This Morning arrived at Spithead his Majesty's Sloop Ranger, Captain Willis, from Charles-Town, with Dispatches from Sir Peter Parker, which were intrusted to the Care of the Hon. Captain [Charles] Hope, who immediately set out Express for the Secretary's Office. 'Tis reported here that the Bristol Man of War, with some other of our Fleet, met with great Damage in passing a Fort in Charles-Town River, and that red-hot Shot were fired into the Ships. The Bristol was on fire twice in one Day: that Captain [John] Morris, who commanded her, was killed, and that about 200 Men were killed and wounded. His Majesty's Ship Acteon is entirely lost on a Shoal; three of our Ships ran on Shore, which occasioned great Slaughter on board them. They were about to sail from Charles-Town when this Account came away.
1. Public Advertiser, London, August 23, 1776.
