Followed by a warrant to be filled out by officials of New York authorizing individuals and ships to take prizes.
Library copy filled out authorizing David Ross, commander of the schooner Surprize to take prizes, dated March 3, 1781. William Tryon's name in the printed text has been erased and "James Robertson" written in. Robertson officially took over the governorship from Tryon on March 21, 1780.
The watermark ("J Whatman" fleur-de-lis within shield over script "JW." Cf. Gravell, T.L. Foreign watermarks 753-754) appears in paper used for a Rivington 1780 publication. Cf. Bristol B5103.
Successive commanders of the Surprize in case of death: Mathew Brien and William Stewart. Ms. at bottom of text: By order of his Honor the Judge - D. Mathew Regt. Robt. Bayard. Below this is are two ms. entries, dated March 18 and 26, 1781, on the taking of the schooner St. Patrick in Chesapeake Bay by the Surprize and Trimmer, with additional names: Robert Etherington, Jonathan Philips, and James McDonald.