Henry Hutchinson, Plymouth. Having been appointed Commissioner of Stores of War and...

Henry Hutchinson, Plymouth. Having been appointed Commissioner of Stores of War and Provisions in the expedition under the command of Lieutenant-General St Clair, put himself and his assistants on board the Nathaniel and John Transport, William Hales, Master, whose behaviour was frequently disagreeable whilst we lay at Portsmouth. The Commissioners of the Victualling requested an account of the provisions in my care though ordered on board by Mr Macphearson, the agent for transports. Captain Hales refused to give me any account and had a warrant to deliver a quantity of cheese to the Agent Victualler at Portsmouth. He took the receipt in his own name and told Alexander Abercrombie, one of my assistants, that he had nothing to do with it and that he should follow Macphearson's orders. Received orders from Henry Fox, Secretary of State for War, to keep the stores on board the transports and remain at Plymouth for further orders.