Guerriere, Gul Sefide, Turkish corvette, and Wasp joined, as also the Stromboli, from England, with 284 marines, under captain Whylack. The wind being light, the Cyclops towed the Thunderer to her position, previously fixed by captain Berkeley; the Stromboli towed up the Guerriere and the Turkish corvette, who were placed by captain Berkeley abreast of the town. The Wasp and Stromboli anchored more to the southward to flank it. The Gorgon, and Cyclops, and Hydra, who joined from Tyre, with Walker Bey, took up their positions both northward, close to the castle. The enclosed summons was sent to the governor, which he refused to comply with.

The Turkish battalion was now put into the boats, and rendezvoused round the Cyclops; a few shot and shell were fired from the Gorgon at the castle and barracks, and shortly after the whole of the squadron opened their broadsides to drive the troops from the houses and the entrenchments they had thrown up to prevent a landing; in half an hour the firing ceased, and captain Austin landed the Turkish battalion in the castle, which is joined to the town by a narrow causeway; this was effected with some loss. As the enemy still stuck to their entrenchments, the fire of the ships was again opened, and the houses in front battered down.

Commander Mansel, of the Wasp, was directed to seize the first favourable opportunity of throwing the detachment of marines, brought out by the Stromboli and the Austrian marines, into the castle abreast of him, which he did with great gallantry and judgment.

Lieutenant Hockin, of the ma

and wounded. They were directed to work their way to the upper castle, which commanded the town. The 1st battalion of marines were now landed by captain Henderson, of the Gorgon, on the beach to the northward of the town, when they formed and advanced to the walls. All being now ready, the Turkish battalion, headed by Walker Bey and captain Austin, pushed along the causeway and entered the town.

I put myself at the head of the British marines, and broke into the barracks. Captain Henderson and another party lodged themselves in a house above the barracks; this done, I marched the battalion along the line wall to the upper gate, broke it open, and seized the castle. All seemed now quiet below, and, leaving a guard in the castle, we descended through several streets arched over, where occasional skirmishing took place with detached parties of Egyptian troops, who were easily driven back, and finally took refuge in a vaulted barrack, where we found upwards of 1,000 men lying ready for a sortie, should occasion offer, or to lay down their arms, should they be discovered-the latter was their fate.

I congratulate you, Sir, on the success of this enterprise; the garrison consisted of nearly 3,000 men, and not one escaped: our force was under 1,000.

Our loss, which I enclose, has been trifling; one marine officer and three seamen killed; two mates, a boatswain, and thirty seamen wounded.

I have much reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the captains, officers, and men under my orders; all showed the greatest

zeal; English, Austrian, and Turks, vied with each other.

Commander Mansel is an old officer, well deserving of promotion. Messrs. M'Guire and Price, old mates, are both severely wounded, and behaved most gallantly, as did Mr. Cummings, mate of the Cyclops, whose conduct was seen by captain Berkeley, who wrote him a strong letter on the occasion, and I trust their lordships will promote them.

My aid-de-camp, lieutenant Bradley, was also forward on all occasions.

The archduke Frederick placed his ship well, and kept up an excellent fire; Walker Bey, Turkish rear-admiral, who was there by accident, was the first who advanced along the causeway.

My thanks are due to the hon. captain Berkeley, who assisted me on all occasions, as well as captains Henderson and Austin, com

manders Robinson and Williams, and to the captain of the Turkish corvette, to captain Morison, who commanded the marine battalion, aud to captain Whylock, who commanded the marine detachment.

I am also much indebted to captain Lane, of the Prussian service, who is attached to my staff.

I have the honour, &c.
CHARLES NAPIER,
Commodore.

Admiral the hon. Sir Robert
Stopford. G.C.B. &c.

P.S. Since writing my public letter on the capture of Sidon, it has come to my knowledge that there was a complete race between Mr. James Hunt, midshipman of the Stromboli, and Signor Dominica Chinca, midshipman of the Austrian frigate Guerriere, who should first place the colours in the part of the town they were landed

at.

October 13, 1840.

