By his Excellency John Rutledge Esquire President and Commander in Chief of South Carolinaー

To Edward Allen Esquire, Greetingー

Know ye that I with the advice and consent of the Privy Council of the State do hereby appoint the said Edward Allen to be Captain and Commander of the Brigantine of war called the Comet of thd burthen of about [blank] Tons belonging to this State, hereby giving Commission, License and authority to you therewith by force of arms to apprehend, seize and take all ships, Vessells and Goods which are liable to seizure and Confiscation pursuant to the resolves of the Representatives of the said State in General Congress assembled and to bring the same to the next convenient port in Order to be legally adjudged in some court of Admiralty or some other court having Jurisdiction in cases of Capture You are therefore diligently and faithfully to perform the duty of Captain and Commander of the said Brigantine and follow and observe all such orders and Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me or the President or Commander in Chief for the time being of this State or any other your superior officers ー And all inferior Officers belonging to the said Brigantine are hereby required and commanded to obey you as their Captain according to the rules and discipline of warー

By his Excellencys Command ー Given under my hand and seal at Ch's Town in S Carolina aforesaid the 10th day of October in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Sixー

William Nisbett D: Regr.