HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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self had raised no inconsiderable degree of displeasure in the nation by his verystrong, and peculiar attachment to Admiral Churchill, brother to the Duke ofMarlborough: for the pride with which the latter carried himself, together with thecontemptuous manner in which he affected to treat the general and very justly-founded complaints, had raised the displeasure of the people almost to a pitch offrenzy. If any thing had been wanting to render him still more obnoxious, therepeated misfortunes which befel some of the most valuable fleets that everquitted the ports of Britain, furnished very sufficient materials to feed that firewhich had been so fiercely kindled. After a series of murmuring representations,less consequential than that which, in some measure, closed the dispute, the con-troversy, and the blame attached to the public losses, was brought to a publicissue *. The principal heads will be found in the abstract given beneath : to have

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and, therefore, we cannot doubt but your Majesty will consider of the fittest measures, and-give the mosteffectual order for restoring and establishing true discipline of the navy ; and, as we are very sure yourMajesty is touched in the most sensible manner with the late heavy Josses of the merchants, and thepersons of many hundreds of your seamen, so we humbly beseech your Majesty to give commands thatall possible methods may be taken for the encouragemant of seamen, the guarding of the coasts, andthe protection of trade.”

* The Address of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, presented to the Queen on Monday the1st day of March, 1707-S, respecting the mismanagement of the navy, including abstracts of tireseveral papers inserted in the same :

“ Die Mercurii, 25 Felruarii, 1707.

“ We your Majesty’s most dutiful and obedient subjects, the lords spiritual and temporal, inparliament assembled, do humbly acquaint your Majesty, that, early in this session of parliament,a petition of several merchants, on behalf of themselves and others, traders of the city of London,was presented to the house, whereby they complained of great losses by the ill-timing of convoys,and the want of cruizers, so that they durst no longer engage the remainder of their estates to carryon their several trades, unless immediate care was taken to remedy these two main causes of theirmisfortunes.

“ This petition, containing complaints of great consequence to your Majesty’s subjects, and wcbeing sensible that nothing but a strict and impartial inquiry into matters of fact could put themin a due light, and enable us to distinguish between ill-grounded clamours, and a just cause ofcomplaint, in order to take the usual method of being rightly and fully informed, did refer thepetition to a committee; and did also refer to the same committee several papers which thehouse had found necessary to call for from the proper offices, for their better information indivers things relating to the navy.

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