“I have, &c.,
“C.F. Smith, Colonel,
“Commanding the Forces in Syria.
“Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. &c.”
“Princess Charlotte, off St. Jean d’Acre,
“November 8, 1840.
“Since my letter of the 4th another explosion has taken place of a magazine of live shells, from a smouldering fire under the rubbish of the former, which it had been found almost impossible entirely to subdue; one marine of the Benbow was killed, and several others slightly hurt; but I regret to say that gallant officer, Captain Collier, of the Castor, who had so distinguished himself in the attack, was severely wounded, having his leg fractured, and several other hurts of a slighter description, which require his removal to Malta; and the Castor, having her bowsprit badly wounded, and other masts and spars shot away, I have ordered her and the Wasp, having her fore-mast disabled, into Malta to refit, and rejoin me with all dispatch.
“One thousand prisoners have been sent away in the Turkish flag-ship, eighteen officers, and a party of soldiers, by the Talbot, to Constantinople, and 2000 to Beyrout, by the Bellerophon, Thunderer, Revenge, and Edinburgh; and the garrison being placed in a state of order and tolerable security, under Sir Charles Smith, is to be left with 3000 Turkish troops, under Selim Pacha, and about 250 marines, under Lieut.-Colonel Walker, with the protection of the Pique and Stromboli, and occasional visits of other ships, as circumstances require.
“The Hazard resumes her station at Tyre, and Commodore Napier proceeds from Beyrout to take charge of the squadron off Alexandria—Benbow, Magicienne, and Daphne, at Scanderoon and the neighbourhood.