Parliament, Instituted an Act for the more effectual suppression of
Piracy, came to hand, but not afterwards; and it appearing to the
Court, that he had sent men irregularly to Merchant Ships, and finding
he falls under the 33rd Article of War, they have Resolved he be
Mulcted four Months' pay, and that the same be applied for the benefit
of the Chest of Chatham, and he is hereby mulcted accordingly."

Six weeks later, the Directors obtained a decree against him in the Court
of Exchequer, for £13,676 17_s_. 6_d_., which, according to Act of
Parliament, was doubled as a penalty.

In 1742, Matthews again found favour with an English Ministry. He was
appointed Minister at Turin and Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean.
In February, 1744, he encountered a combined French and Spanish fleet off
Toulon. His behaviour to his subordinates had excited their ill-will to
such an extent that his second in command and many of the captains refused
to follow him. The allied fleet escaped with the loss of one ship only.
Both admirals and five captains were cashiered, and that is the last we
hear of Matthews. The remembrance of his behaviour long rankled in the
minds of the Directors, and twenty years elapsed before they could again
bring themselves to apply for the despatch of a royal squadron to the
Indian seas.[1]


[1] The squadron under Barnet, which was sent out in 1744, on the
declaration of war with France.



CHAPTER X