“I am, Sir,
“Your most obedient humble Servant,
“Robert Stopford.”
“Commodore Sir Charles Napier,
H.M.S. Powerful.”
“My dear Commodore,
“October 9th, 1840.
“Colonel Sir Charles Smith will listen to all your plans, and readily adopt them if he thinks them feasible, but his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Turks, and senior officer of the Europeans, gives him the sole military authority.
“I hope you will listen to, and receive him with kindness, not bordering on any feeling of disappointment.
“It will be no discredit to our arms to make a military reconnoissance, and to retire if necessary.