George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland ... Whereas, by a statute made and passed ... An act to prohibit all trade and intercourse with the colonies ... and also two acts made in the last session ... and whereas by a c

Followed by a warrant to be filled out by officials of New York authorizing individuals and ships to take prizes. New-York Historical copy filled out authorizing David Ross- commander of the schooner Surprize to take prizes- dated March 3- 1781. William Tryon's name in the printed text has been erased and "James Robertson" written in. Robertson officially took over the governorship from Tryon on March 21- 1780. The watermark ("J Whatman" fleur-de-lis within shield over script "JW." Cf. Gravell- T.L. Foreign watermarks 753-754) appears in paper used for a Rivington 1780 publication. Cf. Bristol B5103. Successive commanders of the Surprize in case of death: Mathew Brien and William Stewart. Ms. at bottom of text: By order of his Honor the Judge - D. Mathew Regt. Robt. Bayard. Below this is are two ms. entries- dated March 18 and 26- 1781- on the taking of the schooner St. Patrick in Chesapeake Bay by the Surprize and Trimmer- with additional names: Robert Etherington- Jonathan Philips- and James McDonald.