On 18 March 1788 in the House of Commons, Mr John Pollexfen Bastard (1756–1816) announced that he wished to take up the case of several officers of the navy who had been passed over by the late promotions, and wished to move that he be allowed access to certain papers. The matter returned to the Commons on 18 April, and Mr Bastard moved that the House resolve itself into a Committee to consider the conduct of the Admiralty in the late promotions in the navy. The motion was defeated by 150 to 133 votes.

See The Times, 19 March 1788 and 19 April 1788.