[England - King George 111 era] - Signed Kings Warrant - 1768

This is a fascinating piece of 18th-century history. This is a Royal Warrant signed in the name of King George III (indicated by the "George R" at the top left, where "R" stands for Rex, Latin for King).

Dated May 19, 1768, this document is essentially a high-level bureaucratic "pardon" for a missing paper trail regarding military spending.

The document addresses a financial discrepancy involving William Pitt the Elder (referred to here by his title, the Earl of Chatham), who had previously served as the Paymaster General of the Forces.

The Problem: Small payments totalling £1,377, 17s, 9d were made by deputy paymasters abroad. However, the "proper vouchers" (receipts) for these expenses were "by accident lost or mislaid."

The Request: James Grenville (a former Deputy Paymaster) requested that the King officially authorize these payments, so the accounts could be settled despite the missing paperwork.

The Resolution: The King declares it "just and reasonable" that the Earl of Chatham be discharged of this debt. He commands the Treasury to allow these sums in the accounts, "notwithstanding the Regular Vouchers... cannot be produced."

This document provides a glimpse into the administrative headaches of managing a global empire in the 1760s. Even the most powerful men in the country had to deal with lost receipts, and it took a literal act of the King to balance the books when those receipts went missing. It was "Given at Our Court at St. James’s," which was the senior royal palace in London.


Transcription: Royal Warrant of King George III (1768)

George R.

Whereas it hath been most humbly represented unto us by Our Right Trusty and Wellbeloved Councillor James Grenville late Deputy Paymaster General of Our Forces, that several small Payments specified in the List or Schedule thereof hereunto annexed, have been made by the Deputy Paymasters abroad, and allowed by Our Right Trusty and Wellbeloved Cousin and Councillor William Earl of Chatham late Paymaster General of Our Forces in pursuance of Directions from the Commissioners of Our Treasury for the time being, and which amount in the whole to the Sum of One thousand Three hundred and seventy-seven Pounds, seventeen shillings and nine pence; And that the same cannot be allowed upon his Accounts the proper Vouchers having been by accident lost or mislaid unless we shall be graciously pleased to grant Our Warrant for this purpose:

NOW We having taken the same into Our Royal consideration and thinking it just and reasonable that Our said Paymaster should be discharged in respect of the Payments so allowed by him for the Public Service, Our Will and Pleasure is And We do hereby Authorise Direct and Command that you or either of you whom it shall or may concern do pass and allow in the Accounts of the said Earl of Chatham as late Paymaster General of Our Forces, all and every such Sum and Sums of Money so paid by him notwithstanding the Regular Vouchers for supporting the Payments there in mentioned cannot be produced.

And for so doing this shall be as well to you and to all other Our Officers and Ministers whom it may concern a sufficient Warrant.

Given at Our Court at St. James’s the Nineteenth day of May 1768.


The British Treasury was notoriously strict. To "clear" an account, the Paymaster had to produce a physical receipt for every penny.

William Pitt (Earl of Chatham) was famously obsessed with his reputation for honesty. Unlike previous Paymasters who got rich by skimming interest off the government's money, Pitt refused to take a single shilling beyond his salary. For a man so proud of his financial integrity, having an "unbalanced" book of over £1,300—even if it was just due to lost paperwork—would have been a personal nightmare.

This warrant was the King's way of saying: "We trust you; we know the money was spent on the Public Service, and we won't hold you or your estate liable for the missing receipts."

The document is written on handmade rag paper (not wood pulp). Rag paper is incredibly durable and acid-free by nature.

There is some "chipping" or "fringing" at the edges. The margins are wide and intact.

There is no significant structural tears that cross the text or the signature, which is the most important factor.

The King’s "George R" signature is bold and clear. It hasn't suffered from "ink galling" (where the acidic ink eats through the paper), which was common in this era. A clear, early-reign signature of George III (before his "madness" and later blindness affected his handwriting) is the primary driver of value.

The "Secretary Hand" is consistent. There is very little fading, suggesting this document was kept in a dark place (like a trunk or a folder) for most of its life rather than framed in direct sunlight.

The document has the standard "archival folds"—three horizontal and one vertical—meaning it was folded to fit into a small packet for filing at the Treasury.

There is some minor "toning" (darkening) along these fold lines. This happens because dust and oils accumulate on the ridges over centuries. As long as the paper isn't "splitting" at these folds, it’s considered normal ageing. The verso side is grubby (see picture).

The paper has a nice, even creamy patina. There is a slight darkening at the very bottom edge, but it doesn't interfere with the historical content.