Providence June 9th. 1778
In Council of War Sir
We being informed that there are a Number of Prisoners with You that were brought into Port by Capt. Babcock of the Ship Marlborough1 Capt Babcock we therefore Desire of You to Send us as soon as possibly You can an Exact Accot. of ye Prisoners now with You2 We are with great Esteem Sir [&c.]
Signed by order & in behalf of ye Conl Wm. Coddington Clerk
DfS, R-Ar, Letters from the Governor (1778–1779), vol. 3, no. 48. Addressed below close: “The Honbl. General Cornell.” Docketed: “Letter to General/Cornell June 13. 1778."
1. Rhode Island privateer ship Marlborough, Capt. George Wait Babcock, which had just returned from a five month's cruise off the coast of western Africa. See Log of Rhode Island Privateer Ship Marlborough, 8 June, above, and The Providence Gazette; and Country Journal, 13 June, below.
2. Cornell's reply has not been found.
