[Admiralty Office] 20th August 1777.
My Lord
I received on the 10th Ulto and immediately communicated to my Lords Commissrs of the Admty, Your Lordships Letter of the 30th April respecting the Appointment of Capt Duncan to officiate as Adjutant to the Commander in chief of the Fleet of His Majesty's Ships employed in North America; And in return I have it in command from their Lordships to acquaint you that they do not conceive themselves to be authorized by any Naval Establishment, or by the Powers with which they are invested, to confirm the said Appointment by any Commission or Warrant, but that, as your Lordship has judged it necessary that Captn Duncan should officiate in the Assistant Capacity requisite for the Conduct of the executive duties recited in the Appointment (of which your Lordship has inclosed a Copy) not being able to carry on the complicated duties of your Station without such Assistance; their Lordships will direct the Navy Board to pay him an Allowance equal to Five Hundred Pounds a Year for the time he shall be so employed: And in regard to your Lordships Recommendation of Captn [Roger] Curtis, My Lords are pleased to permit you to give him a firm Commissn to be Captain of the Eagle, & to fill up the vacancies occasioned by his promotion in such manner as your Lordship may think fit. I am &ca
P: S.
Vice Adml Lord Viscount Howe. By the Venus Duplicate by the Maidstone 20 Sept
1. PRO, Admiralty 2/555 304.