The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury having desired to speak to you here this afternoon about a [Memo.] from the Comms. of Victualing ref. to the payment of the Short Allowance to the seamen now sailing to the West Indies, my Lords have commanded me to inform you that you need not attend. But do nevertheless require you to send them an account in writing as soon as you can, what were the reasons that moved the Lords of the Admiralty to direct you to pay the short allowance to the Squadron, for as much as the said Victuals do represent, in that it is not usual to pay the Short Allowance until the ships come in.