three third-rates, one fourth-rate, six sixth-rates, seven Schooners, and two armed Vessels; the number of Seamen two thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.

Mr. Luttrell said he was much surprised to hear the honourable gentleman mention the state of our Seamen in such a manner; that, had he been apprized of the business coming on that day, he would have prepared himself to have answered him more fully; yet he was so much a judge of maritime affairs, as to know it was impossible that the Ships or Seamen the honourable gentleman had mentioned to be in America, could be there for some months; for Ships that went out at this season, were prevented by winds and weather, so that they were obliged to go to the West Indies, or put back, and could not arrive in America till the Spring; that he should be glad to be informed whether or not the Seamen sent in the Fleet to America were taken out of the guard-ships here, which consequently weakened our strength at home, and left us almost defenceless; and whether the Admiral's account of the full complement of men did not include those draughted off to other Ships, and sent to America, which might be set down as lent, but were absolutely lost, as a defence to this country, until they returned.

Colonel Barré said he had been informed, that unless Admiral Harland arrived in ten days, it would be impossible for him to arrive in less than four months, therefore, the number of Seamen expected from his coming home was very precarious, and not to be depended on.

Mr. Hartley desired to know the number of Ships that were on the American station before the present disturbance.

Mr. Buller answered, one fourth-rate, six sixth-rates, seven Schooners, two armed Vessels, and about one thousand nine hundred men.

Colonel Barré desired to know what force we had at home to defend us against any attack of an enemy.

Mr. Buller replied, five thousand nine hundred men in the guard-ships, and one thousand one hundred and sixty-eight men in the other Ships on the British and Irish coasts.

Mr. Luttrell said he was much afraid, as we would not take the Spaniards' words, that they would not take ours, but take advantage of our weakness, and repay themselves for the piracies we committed prior to the last war.

The Resolution was then agreed to.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Charles Whitworth reported from the Committee, that they had come to several Resolutions, which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be received to-morrow morning.

Sir Charles Whitworth also acquainted the House that he was directed by the Committee to move, that they may have leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to consider further of the Supply granted to his Majesty.

TUESDAY, December 13, 1774.

Sir Charles Whitworth, according to order, reported from the Committee of the Whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the Supply granted to his Majesty, the Resolutions which the Committee bad directed him to report to the House, which he read in his place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were read, and are as followeth, viz:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that sixteen thousand men be employed for the Sea service, for the year 1775, including four thousand two hundred and eighty-four Marines.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a sum not exceeding four Pounds, per man per month be allowed for maintaining the said sixteen thousand men for thirteen months, including Ordnance for Sea service.

The said Resolutions being severally read a second time, were, upon the question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty.

Lord John Cavendish begged leave to state to the House the conduct of Administration in one or two points, particularly respecting the Naval Establishment for the ensuing year. He observed that there was four thousand Seamen voted for the present year less than the preceding one, notwithstanding the Speech from the Throne announced the very critical and alarming situation of affairs in America. This was a conduct he could by no means reconcile; for taking the Speech to have been framed upon right information, as calling for measures of a spirited and decisive nature, what sort of correspondence there was between the contents of the Speech and the Naval Establishment, was more than he could possibly discover. But were he to declare his sentiments, he feared it would be found to be a mere Ministerial trick; a forming of estimates in the first instance, that were never intended to be adhered to, or rather designed as mere waste paper, and afterwards surprise and drive the House into grants of a very improper and burdensome nature. Such being his suspicions, he could not face his constituents without previously knowing what he must tell them, both in relation to further burdens, and what was involved in such an inquiry, if compulsive measures were really intended to be pursued towards the Americans; for to talk of enforcing the Acts upon a reduced establishment, either Naval or Military, was a sort of language fit to be held only to children.

Lord Beauchamp said, that the noble Lord had communicated to him that morning, his intentions of moving something on the subject-matter of the present conversation; that he had accordingly apprized the noble Lord who presided at the Treasury therewith; and that his Lordship had authorized him to acquaint the House, that he had no information whatever to lay before it; nor measures to propose respecting America. He was therefore of opinion, that as the noble Lord was indisposed and absent, it would be better, particularly as there was a very thin House, to suspend all further solicitude, till his Lordship should have an opportunity of fully explaining the motives of his conduct in person.

Mr. Cornwall endeavoured to apologise for the Minister's conduct. He insisted that the present was not a proper time to enter into any discussion relative to American affairs; that the Naval reduction, he presumed, was founded on good and substantial reasons, however the motives which gave birth to them might vary with the circumstances; and that, when the question concerning Great' Britain and the Colonies came in a Parliamentary way before the House, every Member would then be fully at liberty to deliver his sentiments and maintain his opinions.

Mr. Burke answered, and was extremely severe on the conduct of Administration. Among a variety of other things, he compared the House of Commons to a dead senseless mass, which had neither sense, soul, or activity, but as it derived them from the Minister. If his Lordship chooses to tell them one day that America is in a state little short of actual rebellion, it is all very well; if in a few days after, he acquaints them, at second hand, that he had no information whatever to authorize such an assertion, who can doubt his candour and his veracity? Both assertions still remain uncontradicted, and all must be silence. A few days since it was indecent to call for papers, because they could be had; to look for them now would be improper, because they cannot be had. That however absurd it might seem, such a conduct was nevertheless founded on system; for if matters turned out well, the merit would be imputed to the Minister; whereas, if they should be attended with miscarriage or misfortune, it is no more than applying to Parliament, and every thing will be set to rights; that is, "we despise the Parliament, who are our only proper and constitutional counsellors; but when we have blundered and ruined our affairs, perhaps beyond a possibility of redress, then we will come to Parliament"—to do what? To remedy what is incurable, and to recover what can never be regained! It is an old device, though methinks not a very wise one, to trust to the chapter of accidents. The book in which it is contained, has the beginning and the end torn out. This valuable chapter counsels you to trust to accidents, because accidents are sometimes productive of good fortune. He concluded his ob-