| “I am, &c., (Signed) “Robert Stopford, Admiral. |
“Commodore Napier, C. B., H.M.S. Powerful,
Senior Officer off Alexandria.”
“Sir,
“H.M.S. Powerful, Marmorice Bay,
December 14, 1840.
“I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd of December, disapproving of the Convention I had entered into with the Egyptian Government for the evacuation of Syria and the surrender of the fleet. I have only to regret, that what I did with the best intentions, and believed to be in accordance with the views of the Allies, should not have met your approbation.
“I beg to assure you that, it was not from any want of respect to you that I did not communicate with you before signing it, but it was under the impression that it was of the utmost importance to seize the opportunity, when the Pacha was highly incensed against France, to bring him, without loss of time, to terms without the mediation of that power.
“I have also to acknowledge the receipt of the copy of a letter you have sent me from Lord Ponsonby, the original of which, I presume, is gone to Alexandria, and I beg to inclose you a copy of my reply.
| “I have &c., (Signed) “C. Napier, Commodore.” |