60
HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.
her depredations against the British commerce as injurious as they possibly couldhave been, if France had reigned undisputed mistress of the sea. It was natural thatthis species of advantage should create a murmur among the numerous and formi-dable body whom it peculiarly concerned, as violent as though the whole navy ofEngland had been annihilated by the mismanagement of those who had the guidance
of its force. Scarcely had the war commenced, ere the complaints on the different
and varied grounds of extravagant expenditure, misconduct, neglect, and the em-
ployment of particular persons who had, on different occasions, rendered themselves
obnoxious, acquired sufficient strength to become the object of parliamentary at-
tention *. The House of Lords, in the month of February, 1704-5, had the
boldness,
Description. Names.
Fire-ships. Lightning
Fate.
Taken 1705 .
Hawk.
Hunter.
Phoenix.
Vulture.
Terrible.
Griffin.
Fire-brand — — Lost off Scilly 1707.
Stromboli.
Mermaid.
Harman.
Earl-Galley.
V ulcan.
Vefuvius - — Lost at Spithead in the great storm.
Hulk. Arrogant.
May it please your Majesty,
and obedient subjects, the lords spiritual and temporal
your Majesty’s most
liament assembled, having referred several books and papers laid before the house from the treasury,
admiralty, and navy offices, to a committee; and received and fully considered their reports there-upon, think ourselves bound in duty to represent to your Majesty the following observations :
“ It appears to us, by the accounts of the navy, that the charge of the navy, exclusive of the ord-nance for sea-service, for the last three years, amounts to the sum of ,£. 6 ,559,1 27 . 12 s. It doesalso appear, by the books delivered by the lord-treasurer, that the provision designed by parliamentfor the service of the navy, excluding the ordnance for sea-service for the said three years, amountedto the sum of/■.6, 193 , 094 . I5r.; so that, the charge of the navy, within that time, exceeded whatdesigned by parliament, beside the charge of the ordnance for sea-servicej the sum of
,£.366,032.
was