By &c.
You are hereby required and directed forthwith to purchase Three Schooners upon the best and cheapest terms you can for His Majesty and to draw upon the Navy Board for the Expence thereof,
You are to cause them to be armed fitted, Manned, Victualled and Stored and put in every respect upon the same Establishment as His Majesty's Schooners already under your Command, transmitting to Us the Names you may think proper to give them that they may be register'd accordingly on the List of the Royal Navy, and you are to employ the said Schooners in such manner as you shall judge best for His Majesty's Service. Given &c the 28th Jany 1775.
By &c. P.S.
Sandwich
Palmerston
A. Hervey.
1. PRO, Admiralty 2/99, 259, NYHS Transcript.