“Yours truly,
“Robert Stopford.”
This was followed up as I expected, by another from the Admiral.
“My dear Commodore,
“October 10th.
“The nature of our operations being completely changed by our possession of Beyrout, from which place the enemy’s troops were withdrawn last night, that I have sent you an order with the advice and opinion of Sir Charles Smith, appointed by Firman to command the Turkish forces, to return without a moment’s loss of time, and with due security to your troops, which appear in some degree of insecurity.
“Yours truly,
“Robert Stopford.”