Warrant (commission), signed by 'Arden.', 'Charles Small Pybus.' and 'Chs. Middleton' as Lords of the Admiralty, and 'Php Stephens' as Secretary, appointing Paterson 'Captain of His Majesty's Ship the Ariadne'.

On one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 27 x 32 cm. Neatly folded to make eight rectangles. Red wax seal under paper in top left-hand corner, embossed with the Admiralty anchor. One blue 2s 6d stamp in left-hand margin. Small paper stamp on the reverse, which is docketed 'Ariadne | Capt. Paterson | Admty Conf Comm | 20 Jany 1794'. Text entirely legible on lightly discoloured vellum. The body of the document is printed over fifteen lines, with the specific information added in manuscript. Headed 'By the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland &c. And of all His Majesty's Plantations, &c.' Manuscript addendum at foot of text: 'Confirming one given by the Rt. Hon: Saml. Lord Hood, Vice Adml. of the Red & Commr. in Chief of His Majts. Ships & Vessels in the Mediterranean. Dated 20th. January 1794.' From the Paterson and Tonyn family papers.