You are hereby required and directed, in case of the death of any Officers belonging to the Ships and Vessels under your command, during your present intended Expedition, or the dismission of any of them by Court Martial before you put yourself under the command of Rear Adml Shuldham, to appoint such other Persons as by the quality of their Employments ought to succeed, to act in their rooms, particularly observing to appoint Commanders to act as Captains of Post Ships in preference to Lieutenants; And upon your joining Rear Admiral Shuldham, to deliver to him a List of such appointments as you shall have made for his further directions thereupon.
Sandwich J. Buller H. Palliser
Given &c. the 16th Decr 1775.
1. PRO, Admiralty 2/100, 306.