“Your fame, my dear Commodore, is too well established, and your liberality of thinking too well known upon points of service, to allow me to suspect for a moment that you would wish to deprive a brother officer of a few sprigs of laurel with which you are so well covered. The good of the service upon which we are employed, is your first wish, and to you our unexpected success is owing, aided as you have been by the zeal of the officers under your command. “I am aware that Captain Reynolds is the senior officer, but I hear that he has expressed a wish to remain here, and therefore there can be no jealousy against Berkeley. “Believe me your’s, &c., “ROBERT STOPFORD.” “P.S. I shall be obliged to you to organize the force intended for Sidon, so as to have them off Damour early on the 25th.” This appeared to be making me so complete a cipher, that I replied as follows: “My dear Admiral, “There is nothing in the whole world that I would not do to please you, or forward the service, but I do not see how I can, with any propriety, put myself under a junior officer, where we shall have 500 English marines and 500 Turks. You must know that as yet I have had all the fag, and surely I ought to reap the advantage of it. Captain Stewart went away without any force, therefore Captain Berkeley cannot complain of me, his senior officer, with a broad pennant flying, commanding an important expedition. God knows I should be sorry to rob any man of his share of service; but as you was good enough to allow me to plan all things, I do think it hard I am not allowed to execute them; as yet I have had nothing but fag, and it is natural that I should wish to reap the fruits I have been fagging for; I trust, therefore, you will allow it to go on as you agreed this morning. “Believe me, &c. “CHAS. NAPIER.” The Admiral saw the reasonableness of my request, and replied as follows:— “September 23rd. “My dear Commodore, “I cannot resist the formal application made by an officer of your standing to command an expedition in preference to a junior officer. “I have, therefore, directed Captain Berkeley to proceed towards Sidon, looking out for you on the morning of the 25th off Damour, and to place himself under your orders. “I will give to any steamer you like an order to hoist your blue pennant, and to Commander Liardet to carry on the discipline of the Powerful during your temporary absence. “But as I do not see any probability of a further expedition, it is not worth while to change the Admiralty order for this once. “This is a final arrangement, upon which I request no further controversy.