_Copy of a letter received from the Emir Bechir Cassim._ “August 14, 1840. “After the customary compliments to his Excellency Commodore Napier. “I have had the honour to receive your commands, and I have to pray to the Almighty to preserve to eternity your Government and your Excellency. “I have had the honour to receive the Proclamation you were pleased to send me, containing the decision of the four great Powers, to which I readily submit. I am prepared to render instantly all the services that may be required of me, while I consider the opportunity afforded me as a peculiar favour from God. I am waiting only for supreme orders to commence immediately acting accordingly with diligence, when I will also follow all your commands. I hope to be able to prove to you the sincerity of my declarations. You have forwarded to us your Proclamation through Mr. Wood; we will follow your instructions thereon. “I have requested the bearer of the present to express to you my sentiments verbally, and I hope that, with your assistance, we shall obtain peace, tranquillity, and liberty. “(Signed) EMIR BECHIR CASSIM.” Vessels were constantly arriving with provisions and warlike stores, which were detained, much to the annoyance of the unfortunate crews and passengers, and, I may add, to our own. Many of the vessels were loaded to the water’s edge, quite unseaworthy should it blow, and badly found in water and provisions; this induced me to write to Souliman Pacha as follows: “Powerful, Beyrout, August 18, 1840. “Sir, “I am instructed to detain all ships of war and vessels having troops, military stores, or provisions on board, going from one part of Egypt or Syria to another. As it is a very vexatious duty for me to perform, I submit to your Excellency whether it would not be better to give orders to all the ports under your jurisdiction, not to permit any vessels to sail loaded with the description of articles I have pointed out. I have detained eleven officers and eighty-seven privates on board different vessels; they have no provisions, and are totally unaccustomed to our mode of living. I therefore submit to your Excellency’s consideration whether it would not be desirable to send them off provisions. “I am, &c., “(Signed) CHARLES NAPIER, _Commodore_.” “His Excellency Souliman Pacha, &c.” -------------- “Beyrout, August 18, 1810. “Commodore,