“September 23d.
“After having employed Captain Stewart, a junior officer, upon an expedition to Tripoli, I cannot, and ought not to cast such a stigma upon Captain Berkeley, as to consider him unworthy, or incapable of a similar employment at Sidon.
“He must therefore go there, and he will be most happy to attend to all your suggestions, if I may venture, under such circumstances, to hope that you will go with the expedition.
“Your fame, my dear Commodore, is too well established, and your liberality of thinking too well known upon points of service, to allow me to suspect for a moment that you would wish to deprive a brother officer of a few sprigs of laurel with which you are so well covered. The good of the service upon which we are employed, is your first wish, and to you our unexpected success is owing, aided as you have been by the zeal of the officers under your command.
“I am aware that Captain Reynolds is the senior officer, but I hear that he has expressed a wish to remain here, and therefore there can be no jealousy against Berkeley.
“Believe me your’s, &c.,
“Robert Stopford.”
“P.S. I shall be obliged to you to organize the force intended for Sidon, so as to have them off Damour early on the 25th.”
This appeared to be making me so complete a cipher, that I replied as follows:
“My dear Admiral,