Warrant (commission), signed by 'Melville', 'J. Osborn' and 'H. Hotham' as Lords of the Admiralty, and 'John Barrow' as Second Secretary to the Admiralty, appointing Paterson 'Vice Admiral of the Blue Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet'.

On one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 28 x 33 cm. Folded three times to make eight rectangles. Red wax seal under paper in top left-hand corner, embossed with the Admiralty anchor. One blue 5s stamp in left-hand margin, with '£5: 7: 6' and an illegible signature above it in manuscript. Small paper stamp on the reverse. Text clear and complete on lightly discoloured vellum. The body of the document is printed over thirteen lines, with the specific information added in manuscript. Headed 'By the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland &c.' '[...] We do hereby consitute and appoint you Vice Admiral of the Blue Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet; Willing and requiring you forthwith to take upon you the Chahrge and Command of Vice Admiral of the said Squadron accordingly and to wear the Blue Flag at the Fore top-mast-head on board such Ship of His Majesty's belonging to the said Squadron as you shall happen at any time to be; [...]'. From the Paterson and Tonyn family papers.