Folios 542-543: William O'Bryen Drury, HMS Powerful, Plymouth. Acknowledges the letter...

Folios 542-543: William O'Bryen Drury, HMS Powerful, Plymouth. Acknowledges the letter addressed to Powerful's First Lieutenant asking about the state of the water supplies, reports that on 8 October she had 189 tons and by 16 October this had been reduced to 159 tons. Lieutenant John Fyffe told him that the quantity of beer and water aboard was 189 tons on 8 October and by 16 October 17 tons of beer and 15 of water had been consumed. To be fair to Captain Ball, who was in command when the Powerful left Spithead, she had been fitted out for foreign service and carried 30 to 40 tons less water than she would have done if fitted for Channel service. He took command off Ushant on 7 December and reported to Vice Admiral John Colpoys that she had 44 tons of water aboard. When this had been reduced to 18 tons and the standard of the head had failed so that the masts and bowsprit were only secured by a lashing round the Cutwater, he asked the Admiral for additional water and was given seven tons from HMS Duke and told to go into port if the ship was at risk. On 24 December he had just 15 tons of water left and Admiral Colpoys told him that HMS Impeteux and HMS Swiftsure would give him water the next day, but then directed him to take the first opportunity to go into port. A gale prevented him reaching any of the Channel ports, but on 31 December he was able to reach Cork with just eight casks of water left. Every care was taken to economise with the water supply, and the crew consented to give up their [dried] peas and to have lemon juice added to the remaining water in order to be able to remain with the Admiral. Hopes the Admiralty will believe that he strongly desired to stay with Admiral Colpoys.