ought not to omit that amongst
them there is a representation of the Portugal merchants in favour of
one commander, captain Ambrose, who had taken several of the enemy's
privateers.

On the thirty-third day of sitting were presented, from the office for
the sick and wounded seamen, copies of the returns from such persons as
have been empowered to pay his majesty's bounty to the British subjects,
prisoners in the ports of Spain, distinguishing the number of men paid
each month, and what ships they belonged to, and when taken.

Also an account of the number of men who have been put sick on shore
from his majesty's ships, into the hospitals last year, distinguishing
how many died, and how many were returned to the ships, or run away, or
were otherwise disposed of.

Which papers were referred to the said committee, and the house went
into it, heard farther evidence, and the chairman desired leave to sit
again.

Accordingly they proceeded on this affair the thirty-fifth day, and
heard farther evidence.

On the thirty-seventh day more papers were laid before the house, being
three several orders issued by the admiralty to the commanders of his
majesty's ships in the ports of Portugal, or such as shall have occasion
to put into the said ports; also an estimate of the debt of the navy;
which were referred to the said committee, and the house went into it,
and came to several resolutions, which were reported the next day, and
are as follow.

The first resolution was, that it appeared to the committee, that
notwithstanding the repeated applications of the merchants for cruisers
to be properly stationed for the protection of the trade of this nation
from the privateers of Spain, the due and necessary care has not been
taken to keep a proper number of his majesty's ships employed in that
service, more especially in and near the Channel and soundings; for want
of which, many ships had been taken by the enemy, some of them of
considerable value, to the great loss of many of his majesty's subjects,
the great advantage and encouragement of the enemy, and the dishonour of
this nation. II. That the detention of the ships bound to Portugal for
near twelve months, by the refusal of protections for some time, and the
delay of convoys afterwards, gave our rivals in trade an opportunity of
introducing new species of their woollen manufactures into Portugal, to
the great detriment of this kingdom.

Upon this foundation, the house ord