George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth, To our Trusty and well beloved Mariot Arbuthnot Esquire Greeting, Whereas we have thought fit for Our Service that a Commissioner or principal Officer of our Navy should be established for the better Superintendance and dispatch of Our Naval AfFairs in North America; Know You therefore that We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in the care, prudence, and Fidelity, of you the said Mariot Arbuthnot, of our especial Grace, certain knowledge, and meer Motion, and by and with the advice of our Commissioners for executing the Office of Our High Admiral of Great Britain, Have Constituted and Appointed, and by these Presents, ー Do constitute and Appoint you the said Mariot Arbuthnot one of Our Commissioners in quality of principal Officer of Our Navy during Our pleasure.ー

And we do hereby give and grant unto you the said Marriot Arbuthnot full power and Authority to sign Contracts Bills and Orders and to do all things else appertaining to a principal Officer and Commisioner of Our Navy to do; and of our more abundant Grace certain knowledge, and meer motion, We have ordained constituted and appointed, and by these Presents, Do ordain constitute and appoint you the said Mariot Arbuthnot Our Commissioner for the Superintendance of Our Naval Affairs in North America during Our pleasure, And do also direct and require you the said Mariot Arbuthnot constantly to reside and make your abode at Halifax in Nova Scotia, and to see to, and take care of, the faithful, vigorous and frugal management of all matters and things relating to Our Naval Service in North America, And we do hereby Authorize and require you the said Mariot Arbuthnot to observe such Instructions relating to your said Office and Duty as you shall at any time hereafter receive from Our High Admiral of Great Britain or Commissioners for executing the Office of our High Admiral of Great Britain for the time being, And further of our especial Grace; certain knowledge, and meer motion, We have given and granted, and by these Presents Do give and grant unto you the said Mariot Arbuthnot for the execution of the said Office, place or Employment during your continuance therein, the Yearly Salary or Allowance of Five hundred Pounds of Lawfull Money of Great Britain, together with such a number of Clerks at such Salaries and Allowances to them as shall be allowed by Our High Admiral of Great Britain or Commissioners for executing the Office of Our High Admiral of Great Britain for the time being, the said Salary or Allowance of Five hundred Pounds by the Year to be paid to you the said Mariot Arbuthnot or your Assigns by the Treasurer of Our Navy for the time being, out of such Money as he shall from time to time receive out of our Exchequer or otherwise, and to commence from the 19th day of July One Thousand seven hundred and seventy five, and to be computed and paid by the Day after the rate of Five hundred pounds by the year untill and upon the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel from thence next ensuing, and from thence the said Five hundred pounds by the year to be paid Quarterly by the Treasurer of Our Navy as aforesaid, at the hour most usual Feasts or Terms in the year (that is to say) the Feast of the Birth of our Lord Christ, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of St John the Baptist, and Saint Michael the Archangel, by even and equal portions. And Lastly Our Will and pleasure is, and we do by these Presents grant unto you the said Mariot Arbuthnot, that these Our Letters patent or the Enrollment or Exemplification thereof shall be in all things good, firm, valid and effectual in the Law, notwithstanding any Omission Imperfection, defect, matter, cause or thing, whatsoever to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.

In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made patent. Witness ourself at Westminster the Twenty Ninth day of July in the fifteenth year of Our Reign.

By writ of Privy Seal