The letter describes the conditions of the records in Ibbetson's care at the Admiralty and concerns his plea for better provision to be given. He describes 'the great want of room for lodging the books and papers in, which are now, for want of it, in a dirty perishing condition and many of them in all probability loss from their being kept in the messengers scullery intermist with his pots and kettles, and in the same room with his necessary [latrine].'