Enclosure: Extract of a letter from Sir Cloudesley Shovell at Spithead in which he states that he has so far kept the crews of ships at Spithead on reduced rations without trouble as the Men are expecting to receive Short Allowance money. Once supplies of butter and cheese have run out however, the situation may well change. He sends an account showing just how limited reserves of food are, stating that the Commissioners for Victualling appear to have taken no action to renew supplies and that hearsay indicates that a large quantity of butter is to be sold, as trust between suppliers and the Commissioners has broken down, adding that the Victuallers' Agent has said that he lacks money and is powerless to remedy the situation.