HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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glaring a proof either of that mismanagement itself, cor of such sujaerior ability inthe enemy as may be attributed to it on the first glance. The advantage possessed

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privateers; that, at last, there was a convoy appointed, but soon after ran away, and left the ships,upon a report that the Dunkirk squadron was upon the coast.

The convoy here meant was the Charles galley and Gosport, ttliough several others were beforeappointed to get those vessels out of the harbouT: however, the aforesaid two ships did do it abqutthe 10th of June, 1707, and being on their way towards Spitheadi they received an express from tiremayor of Hastings, with an account that there were eighteen sail cof French men of war coming fromthe Eastward, with all the sail they could make; which advice, although it proved false, was notsafely to be neglected : but so far were her majesty’s ships from running from the trade, upon thisintelligence, as it is falsely and maliciously insinuated, that they kept them company, and broughtthem safe to Spithead, as the captain of the Charles galley gave am account in his letter of the 20thof June, 1707. Those ships which occasioned the alarm were her majesty’s ships the Defianceand Advice, with their convoys from the Downs.

27> Mr. Winter deposes, that he came from Gibraltar the 141th of March last, in company ofthe Pearl, Hanover, and Lodington gallies; that off Beacliy Head ttwo of them were taken by French'privateers.

These ships were all runners, or at least called so ; had they prut into Portsmouth until an op*portunity of convoy had presented, the person who complains of tlhese losses would not have run thehazard he did. Nor can it be thought these ships, which the merrehants call gallies, can, when theyare laden and foul, sail much better than other ships not under tlhat denomination ; they, therefore,are consequently as much subject to misfortunes, by going without convoy; and it is very reasonableto believe, that till this trading by gallies or runners grew so muchi in fashion, the losses were muchless; as, it is hoped, it will be again, when the merchants will Hearn to alter their way of trading,as the enemy hath altered their method of carrying on the war by sera.

The remaining part of their lordships’" report rebates chiefly to,

1. Merchant ships being chased off Beachy, and the parts tthereabouts, by the enemy’s pri-vateers.

2. The advantages accruing to the Mediterranean trade, by caarrying it on with gallies-; but thehazards they run in their return home, for want of cruizers in the fSoundings and Channel.

3. A French privateer having chased a Dutch ship into Plymoathi, on or about the 14th of Novem-ber last, while three Welsh convoys rode fast for want of orders.

4. That the list of 1146 sail of merchant ships lost was far shortt of their real number,

5 . The inconveniences by pressing men in the West Indies, and) at their return.

6. The complaint of Mr. Benjamin Way, that the captain of the Northumberland did not takecare of his ship called the London-Galley, which sailed from JJamaica the latter end of Februarylast.

As to the 1st, 2d, and 5th, of these articles, their lordships are (desired to be referred to wlibt hathalready been said.

•Then*