“I hope you will send me all the marines immediately, which will render my victory certain when the Emir arrives.”
This was the Admiral’s reply:—
“My dear Commodore,
“October 10, 1840.
“The Sultan’s firman, and not I, has given the command of the Turkish troops to Sir Charles Smith.
“I have not taken away the marines from your right. It is contrary to my instructions to send them far up the country, and they have been kept in the steam boats according to the intended plan until they were wanted to secure Beyrout. I cannot, therefore, send you any marines; and as Sir Charles Smith is now commanding the troops, I have only to repeat his orders that you will fall back on D’Jounie, or come down to where the steamers are, and where they were always intended to be, for embarkation.
“You will of course apprize the Emir of your intended retreat from your present position, and not expose him to risk of being singly attacked.
“I think the Cambridge is in sight.
“Yours, &c.
(Signed) “Robert Stopford.”