[Charleston] Monday 24th March [1777]
Navy Board
The Board Mett according to Adjournment
Present
Edward Blake Esq: first Commiss[ioner]
George Smith Thos Corbett Geo: Abbott Hall Esqrs.
Instructions for Capt. Thomas Pickerin ー
Navy Board, South Carolina March [24, 1777]
Captn. Thomas Pickerin Sir/
The Brigantine of War Defence of which you are Captain being now Ready to proceed to Sea on a Cruze, having on board a full Complyment of Men and provissions and Stores for three Months, we desire that you will Embrace the first faviourable Opertunity to proceed to sea and you have our Liberty to Cruze not Exceeding three Months from the day you Leave Charles Town Barr, in such Station as shall appear to you most promising of success. During which time you are to Take, Sink, Burn or Destroy, any Ships Vessells or goods belonging to the King of Great Britain or to any of his subjects, Excepting the Vessells or goods belonging to the Islands of Bermuda or [New] Providence, and should you be so Fortunate as to take any Prize be Carefull to put on board a proper Officer as Prize Master and a sufficient number of Men to Navigate her, with Orders to proceed to Charles Town or some Convenient Inlett in the State of South Carolina, and we particularly recommend that you take the Capt. and two thirds of the Crew belonging to any Prize (you may take) on board the Defence, and that you give Directions for Treating your Prisoners with the greatest Humanity and Tenderness and that you do use your best Endeavours to Inlist as many seamen for the Defence as will keep the Complyment to Eighty. You are to Advise the Commissioners by Letter Directed to the first Commissioner of Every Transaction worth Communicating during your Cruze and that you do frequently Cause to be read to [the] Vessells Company the Rules of the Navy of this State, and the Third Article of the Rules of Dicipline and Good Government and that you Endeavour all in your power to Cultivate Harmony and good Order among the Officers and Seamen, and that you do Every Month Examine the Accounts of the Different Warrant Officers, and when found right, that you do Sign their Accounts Agreable to the general Instructions given you by the Board, And to prevent any Inconveniencys that may arrise for want of Credit, Should you be Obliged to put into any French, Dutch, or Other Port ー there is put on board the Defence Three Casks of Indigo Containing One Thousand One Hundred & Ninety two pounds weight of Neat Indigo, which you are to Dispose off or Lodge in such Hands as shall appear most Capable of Rendering you the Services that may be required, the neat proceeds Invest in Such Articles as your Vessel may stand most in Need off or may be most Usefull for the Navy of this State, Otherwise it is to be redelivered on your return to Charles Town.
By Order of the Board
Edward Blake first Commissioner