An example of orders given by Captain Joseph Laws, Commander of HMS Lyon, to provide victuals to men on board his ship, 1 May 1727. Taken from Drakeford’s letter and store book as Purser of HMS Lyon

In this case the victuals are for twenty-five men who have been ordered from the dock yard at Portsmouth to work on board the ship at Spithead on the 11th and 26th of April, and the 1st May. There is a table giving a list of men given victuals on board, including the date of entry; the year; the mens’ names; quality; date of discharge; year; and the number of days they are given victuals.

Report of a survey carried out under orders from Captain John Roberts Commander of HMS Norfolk, to take a strict and careful survey of butter said to be defective on HMS Tiger, at Plymouth, 25 July 1732

Underneath this report is a copy receipt to Richard Drakeford from the Plymouth Victualling Office giving payment for the condemned butter, 27 July 1732. Other examples of investigations into defective or rancid food such as cheese and `pease’ can also be found in this volume.