“October 8. “My dear Commodore, “I cannot but feel most sensibly alive to the imminent risk in which we have placed ourselves and our former successes, by the very precarious result of our projected expedition. “If we draw the mountaineers from their fastnesses on the hills, and are obliged to embark in consequence of an attack from Ibrahim, we expose those men to certain destruction. Let the young Emir depend upon his information for coming down the mountains or not, but do not persuade him to rely too much on a Turkish force. “We must leave a sufficient number of troops in our position here and the outposts to render it secure from a sudden attack. “Should the Emir object to join you, you must fall back. Nothing but the advanced state of the season induces me to assent to this plan, which I consider pregnant with risk and uncertainty, and not waiting for the reinforcements. “Yours, &c., “ROBERT STOPFORD.” “To Commodore Napier.” I felt so confident that the arrangements I had made must succeed, and had received from Souliman Pacha’s aide-de-camp, who came over to us, such information about the position of the enemy’s army, who were much disheartened, that I did not at all enter into the Admiral’s apprehensions, and wrote to him that I had received most satisfactory information from the aide-de-camp, and that he might rely upon it I should do nothing rash, or move till assured all was right; that two hours would bring us all back, and Ibrahim must march very quick if he could beat steam. At daylight on the 9th, I sent an Arab battalion, composed of Egyptian deserters, to join General Jochmus, and shortly after I left my head-quarters at D’Jounie, and arrived on the heights of Ornagacuan at nine. The Princess Charlotte proceeded in tow of a steamer to Beyrout, and two others with a marine and Turkish battalion to St. George’s Bay, to keep Souliman in check; in our lines were left four battalions, and the sick and convalescents took charge of the camp at D’Jounie. In the event of disaster, or meeting a very superior force in front, it would have been impossible to have repassed Dog River, I therefore sent directions to Captain Austin, of the Bellerophon, who flanked its mouth, to fill up the road that had been broke up leading from Beyrout; and I made my arrangements to retire to the convent and heights above the river, gain the road, and cross at its mouth, under cover of the Bellerophon. This could have been effected with little loss. Before leaving D’Jounie, I wrote to the Prince Cassim as follows:— “October 9. “Prince,