House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 17 November 1693

Veneris, 17 die Novembris;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Answer to Address.

THE Lord Ranelagh acquainted the House, That his Majesty, having been attended with the Address of this House, that he would please to command, that the Examinations and Informations before the Committee of the Council, appointed to enquire into the Miscarriages of the Turkey Fleet the last Summer, might be laid before this House, his Majesty had been pleased to command, that they should be brought to the House this Morning.

Free Proceedings in Parliament.

A Bill touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Answer to Address.

The Lord Marquis of Winton acquainted the House, That his Majesty, having been attended with the Address of this House, that he would please to command, that a State of the War for the Year One thousand Six hundred Ninety-four, in relation to the Navy, be laid before this House, his Majesty was pleased to answer, That he would order it to be done.

Miscarriages of the Fleet.

The House being acquainted, That Mr. Bridgman and Mr. Povey attended with the Examinations and Informations relating to the Turkey Fleet;

They were called in, and delivered the same in by a Schedule at the Bar.

They also acquainted the House, That Six Papers, mentioned also in the Schedule, relating to the victualling the Fleet, the Matter whereof was under Examination before the Committee of the Council, and desire to know the Pleasure of the House, as to them.

And being withdrawn;

Ordered, That the said Six Papers be delivered back to the said Mr. Bridgman and Mr. Povey.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House give Mr. Bridgman and Mr. Povey a Receipt for the Residue of the Papers.

Then the List and Titles of the Papers were compared by the House.

Miscarriages of the Fleet.

The House being informed, That the Turkey Company attended, according to Order;

They were called in, and presented to the House a Narrative, in Writing, of what they declared on Wednesday at the Bar of the House.

And being withdrawn,

The same was read.

Ditto.

The Lord Falkland presented to the House several Papers relating to the Instructions and Orders concerning the Turkey Fleet, and a List of the Ships employed in their Majesties Service, from the First of January last to the First of October last.

And the same were read.

Ditto.

The House being informed, That one Robert Chapman, was at the Door, who could give some Information touching the Miscarriage of the Turkey Fleet;

He was called in, and gave in his Information.

Ditto.

The House being informed, That the Admirals, that commanded the Fleet the last Summer, attended according to Order;

They were called in, and delivered in the Results of the Council of War, held pursuant to the Directions received by them; and also Copies of the Questions proposed to them by the Committee of Council, appointed to examine the Matter of the Petition of the Turkey Company; and the Admirals Answers thereto; and a Narrative of their Proceedings.

And being withdrawn,

The same were read.

Candles.

Ordered, That Candles be brought in.

Miscarriages of the Fleet.

Then the House being informed, That Sir George Rooke attended, according to Order; and that he was so lame of the Gout, that he could not stand;

He was ordered to be brought in, in a Chair, to be set at the Bar.

And, being brought in accordingly, he delivered in a Narrative of his Proceedings; and the Questions proposed to him by the Committee of Lords, and his Answers thereunto.

And being withdrawn;

Ordered, That the said Sir George Rooke (in respect of his Indisposition) be dismissed from attending at present; but that he do attend the House again, as the House shall direct.

Then the said Narrative, Questions, Answers, Replies, and Answers, were read.

And a Question being proposed, That, upon Examination of the Miscarriage of the Fleet, and the Loss of the Turkey Company sustained this Summer, this House is of Opinion, That there hath been a notorious and treacherous Mismanagement of the Fleet this Year;

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Question, by leaving out, "and treacherous."

And the Question being put, That the Words, "and treacherous," do stand in the Question;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Another Amendment was proposed to be made, by leaving out, "of the Fleet this Year;" and inserting, instead thereof, "in that Affair."

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

Resolved, That, upon Examination of the Miscarriage of the Fleet, and the Loss the Turkey Company hath sustained this Summer, this House is of Opinion, That there hath been a notorious and treacherous Mismanagement in that Affair.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, inquire further into the Miscarriages of the Fleet the last Summer.

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