To Lieut Robert Blaws of the Caswell Galley
Sir

The Board have received your Commission, in a manner which they cannot but think ungenteel, and evidently reflecting on you, for besides that, the rule of Propriety dictates the Board should have received informa­ tion thereof from the Captain, to whom you ought to have intimated an Intention to resign, — another good reason points out that no Officer be Permitted to resign his Commission to relieve himself from the Stigma of arrest and Censure or Punishment for ill conduct, which may sometimes be the case. These reflections have induced the Board to return the Commission wishing you to adopt other means of resignation, less unbecoming an officer to use or irksome in them to receive. —

Signed,

Navy Board
June 5th 1777.