“Should the Turkish authorities, (at the head of which I believe you are,) impede in any way the retreat of the Egyptian army, I have directed Captain Stewart to protest against it in the most solemn manner, in the name of the Allies, as contrary to the existing treaties, as contrary to the custom of civilized nations, as contrary to the laws of humanity, and contrary even to the interests of the Porte. “I have, &c., “CHARLES NAPIER, _Commodore_.” “His Excellency Jochmus Pacha, Commander-in-Chief, Forces, Syria.” I wrote a short letter to the same purport to Colonel Bridgeman, and also communicated the state of affairs to the Admiral, then at Malta:— “H.M.S. Carysfort, Alexandria, Feb. 4, 1841. Sir, “In my letter to you of the 23rd of January I informed you of the arrival of Ibrahim Pacha at Gaza, which I find was a mistake; he marched with the rear-guard, and arrived at Gaza on the 31st. “I received a private letter from Captain Stewart, dated the 23rd January, informing me he was very apprehensive that the Turkish authorities would seize any opportunity to bring on a collision between the Turks and Egyptians, and in fact the former had advanced, and skirmished with the outposts, and then made rather a precipitate retreat. “I inclose copies of letters I wrote to Captain Stewart, General Jochmus, and Colonel Bridgeman. “Yesterday I again heard from Captain Stewart, announcing the arrival of Ibrahim Pacha at Gaza, and his intention of immediately retiring again into Egypt; he had collected at Gaza 25,000 men, including about 6000 cavalry, in good order; this formidable force will, I have no doubt, keep the Turks quiet. “I have, &c., (Signed) CHAS. NAPIER, _Commodore_.” “The Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, &c., Malta.” CHAPTER VIII. Affairs in Syria—Letters of Sir Charles Smith to Lord Palmerston—Course that ought to have been pursued after the Battle of Boharsof—Ignorance as to Ibrahim’s Movements and Intentions—General Michell to Lord Palmerston—M. Steindl’s Report respecting the Advance upon Gaza—Capt. Stewart to the Admiral—General Michell’s and Captain Stewart’s Opinion as to Lord Ponsonby’s Orders—Correspondence between Captain Stewart and General Jochmus. It will now be necessary to go back to Syria, and give an account of what took place there after the rejection of the Convention. It appears, by Sir Charles Smith’s letter to Lord Palmerston, dated November 24th, 1840[18], that Ibrahim retired from Zachle and Malaka on the 21st of that month.