“October 5, 1840.
“This Emir is a capital fellow, and has done good service. In a conversation I had with the Pacha yesterday he thought it would much facilitate the fall of Beyrout if the passes in the adjoining hills could be cleared, to allow the mountaineers to come down, who he says are all armed.
“In furtherance of the object of attacking Beyrout I shall go there in the afternoon, after embarking our marines, and those of the Edinburgh and Hastings, in a steamer; these men will have to embark all their various concerns, as it will be unnecessary to land them here again.
“I am sorry to say we have now 100 sick on board, mostly our own men.
“The Pacha wishes to come to Beyrout; he had better embark with Walker Bey, and be towed up, and the Turkish flag ought to be displayed.
“I may, perhaps, pound Beyrout to-morrow, but the attack on shore will wait your arrival. There are fully 3000 men outside the town, with 20 field pieces.
“Your’s very truly,
“Robert Stopford.”
“To Commodore Napier.”
This looked like business, and I lost no time in replying as follows; an opportunity offering, I also wrote to Lords Minto and Palmerston:—