The Plymouth Commissioner has informed us that there is a great lack of Provisions at Plymouth for Ships that are there to be victualled. We are sending an extract of his letter and direct you to give Orders to the Victualling Commissioners that they do their utmost to provide victualls at that Port for Ships in need there.
You are to let us know whether the Cruisers and Foreign Convoys may be provided there, or whether they may be more conveniently supplied in the Downs, the BRISTOL and SOUTHSEA CASTLE being ordered there from Plymouth, so soon as they have enough to sail them, upon a complaint their Captains have made that there is a very great scarcity at that Port.
Are also sending Copy of another letter from the Plymouth Commissioner concerning the extraordinary lack of Bread there, and direct you order them to use their utmost to procure Bread in the Western Ports to be shipped to Plymouth.