By Royal Proclamation Ships of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Rates shall be continued in Service and Pay for the whole of this Winter, and have leave to be absent according in the times expressed therein. We have sent orders to the Commanders of 1st. And 2nd Rates now in ,or shall be, in the Medway to give leave to one half of their men who have served the longest until 20th October (commissioned and Warrant Officers excepted) then the other half until 20th December. There then follows details of how the system shall work, including certified warrant for those on leave, victualling arrangements, and how to treat absentees. It continues overleaf and into 189.