Whereas we think fit that you shall command His Majesty's Arm'd Vessel the Lyon at Deptford; You are hereby required and directed to take upon you the charge & command of her accordingly, her Officers and Company being hereby directly required to observe & follow your Orders; And you are carefully to observe & execute the general printed Instructions & such Orders & directions as you shall at any time receive from Us, or any other your superior Officer for His Majtys Service.

And whereas we have order'd her to be fitted and stored for foreign Service, mann'd with forty Men whose pay and qualities are mention'd on the other side hereof and victualled for eight Months with all Species of Provisions except Beer, of which she is to have as much as she can conveniently stow and to be supplied with one Months Spirits in lieu of the remainder; You are hereby further required and directed to use the utmost dispatch in getting her ready for the Sea accordingly, & then falling down to Galleons Reach and take in her Guns and Gunner's Stores at that place & proceed to the Nore for further Order.

You are to take charge of, and Indent at the several Officers for all Provisions, Stores & Ordnance receiv'd on board the said Arm'd Vessel, & to issue the same agreable to the Rules of the Navy, and to keep regular Accounts of such Issues and pass the same, in the usual Methods. The letter to enable you to do which, as well as to ke~p the Books as Commanding Officer, we have allow'd you an Instrument under the Title of Clerk and Steward, and have also allow'd you a Boatswain's Mate, Gunner's Mate, & Carpenter's Mate, to assist in the several Branches of Duty to which they are adapted. Given &c. the 10th April 1776.

To Lieut Rd Pickersgill hereby appointed to command
His Majts Arm'd Vessel the Lyon at Deptford

By &c. G.J. DS.

The Complement is to consist of.—
1. Lieutenant to command.		at 5s P day.
1. Master 2. Midshipmen 1. Clerk & Steward to the Commandg Officer 1. Boatswain's Mate 1. Gunner's Mate 1. Carpenter's Mate 1. Surgeon's Mate 1. Servant to the Lieutenant		To be allow'd 6th Rate's Pay
And the remainder to be Seamen.