Warrant (commission), signed by 'Sandwich', 'Bamber Gascoyne' and 'Greville' as Lords of the Admiralty, and 'Php Stephens' as Secretary, appointing Paterson 'Second Lieutenant of His Majesty's Ship the Formidable'.

One one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 28.5 x 33 cm. Neatly folded to make eight rectangles. Red wax seal under paper in top left-hand corner, embossed with the Admiralty anchor. Two blue 2s 6d stamps in left-hand margin. Small paper stamp on reverse. Text entirely legible on lightly discoloured vellum, with one small hole (not affecting legibility of text) caused by wear to a fold. 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. -' From the Paterson and Tonyn family papers.