Corney, John (fl. 1778) to John Langdon
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06524 Author/Creator: Corney, John (fl. 1778) Place Written: New York Harbor Type: Letter signed Date: 12 July 1778 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 23.2 x 19.2 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Corney as a prisoner of war on the prison ship "Prince of Wales" to John Langdon as military officer in New Hampshire militia and speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Says he was captured three days after leaving Portsmouth on 12 June 1778. He was captured by the "Experiment," a 50-gun ship commanded by Sir James Wallace. Says he and Captain Palmer are being kept prisoner with no prospect of relief. Claims Langdon's "Powers of doing us Service, is not Circumscribed by the narrow bounds of one who acts only in a Private Capacity, & for the Service of an Individual." Says they entered the navy at the insistence of Langdon and they hope he can exercise his extensive abilities to free them.
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