By &c
Whereas the King hath thought it for His Service that another Commissioner or Principal Offlcer of the Navy should be established for the better superintendance & dispatch of His Naval Affairs in North America, His Majesty's Will & pleasure is that you do forthwith prepare a Bill for His Royal Signature to pass the Great Seal of Great Britain constituting & appointing Edward Le Cras Esqr. One of the Cornmissrs in quality of a Principal Officer of His Majestys Navy to reside at such Place in North America as shall be hereafter directed with full power & Authority to the said Edward Le Cras Esqr to sign Contracts, Bills & Orders and to do all other things appertaining to the Duty of a Principal Officer & Commissioner of His Majestys Navy & particularly that he be a Commissioner for the Naval Affairs in North America & that he doth constantly reside at such Place as shall be appointed for his residence there. To see to and take care of the faithful vigorous & frugal management of all Matters & Things relating to His Majts Naval Service in North America and to observe such Instructions relating to the said Office & Duty as he shall at any time receive from the Lord High Admiral or Commissioners for executing the Offlce of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain for the time being. The said Commission to continue during His Majestys Pleasure only, with the Salary & Allowance of Five Hundred Pounds ⅌ Annm., to be paid, Quarterly, by the Treasurer of His Majesty's Navy & to commence from the date hereof; together with such a number of Clerks, at such Salaries & Allowances to them, as shall be allowed by the Lord High Admiral or Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral for the time being. For which this shall be your Warrant. Given &c & the Seal &c 6th Jany 17781
Sandwich J Buller H Palliser
By &c PS
LB, UkLPR, Adm. 2/104, fols. 78-79. Addressed at foot: "To/Edward Thurlow Esqr/His Map Attorney General."
1. Members of the Navy Board were referred to as Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy and were appointed during pleasure by letters patent under the Great Seal. Edward Le Cras, a Royal Navy captain as of 4 Feb. 1755, following his appointment as Commissioner resident in North America referred to in this document, would serve as an Extra Commissioner from 10 April 1778 until 11 Feb. 1793, and as Deputy Controller from the latter date until his death, 20 Dec. 1793. Navy Board Officials 1660-1832, compiled by J. M. Collinge, Volume VII of Officer-Holders in Modern Britain (London: University of London, Institute of Historical Research, 1978), 18-21, 118.
