of the ships of war appointed as convoys to the trade of
this kingdom to foreign parts, since the commencement of the present
war, distinguishing the ships appointed, and the particular services,
together with the notices given to the traders of the time prefixed for
their sailing, and the times they sailed respectively.

7. That his majesty be addressed for the report of the commissioners for
executing the office of lord high admiral to his majesty in council,
upon the petition of the merchants, relating to their losses during the
war, to be laid before the house.

8. That the schoolmaster and a mariner on board his majesty's ship, the
Duke, do attend the said committee.

Six days after these orders passed, the said accounts and report were
presented to the house by the secretary of the admiralty.

There were also laid before them copies of above one hundred letters,
from and to the secretary of state, admirals, ambassadours, consuls,
commanders of his majesty's ships, and trading vessels; from the
commissioners of the sick and hurt seamen, with heads of a cartel for
exchange of prisoners; and memorials and representations from merchants.

Also a list of ships taken since the commencement of the war, and of the
prisoners made by the enemy, also letters from several of them relating
to their treatment, and from the captain-general of the province where
the said seamen were imprisoned, relating to an exchange; several
certificates and depositions, and a proposal by the lords of the
admiralty for a general exchange of prisoners; also copies of the orders
of the commissioners of admiralty to captains and commanders on the
enemy's coast.

Petitions from the wives of seamen taken prisoners; letters to and from
the principal officers of the enemy, prisoners in Britain, relating to
the exchange.

Certificates of the discharge of several prisoners, by the enemy, on
promise that a like number of the prisoners in Britain should be
discharged.

The secretary of the Admiralty also laid before the house a book of the
regulations and instructions relating to the sea-service, established by
his majesty in council.

These requisites being laid before the house of commons, they went into
a committee on the twenty-third day of their sitting, heard one of the
petitioners, several witnesses, and desired to sit again.

In the mean time were presented to the house seventeen other letters
concerning sea affairs, and an account whe