House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 27 November 1693

Lunæ, 27 die Novembris;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Colonel Deane have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Royal Mines.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to prevent Disputes and Controversies concerning Royal Mines.

House to sit at 9 o'Clock.

Resolved, That this House will begin to sit every Morning at Nine a Clock, and proceed on publick Business at Ten a Clock: And that no new Motion be made after One a Clock.

Victualling the Fleet.

Mr. Papillion presented to the House, from the Commissioners for victualling the Fleet, according to Order, the several Orders that they did receive for the victualling the Fleet the last Summer; with a List of several Papers; and an Account of what Provisions ought to be remaining in Specie, the 6th Day of June 1693, on board their Majesties Ships of the Line of Battle, that were victualled at London and Portsmouth, being the Day they parted with Sir George Rooke's Squadron; and some general Observations.

Which List, and Account, and Observations, were read.

Ditto.

The Lord Falkland, from the Commissioners of the Admiralty, according to Order, presented to the House the States of the Provision of the Fleet sent to them in May last from Spithead, and in June last from Torbay, by the Admirals that commanded the Fleet the last Summer.

And the same were read.

Ditto.

The House being informed, That the Commissioners of the Navy attended, according to Order;

They were called in, and asked several Questions touching the manner of victualling the Fleet: And they delivered in their Instructions for Victualling of the Fleet; and a State of the Victualling of the Fleet, at its failing from Spithead the 30th of May 1693.

And then withdrew.

And the State of the Victualling of the Fleet, at its failing from Spithead the 30th May 1693, was read.

Miscarriage of the Fleet.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resumed the further Consideration of the Question, adjourned on Wednesday last; viz. That there was sufficient Beer on board the main Fleet, when Sir Geo. Rooke separated, to have convoyed Sir Geo. Rooke's Squadron, and the Merchant-Ships, out of Danger of the French Fleet.

Candles.

Ordered, That Candles be brought in.

And they were brought in accordingly.

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Question, by leaving out the Word "French"; and, instead thereof, inserting "Brest:"

And the same was, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Another Amendment was proposed to be made, by adding to the main Question these Words "and the "Thoulon Squadron."

And the Question being put, That the Words "and the Thoulon Squadron" be added to the main Question;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Members of this House, who are Victuallers of the Navy, do withdraw;

It passed in the Negative.

Then the main Question being proposed, That there was sufficient Beer on board the main Fleet, when Sir Geo. Rooke separated, to have convoyed Sir Geo. Rook's Squadron, and the Merchant Ships, out of Danger of the Brest Fleet;

The previous Question was put, That that Question be now put:

And it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the main Question being put;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, proceed further in the Enquiry into the Miscarriages of the Fleet the last Summer.

Ordered, That all such Persons, who were by Order to attend this House this Day, except the Commissioners of the Navy, do attend this House again upon Wednesday Morning next.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.