Sir,-After the great advantages gained by the Emir Bechir over Osman pasha, at Marouba, it became necessary to move on Soliman pasha, defeat him, and obtain possession of Beyrout. I, in consequence, directed the Emir Bechir to join me on the heights of Ornschojouen on the 9th instant; and on the 8th, general Jochmus marched with four battalions, and was followed the day after by the Arab battalions, composed of the Turkish and Egyptian deserters.

On the 9th, two steam-boats anchored in St. George's Bay, with a Turkish and marine battalion ready to disembark when necessary; and at nine in the morning

I arrived on the heights, and found that our pickets had been driven in by an enemy we did not expect in that quarter.

A Turkish battalion and the mountaineers sent them back; and on reconnoitring, I found, to my surprise, between 2,000 and 3,000 men in a position that appeared unassailable.

No time was to be lost, as the deserters assured me they expected a reinforcement of 2,000 men next morning.

My own position was strong, being on a long narrow range of hills; my left almost inaccessible, and my right protected by a deep gorge, at the head of which the hills on which I was posted, after a considerable descent, turned off

to the right. This part of the hill the enemy occupied in force, amongst rugged and apparently inaccessible rocks. A road, considerably below the top of the mountain, wound round it; above the first position there was a second still stronger, and above that again a third.

In the course of the day I learned that the Emir Bechir had crossed Dog River, and arrived at Beskintee in the enemy's rear.

I desired him to continue his march, and directed Omar Bey, who had been left with four battalions in our line, to march at night with two on Argostoun, descend into the deep gorge of Dog River with great caution and secresy, and cross over to Bookfega, in the rear of the enemy, and effect a junction with Emir Bechir: this movement was executed with great skill by Omar Bey, and about two o'clock we were delighted to hear a firing in the enemy's rear. By this time the other two Turkish battalions, who were ordered from our lines, were in sight, and another that I had passed over the gorge on our right was rapidly advancing on the enemy's left. All

being prepared to the best of my ability, I directed the armed peasantry to throw themselves among the rocks, and advance on the enemy; and two Turkish battalions and the Arabs were held in readiness to march along the winding road. The peasantry took a long circuit on the enemy's left, and advanced unseen to the heights without firing a shot. A Turkish battalion now advanced en tirailleurs in front, which they did with caution, but great gallantry, under a very heavy fire, and as they advanced they unexpectedly found much good cover under the rocks. VOL. LXXXII.

A second battalion was directed to advance along the road in columus, headed by general Jochmus, but they broke into skirmishing parties. The Arab battalion was then advanced up in column, but they also broke into skirmishers, and the whole advanced with so much rapidity that I thought it best to keep my battalion in reserve to cover their retreat in case of disaster. This was a most anxious time, for our success depended on the steadiness of the Turks when they came in contact with the enemy on the top of the hill, but it was soon over; the moment the hill was crowned the firing ceased, and the Egyptians laid down their arms.

The reserve was now brought up, and the battalion which had crossed the gorge was making great progress on the enemy's left. A heavy fire was kept up from the second position, and I succeeded in getting the troops to make a second attack. The example of Selim pasha, general Jochmus, and the Turkish officers, who all behaved well, brought them up again, and in less than half an hour it became a complete rout, the enemy leaving all their baggage, ammunition, and provisions, in the second position.

Night put an end to the pursuit. Ibrahim pasha, who commanded, escaped with a few men, and the rest dispersed, leaving between 600 and 700 prisoners.

On the heights, at the end of the battle, our Arab battalion, seeing a force coming forward, took them for the enemy, and placed themselves in position under a wall, that had been thrown up to resist Omar Bey; he, on the other hand took them for the enemy, and a sharp fire was opened 2 N

on both sides. I, however, arrived in time to prevent mischief, which might have been serious.

A green Turkish standard was taken.

I have not been able to get the returns of killed and wounded, but I believe it to be under fifty; that of the enemy, from their position,

must have been less.

The first effect of our forward movements, as you already know, has been the evacuation of Beyrout; the effect of our victory over Ibrahim, the entire disorganization and submission of the army of Soliman pasha, to the amount of nearly 3,000 men, and the whole of his artillery and stores.

