When the Parliament met that Winter, they fell upon the examination of the Iriſh Affairs; and finding Commiſſary Shales was the cauſe of a great part of the Miſcarriages, they addreſſed his Majeſty that he would be pleaſed to acquaint the Houſe who it was that adviſed the imploying him, which his Majeſty did not remember. They then addreſſed, that he would be pleaſed to order him to be taken into Cuſtody, and it was done accordingly; upon which Shales ſent a Letter to the Speaker, deſiring he might be brought over to England, where he would vindicate himſelf, and juſtify what he had done. Then the Houſe addreſſed his Majeſty again, that he might be brought over with all convenient ſpeed; and the King was pleaſed to anſwer, that he had given ſuch Orders already. Then the Houſe referred the matter to a private Committee; but before any Report made, or Shales could be brought to England, the Parliament was prorogued, and after diſſolved; and ſoon after he fell ſick and died.
The neglect of Ireland this Year made it neceſſary to raiſe more Forces, and increaſe our Eſtabliſhment, which afterwards upon pretence of invading France was advanced to eighty ſeven touſand ſix hundred ninety eight Men. At laſt by our great Armies and Fleets, and the conſtant expence of maintaining them, we were too hard for the Oeconomy, Skill, and Policy of France; and notwithſtanding all our Difficulties, brought them to Terms both Safe and Honourable.
It not being to the purpoſe of this Diſcourſe, I ſhall omit giving any account of the Conduct of our Fleet during this War, how few Advantages we reaped by it, and how many Opportunities we loſt in deſtroying the French. Only thus much I will obſerve, that tho' a great part of it may be attributed to the Negligence, Ignorance, or Treachery of inferior Officers, yet it could not ſo univerſally happen thro' the whole courſe of the War, and unpuniſhed too, not withſtanding the clamours of the Merchants, and repeated complaints in Parliament, unleſs the cauſe had laid deeper: What that is, I ſhall not preſume to enquire; but I am ſure there has been a very ill Argument drawn from it, viz. That a Fleet is no ſecurity to us.
As ſoon as the Peace was made, his Majeſty diſcharged a great part of the foreign Forces; and an Advertiſement
