“At Jerusalem, near Jaffa and Ramlah, 21 battalions of regular infantry,—each battalion consisting of about 500 men,—with 18 field pieces.—At Medjdel (to the south of Jaffa) 3500 regular cavalry.—At Hebron 3000 irregular cavalry, composed of the Desert tribes. These, together with the Emir Beschir’s people, were now to the number of 20,000 men concentrated on the southern frontier of Syria. The garrisons of Beyrout and Acre being added, will make up the Turkish force to the above amount. “On the 13th of January, the column moved from Jerusalem, but had scarcely proceeded half a dozen miles when intelligence arrived that Ibrahim had crossed the Jordan at Jericho, and was advancing in our rear on Jerusalem. “It was resolved to halt for the night at Abou Hosh, and should this intelligence be confirmed, to return at daybreak to Jerusalem. The news proved correct; and we accordingly fell back on the Holy City, which we re-occupied on the following day. “Ibrahim Pacha had positively crossed the river; but from the incessant rain, which for the last three days had fallen,—as I concluded he could not possibly have got over a larger number than our own force,—as his men were, moreover, wearied and starved, whilst our’s were fresh,—I proposed, that after giving our people a few hours’ rest, we should immediately advance and strike a blow, whilst his army was yet separated by a deep and rapid torrent; and I wrote as follows to Reschid Pacha, who, from having been educated in France, spoke and wrote the French language with the greatest fluency: “Jérusalem, ce 15 Janvier, à 7 heures du soir. “Mon Général, “Cette pluie continue aura tellement grossi le Jourdan, qu’il sera maintenant impossible d’y faire passer des troupes. Il n’est pas probable que le nombre de l’ennemi qui si trouve maintenant sur la rive droite, excède de beaucoup nos propres forces. “Marchons demain matin une heure avant le jour, avec dix battaillons, et fions nous à la fortune de la guerre et de nos bonnes épeés. Il me sera superflu d’obsérver que nous ne pouvons pas éspérer que cette pluie dure beaucoup plus long temps. “‘Tout à vous. “‘E. E. NAPIER, ‘_Asst. Adjt.-Gén._” “‘A Son Excellence Reschid Pasha, Chef de l’Etat-Major de l’Armée Ottomane, &c. “Reschid Pasha’s reply was: “'Mon cher Napier,