Parliament initially rejected the proposal of Stirling and Moody, but rumours of renewed French interest in the region led Sir George Murray, on 5 November, to request that the Admiralty send a ship-of-war "to proceed to the Western Coast of New Holland and take possession of the whole territory in His Majesty's name." This task was given to HMS "Challenger" under the command of Captain Charles Fremantle and, a week later, a further order was issued to prepare to carry a detachment of troops to the Swan River.