[Extract]

... The Warship Pembroke and the Frigate Bologna, both old vessels destined to serve as hookers in Halifax, are ready to sail from the road of Portsmouth. They are loaded with masts and all kinds of rigging for the Fleet in America and they are also to convoy a few Transports for the service of the Army. They are presently loading two large merchantmen in Deptford which are also supposed to carry rigging to Halifax.

I had the honor to inform you previously that General Clinton was to have received at Cape Fear orders to rejoin General Howe without attempting anything against the Southern Provinces, and you will have read, My lord, that General Howe's last letters indicated he was awaiting as a matter of fact the arrival of the Army Corps under the command of General Clinton. The original orders to this last General authorized him to attempt an expedition either in Virginia or in the Carolina if he could see any interesting advantage to it, otherwise to join with the main part of the army. As soon as it was learned here that Sir Parker's Squadron with the troops destined to operate under Mr. Clinton's command had been scattered, it was thought that the moment to make an attack against the South had slipped by, and positive orders to join with General Howe were sent to him. Unfortunaely those orders did not reach him, and this small Army Corps composed of about four thousand men made an attempt against Charles Town, the Capital of South Carolina. Sir Parker's Squadron, after passing the bar which is at the opening of the river, attacked batteries located on the Island of Sullivan. It was necessary to destroy them in order to make possible the disembarkement of the troops; but, unable to approach the batteries close enough to reduce them to silence because of the lack of depth of the water, he was subjected to such a running fire that after an obstinate engagement which lasted a few hours, he was forced to give up. This did not take place without losses on his side. His flagship the Bristol of 50 guns was badly damaged. The Captain on board was killed. There were besides 40 men killed and 71 wounded. The Experiment also of 50 guns, suffered a great deal. There were 24 men killed and 72 wounded, among these the Captain who lost his arm and, from what is said, cannot get over it. The Frigates Active and Solebay had two men killed and three wounded. The Frigates Syrene and Sphynx ran aground and were set afloat again with the greatest difficulties. It was not the same for the Acteon a new Frigate of 28 guns and built with especially hardened wood through a preparation which I once procured for M. de Boynes, They had to blow her up for fear that she fell into the hands of the enemy, and you can, My lord, scratch her out of the table.² The Captain of this Frigate came as a passenger on the Corvette Ranger which arrived with this news in Portsmouth on the 21st. The peculiar thing about all this is that the batteries that worked so well were composed of 40 guns from the Foudroyant, the beautiful ship which we lost so unfortunately during the last war. Since they use only iron guns on their Ships, they had sent these guns which were made of cast-iron to South Carolina. I have this information from Colonel Keene, one of the Lords at the Colonial Office. The whole affair must have taken place on the 26th or the 27th of June. Its lack of success determined Sir [Peter] Parker to join with Lord Howe. But the poor condition of his Ships does not promise much speed in his navigation. The Vessel that brought this news had sailed on the 6th of July. I shall not fail to send you, My lord, whatever particulars the Government will deem proper to publish about it. Lord Sandwich tried to justify Sir [Peter] Parker, but the other Ministers blame the conduct of this Admiral claiming on the one hand that even the success of the expedition was unnecessary, and on the other hand, that at least he should have been better acquainted with the depth of the river before proceeding.³