House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 22 November 1693

Mercurii, 22 die Novembris;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Naval Mismanagement.

A PETITION of divers Merchants and others, concerned in the foreign Trade and Navigation of this Kingdom, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have suffered very great Losses by the Mismanagement of the Sea-Affairs; for want of Ships of War for Cruising, by the long Detention of Ships here, by many Irregularities in pressing, by Embargoes, and many other Particulars, which tend to the Ruin of the Trade of this Nation: All which the Petitioners are ready to make appear to the House: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Christ. Musgrave, Mr. Fuller, Sir John Knight, Mr. England, Sir Robert Davers, Sir Fran. Molyneux, Mr. Goldwell, Mr. Dyot, Sir S. Bernadiston, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Boyle, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Hawtry, Colonel Titus, Sir Roger Puleston, Sir Math. Andrews, Sir John Fleet, Sir Richard Hart, Sir William Cooke, Sir John Wynn, Mr. Rudge, Lord Cornbury, Sir John Barker, Mr. Holt, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Morryes, Sir Ralph Dutton, Sir John Dorrell, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Slater, Lord Falkland, Sir Edward Abney, Lord Ranelagh, Mr. Brewer, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Christie, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Waller, Mr. Vincent, Sir John Brownlow, Mr. Freke, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Papillion, and all the Members of the House, that are Merchants, and that serve for the City of London, or any of the Sea-Ports: And they are to meet at Four a Clock in the Afternoon, upon Friday next, in the Speaker's Chamber: And they have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Money raised on Million Bill, &c.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, according to Order, presented to the House, from the Lords of the Treasury, An Account of what Money hath been raised upon the Million Bill, and Bill for Review of the Quarterly Poll, and how much they are deficient; and also,

The Objections they have to the State delivered to this House, by the Commissioners for taking the publick Accompts, of what Money hath been given for the Maintenance of the Fleet during the War; and what they had received thereof.

And the Account of the Money raised upon the Million Bill, and a Bill for Review of the Quarterly Poll, and how much they are deficient, was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Ordered, That the said Objections do lie upon the Table.

Miscarriages of the Fleet.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded in the further Inquiry into the Miscarriages of the Fleet the last Summer.

And the Serjeant at Arms made Report to the House, That he had endeavoured to serve John Rutter with the Order to attend this House; but that he went out of Town on Saturday to Ramsgate, about Seventy Miles off; and that Tho. Williams was at Chatham, whither he had sent a Messager; but that, as to the other Persons ordered to attend, they had been served with the Order of the House.

Ordered, That John Rutter do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Alston do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Sir Francis Child do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Sir Geo. Rook do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Lieutenant Tho. Williams do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Mr. Rice Tudwell do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Captain Kerr do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Michaell Wall, William Boulter, and Tho. Hinde, do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

Several Letters in the Book, Yesterday presented to the House by the Admirals that commanded the Fleet the last Summer, were read.

And the House being informed, That the said Admirals attended, according to Order;

They were called in; and were asked several Questions: To which they gave their Answers.

And then withdrew.

The Question being propounded, That there was sufficient Beer on board the main Fleet, when Sir George Rooke separated, to have convoyed Sir George Rooke's Squadron, and the Merchant Ships, out of Danger of the French Fleet;

Resolved, That the further Consideration of the said Question be adjourned till Monday Morning next, Ten a Clock.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Navy do attend this House on Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock; and lay before this House an Account of the Manner of victualling the Fleet.

Ordered, That the Commissioners for victualling the Fleet do, on Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, lay before this House an Account, What Provisions were actually put on board the Fleet in Specie; and the particular Times; and all Orders that they did receive for the victualling the Fleet the last Summer.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Admiralty do, on Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, lay before this House the several States of the Provisions 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.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, proceed further in the Enquiry into the Miscarriage of the Fleet the last Summer.

Ordered, That the Admirals, that commanded the Fleet the last Summer, do attend this House on Monday Morning next.

Frequent Parliaments.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the more frequent Elections of Parliaments.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the Call of the House be adjourned until Saturday Morning next.

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