SIR John Lambert, Bar. Samuel Shepheard, and John James David, bought of Henry Bray and John Bowden, Twenty three Tuns and a Quarter, of French Prize Wine, taken by the Success Privateer of Guernsey, lying at Penryn near Falmouth; and accepted Bills of Exchange for 1050l. drawn by the Collectors there, for the Customs thereof; and shipped Twenty one Tuns and three Hogsheads of the said Wine, on Board a Coaster, called The New Top­sham, William Dair Master, bound for the Port of London, who sailed from Fal­mouth with her Majesty's Tin Vessels, having for Convoy the Dover and Sun­derland Men of War.

YET notwithstanding the Convoy, the said Vessel called The New Topsham, which had on Board Twenty one Tuns, and three Hogsheads of the said Wine, was in the Night, off Beachy-Head, taken by a French Privateer, and carryed into Calice, and there sold.

WHEREUPON the Merchants above, applyed to be relieved from the Payment of the said Bills of Exchange, because the said Wine never came to Port, but were taken and carryed into Calice, and there sold, as aforesaid; and therefore did no Ways supply the Market, or hinder other Importation, to the Prejudice of Her Majesty's Customs.

BUT the Duties of the said Wines being appropriated to the Use of the War, they have not been able to obtain further than Time to pray a Bill or Clause for their Relief.

AND therefore they humbly hope this Honourable House will, in Con­sideration of the Hardship of their Case, discharge the said Bills of Exchange, and not suffer them to pay Custom for Goods which never came to Port; or give them Leave to import Wines Custom- Free, to the same Value with those lost, as is allowed where Goods are export­ed that never reach their Port, in which Case, the Merchant hath al­ways been suffered to export Custom-Free, to the same Value.