For the better maintaining a proper Government & strict discipline in the Squadron under your command; We do hereby authorize & empower you (from the time of your departure from England until you shall receive Orders from Rear Admiral Shuldham to put yourself under his command, or the Service you are going upon shall be at an end) to call and assemble Courts Martial in Foreign parts as often as you shall see occasion; And whereas Commanders in chief of Squadrons of His Majesty's Ships employed in Foreign parts have sometimes neglected to hold Courts Martial for enquiring into the occasion of the loss of His Majesty's Ships when such Misfortunes have happen'd, whereby the Crown has been put to an unnecessary expence and the Officers & Company to great inconvenience by being kept out of their Wages, You are in case of such an Accident to cause a Court Martial to be assembled as soon afterwards as possible, to try the Officers & Company for the same, and to transmit to our Secretary the proceedings & judgment thereupon by the first conveyance.
Sandwich J.Buller H. Palliser
Given &c. 16th Decr 1775.
1. PRO, Admiralty 2/100, 303.