Warrant (commission), signed by Rodney ('G B Rodney') and his secretary Paget ('Willm Pagett.'), appointing Paterson 'Master & Commander of His Majesty's Fire Ship the Blast'.

On one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 24.5 x 31 cm. Neatly folded to make six rectangles. Entirely legible on discoloured vellum, with one small hole (not affecting text) caused by wear at one fold. The body of the document is printed over nine lines, with the specific information added in manuscript. Also in manuscript at the head: '[By] Sir George B Rodney Bart. KB. Admiral of the White & Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed and to be employ'd at Barbadoes, the Leward Islands and Seas adjacent.' Issued on the eve of Rodney's magnificent victory over the French fleet under the Comte de Grasse at the Battle of the Saintes (9-12 April 1782). According to the Oxford DNB, 'Rodney had news of the sailing of De Grasse on 8 April and at once ordered a general chase which continued into the night until the French were caught in the early hours of 9 April, when a desultory action caused damage to ships in Hood's leading division.' Part of the Paterson and Tonyn family papers.