Yesterday at Portsmouth I found the ELIZABETH, NEWARK and EXPEDITION ready to sail had they provisions and I sent to Mr Branden, Victualling Agent at Portsmouth, to have tem supplied with 10 days provisions. I enclose an extract of his letter in which he says he will order their beer, beef, pork and oatmeal which is all he can spare until the SUNDERLAND, BERWICK and STERLING CASTLE are dispatched and the last species of bread, butter, cheese and pease is at Weymouth. The want of bread and pease is due to the want of money and the farmers will not trust the bakers nor send their pease without ready money. The bakers have been offered tallies by the Commissioners for the Victualling but some will not take them....The ships make complaint to me that they want provisions and they cannot proceed with what they have, and here is not any (especially bread) and they must be speedily supplied. Signed by Vice Admiral Mitchell; Mr William Branden, Agent for the Victualling Office at Portsmouth; and Captain Munden, Commander-in-Chief of ships in the Thames.