; That Convoys had been oftensiatly denied the Merchants, and that, when theywere promised, they were so long delayed, thatthe Merchants lost their Markets, were put togreat Charges, and, when they had perishableGoods, suffered great Damage in them. TheCruizers were not ordered to proper Stations inthe Channel: And when Convoys were appoint-ed, and ready to put to Sea, they had not theirfailing Orders sent them, 'till the Enemies werelaid in theirWay, prepared to fall on them, whichhad often happened. Many Advertisements, bywhich these Misfortunes might have been pre-vented, had been offered to the Admiralty, buthad not only been neglected by them, but those,who offered them, had been ill treated for doingit.

(n) Mr. Heathcote (Sop of Sir Gilbert) andMr. Dausn his Partner, two Rujsta Merchants

made long and bold Speeches against the Admiral"ty, whom they charged with Malice, Fraud andIgnorance, particularly in Relation to the RussiaFleet. Some Members, to curry Favour withthe Court, endeavoured several Times, to inter-rupt them; But Sir Richard Onflow, Chairman ofthe Committee, desired them to go on,which theydid with great Freedom, and offered to provewhat they advanced, both by Papers, and theTestimony of a great many Merchants there pre-sent.

( 0 ) They were convinced that those againstthe former, as well as against Sir Thomas Hardy,(as I have observed above) were groundless; Butfor the latter I lhall have Occasion to fay morebelow.

(j 0) By a List of the Royal Navy, publishedthis Year, it appears to have been as follows:

Rates.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Fire-ships.

Yachts.

Bomb-Vessels.

Store-ships.

Sloops.

Advice-Boat.

Brigantines.

Ketches.

Hulks.

Hoys.

Number.

7 )

14C 130 of the Line45 \ of Battle.

64)

40 )

26 >■ for Cruising.

L"

iff 1

9

2

91

1 !> 79 Small Craft.

3

2

15

22 j

In all 284