asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the cost or the approximate cost per head per day of the messing allowance to the men of the lower deck?

The men receive either (a) a daily ration (value, including rum, about 6d.) and a messing allowance of 4d. a day; or (b) a victualling allowance of 9½d. a day plus spirit ration. In either case they can receive grog money in lieu of spirit ration (a little over ½d. a day).