We have received your letter of 18 November about the complaint of Mr Everett. The YARMOUTH, Captain Thomas Ward, was laden with provisions to attend the fleet and ships are usually supplied with fresh provisions at Torbay. We put on board 3 punches of white salt to corn the meat for which he gave his bill of lading, but the ship being taken to the Straits with Admiral Russell, the salt remained on board and was brought home again, and was by neglect omitted to be returned. Mr Everett seized this salt but his seizure was of no validity for Captain Ward was obliged by his bill of lading to pay for the salt. The cask of liquors we had told him did not belong to this office and we left him to return the same. That which he affirms that we would not give him leave to let it be returned is not rightly related. Signeed Thomas Papillon; Simon Mayne; John Barrington, all victualling officers.