244 years, already

COMMISSION

PASSED UNDER THE GREAT SEAL OF GREAT BRITAIN
APPOINTING THOMAS GRAVES TO BE GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN AND OVER THE ISLAND OF NEWFOUNDLAND, THE COAST OF LABRADOR, ETC.

25 April 1763

GEORGE THE THIRD by the Grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith &c.

To Our Trusty and well beloved Thomas Graves Esquire

GREETING

WHEREAS Wee Did by Our Letters Patent under Our Great Seal of Great Britain bearing Date at Westminster the twenty ninth day of May in the first year of Our Reign constitute and appoint you the said Thomas Graves to be Our Governor and Commander in Chief in and over Our Island of Newfoundland in America Our ffort and Garrison at Placentia and all other fforts and Garrisons Erected and to be Erected in that Island for and during Our Will and Pleasure as by the said Letters Patent Relation bearing thereunto had may more fully and at large appear;
NOW KNOW YOU that Wee have revoked determined and made void and by these Presents Do revoke determine and make void the said Recited Letters Patent and every Clause Article and Thing therein contained;

And Wee reposing especial Trust and Confidence in the Prudence Courage and Loyalty of You the said Thomas Graves of Our especial Grace certain knowledge and meer Motion have thought fit to constitute and appoint you and by these presents Do constitute and appoint you the said Thomas Graves to be Our Governor and Commander in Chief in and over our said Island of Newfoundland and all the Coasts of Labrador from the Entrance of Hudsons Streights to the River Saint Johns which discharges itself into the Sea nearly opposite to the West End of the Island of Anticosti including that Island with any other small islands on the said Coast of Labrador and also the Islands of Madelaines in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence as also of all Our fforts and Garrisons Erected and Established or that shall be Erected and Established in Our said Islands of Newfoundland Anticosti and Madelaine or on the Coast of Labrador within the Limmitts aforesaid[...]