ition.

INQUIRY INTO MISCARRIAGES BY SEA.

The whigs, before they were glutted with the sacrifice of Fenwick, had
determined to let loose their vengeance upon sir George Rooke, who was
a leader in the opposite interest. Sir Cloudesley Shovel had been sent
with a squadron to look into Brest, where, according to the intelligence
which the government had received, the French were employed in preparing
for a descent upon England; but this information was false. They were
busy in equipping an armament for the West Indies, under the command of
M. Pointis, who actually sailed to the coast of New Spain and took the
city of Carfehagena. Rooke had been ordered to intercept the Toulon
squadron in its way to Brest; but his endeavours miscarried. The commons
in a committee of the whole house resolved to inquire why this fleet was
not intercepted; Rooke underwent a long examination, and was obliged
to produce his journal, orders, and letters. Shovel and Mitchel were
likewise examined; but nothing appearing to the prejudice of the
admiral, the house thought proper to desist from their prosecution.
After they had determined on the fate of Fenwick, they proceeded to
enact several laws for regulating the domestic economy of the nation;
among others they passed an act for the more effectual relief of
creditors in cases of escape, and for preventing abuses in prisons and
pretended privileged places. Ever since the reformation certain places
in and about the city of London, which had been sanctuaries during the
prevalence of the popish religion, afforded asylum to debtors, and were
become receptacles of desperate persons who presumed to set the law at
defiance. One of these places called White-friars was filled with a crew
of ruffians, who every day committed acts of violence and outrage; but
this law was so vigorously put in execution that they were obliged
to abandon the district, which was soon filled with more creditable
inhabitants. On the sixteenth day of April the king closed the session
with a short speech, thanking the parliament for the great supplies
they had so cheerfully granted, and expressed his satisfaction at the
measures they had taken for retrieving the public credit. Before he
quitted the kingdom he ventured to produce upon the scene the earl of
Sunderland, who had hitherto promoted his councils behind the curtain.
That politician was now sworn of the privy council, and gratified with
the office of lord-chamberlai