Folios 222-223: William Black, 22 Arundel Street. He has explained to the Office...

Folios 222-223: William Black, 22 Arundel Street. He has explained to the Office of the Commissioners of Victualling about his approving the accounts of Thomas McKnight, Purser, which exceeded the usual allowance in the issue of provisions to the crew on HMS Racoon, when employed on the northwest coast of America. Asks for the Admiralty to direct the Victualling Board to pass the accounts.

Folios 223-224: enclosed with folios 222-223. Letter dated 12 August 1814 by Captain William Black, HMS Racoon, Callao to the Commissioner for Victualling. Explanation about exceeding the established allowance for provisions to the crew while on the North West coast of America. HMS Racoon was in a leaky state on arriving at the Port of St. Francisco in January 1814, having struck the bar of the Columbia River. The weather had been cold and very rainy and the crew were sickly with several cases of scurvy and it had not been possible to procure fresh provisions. Oxen were cheap and two pounds of beef per day per man was ordered along with two pounds of fresh bread and he ordered the Purser to save the remaining cocoa and sugar until they sailed. At the Sandwich and Society Islands they were supplied with hogs at little expense and he ordered the Purser to serve as much pork as the crew could eat while it lasted.