Acknowledging the Navy Board's views on Commissioner St.Lo's proposal to employ ships' Carpenters, Crews and Sailmakers in Plymouth Yard on day wages and conceding that such a move may unduly raise the expectations of seamen there the Admiralty nevertheless expects the labour requirements of the Yard to be met by other - unspecified - means. The Commissioners for Victualling are to be ordered to see that the PORTLAND and the RYE each receive a month's provisions and to let the Admiralty know if this is not achievable; and if the TRIDENT, ASSISTANCE and SOUTH SEA CASTLE currently in the Downs cannot be supplied with the Provisions first ordered for them they are to receive the same. As the Captain of the Swan has informed the Board that the Agent at Biddeford is able to supply Provisions there, he is to be instructed to take in ten weeks victuals at Biddeford when next calling there. Great surprise is expressed over the alleged condition of the SWIFTSURE as requiring a dry dock as she has made only one voyage since her rebuilding. A copy of her survey is called for. In order to ease the pressure on Portsmouth the Navy Board is proposing that the BOYNE, DEVONSHIRE, ROYAL OAK and CAPTAIN should proceed from Spithead to Chatham; but the Admiralty disagrees and states their preference that the ships be attended to at Portsmouth. However, they inform the Board that they have now instructed Admiral Shovell to keep the ships at Spithead as long as possible. Enclosed is a copy of the survey of the WOOLWICH taken at the Nore with a request for advice as to where she is to be sent for repair. Captain Cross of the DOVER has notified the Admiralty of problems with the management of the Yard at Kinsale. The Board is instructed to look into the matter and to take remedial action. An extract of Cross' letter is enclosed.