“The Pacha has sent Admiral Walker to me to say that he is very desirous of going this evening to a post four hours’ distant to attack a party of troops belonging to Osman Pacha, and that he wishes to have a battalion of marines with him, and some rockets, asking if I had any objection to this plan. In the first place, I am very unwilling to place marines under Turkish officers; and secondly, I have no confidence in them. “I do not hear of General Jochmus going out with the Pacha, or having been consulted. “I shall, therefore, express to the Pacha my wish that this expedition should be delayed until the return of some troops from Sidon, by which time you may perhaps discover the object of this plan, with the probability of its success. “The Pacha also signified his wish that Sidon should be abandoned, and an attack made on Tripoli. “Beyrout appears to have revived again; the Pacha says there are 4500 men in its immediate neighbourhood. It is of no use getting more men from the mountains till we have arms to give them. “If Sir Charles Smith is well enough on his arrival I shall request him to look at Sidon, to ascertain the nature of its defences. “I wish Berkeley would send a steamer here. “Your’s truly, “ROBERT STOPFORD.” “To Commodore Napier.” To this I made answer as follows: “October 1, 1840. “My dear Admiral, “I would certainly not allow our marines to go out with Turks; when they go, I go; and I quite agree with you we ought to pause a day or two. I am turning over things in my mind, and I shall shortly prepare you a coup; to cross Dog River cannot be done with safety; I have been all over the ground to-day. I send you a letter to Souliman Pacha; if you approve of it you can send it, and if not you had better keep it. I have not had time to see you to-day, but will to-morrow, in the course of the day. “Believe me your’s, &c. “CHAS. NAPIER.” “Admiral Sir R. Stopford, G.C.B.” This affair was in consequence given up, and I proceeded in the Hydra to Sidon, which I found Captain Berkeley had put in a good posture of defence; he accompanied me to Tyre, which was under the protection of Captain Collier; and I found it a very unfit place to put a force on shore for the winter, being only fifteen miles from Acre, where there was a strong garrison, possessing every material requisite to drive us out, should the squadron be obliged to quit the coast. From Tyre we went on to Acre, which was closely reconnoitred, but not without receiving a salutation from the batteries; only one shot took effect, but did no damage.