Manuscript copy of Admiralty order 'To the Commanders of all Ships or Vessels of His Majesty's, that may put into the Port of Lisbon.'

One page on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium of laid watermarked paper. Leaf dimensions 32 x 20 cm. Text clear and entire on aged and lightly-spotted paper. Begins 'Whereas His Portuguese Majesty, in consideration of a Cannon Ball having lately fallen in the Gardens of Bellem Castle, while the Prince Royal was walking there, has signified to His Majesty's Minister at that Court, his Resolution, to revive an Established Law of that Country, whereby all Ships, of what Nation soever, that come into Lisbon Harbour, as well Men of War as Merchant Ships, are forbid to fire any Gun, from Bellem Castle upwards, on any pretence whatsoever, unless His Majesty should on any especial Occasion dispense with the said Resolution'. Informs the Commanders that should they fail to conform, 'You will answer the contrary at your peril.' Docketed in pencil on the reverse of the otherwise-blank second leaf of the bifolium 'The Origin of Ships Saluting before Reaching Belum - in the River Tagus Lisbon'. 'Copy' in top left-hand corner. Headed 'By the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain & Ireland &ca:'. The original was signed by the Lords Commissioners 'Jo: Cokburne. [sic] | Geo: Lee. | C: Hardy | Jno: Phillipson' and by the Secretary to the Admiralty 'Thos: Corbett'. This is from the Tonyn/Paterson papers and is presumably the copy received by a member of the family in service.