The admirals, whofe ftrcngth, courage, and adlivuy, fhaljl
be diminiihed, either by age, by labour, or by the wojjnds
they may have received, muft form a tribunal, which ftiali



• 414 HISTORY OF SETTLEMENTS AND THADE BoohXIlU

dirvfdl the choicpy the prefervation,, and the employment^ of
the naval ftores. It muft be the bulinefs of this tribunal
to regulate admiflion into the navy^ to determine the pro-
motions, to beftow the conimand, to fettle the cruizes, and
diredl as much as polfible all the operations. Such will
hereafter be the council of a minifter, ^^ho, ignorant qf his
fundions, fituated at the diftance of a hundred leagues
from the fea, devoted, either from inclination or necefiityy
to the intrigues of a tempeftuous court, hath been con-
ftantly, to the prefent time, the fport of a few obfcure^
ignorant, and interelled, adventurers.