I landed at D'Journie on the 10th of September, with the army you did me the honour of putting under my command, consisting of 1,500 Turkish troops, and marines, which has from time to time been reduced to half that number; and by the 10th of October, we have made about 5,000 prisoners, and nearly 5,000 deserters have come over. The whole of Lebanon is nearly free; Tripoli alone remains to be taken, which I am of opinion will be an easy conquest, if attacked immediately.

It is now my pleasing duty to express to you, sir, how much reason I have to be satisfied with the conduct of Selim pasha, general Jochmus, Omar Bey, and indeed all the Turkish officers.

Lieutenant Bradley has acccmpanied me on all occasions, and has been everywhere forward, and I beg strongly to recommend him for promotion. Mr. Pearse, the master of the Powerful, and my old companion in arms in Portugal, joined me as a volunteer, as did lieutenant Duncan, whom I sent to lead the mountaineers. I was also much indebted to her majesty's consul-general, lieutenant. colonel Hodges, who did me the honour of serving with me in this action.

I have requested Selim pasha to forward the names of the Turkish officers who particularly distinguished themselves, and which shall be forwarded as soon as possible.

On giving up the command of the army to sir Charles Smith, I beg to return my thanks to you for the confidence you have placed in me, and to assure you that I have spared no pains to render all the service in my power to the cause of the sultan.

I have the honour to be, &c.
CHARLES NAPIER,
Commodore.
Admiral Sir R. Stopford, &c.

P.S.-I forgot to mention that the Emir Bechir did not come up in time, but did good service in checking the reinforcement of 2,000 men that were intended to join Ibrahim.

No. 322, with the letter therein referred to from viscount Palmerston, her majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, to make, under certain circumstances therein stated, an attack upon the fortress of St. Jean d'Acre, upon which I was previously deliberating, and preparing arrangements for insuring, as much as possible, its success. And I have now to acquaint you, for their Lordships' information, that, having embarked 3,000 Turkish troops and supernumerary marines in the different ships of the squadron, as per margin*, I shall proceed on that service the moment wind and weather will permit, with the Austrian squadron, under rear-admiral Bandeira, and the Turkish flagship, rear-admiral Walker, who had already preceded himself with a flag of truce, to summon the place, but was not received.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
ROBERT STOPFORD,

Admiral.

R. More O'Ferrall, esq., &c.

Princess Charlotte, Off St. Jean d'Acre, Nov. 4. Sir,-You will be pleased to acquaint the lords commissioners of the admiralty that the town and fortress of Acre were taken possession of by the allied forces under my command this morning in the name of the sultan.

The circumstances which led to this result occurred on the 3rd, when a heavy cannonade from the ships and vessels, beginning at

Princess Charlotte, Powerful, Bellerophon, Revenge, Thunderer, Edinburgh, Benbow, Castor, Carysfort, Gorgon, Vesuvius, Stromboli, Phoenix, Turkish Admiral -2,933 troops,

2 P.M. and ending at 5, completely demolished the town, and materially damaged the fortifications, inducing the Egyptians to evacuate the place in the night. A tremendous explosion of a large magazine of powder took place about 4 P.M. on the 3rd.

The attacks were made upon the west lines and the south face of the works, the former composed of the following ships :-viz., Princess Charlotte, Powerful, Bellerophon, Revenge, Thunderer, and Pique, under the immediate command of commodore Napier (as I thought it advisable to accompany colonel sir Charles F. Smith in the Phoenix steamer, to be ready to take advantage of any breach that might be made in either of the two sea faces of the walls of the place for an immediate assault). The south face, being a more contracted anchorage, was occupied by the Edinburgh, Benbow, Castor, Carysfort, Talbot, Wasp, and Hazard: the destruction caused by the fire of the ships on both sides sufficiently proves its rapidity and precision.

Rear-admiral baron de Bandeira, in the Austrian frigate Medea, and the Guerriero, under the command of his imperial highness the archduke Frederick, with the Arabian corvette Lipsia, rendered much assistance. Rear-admiral Walker Bey, in the sultan's ship Mookuddimay-i-hive, of 74 guns, took up a most favourable position opposed to the south face, and did good service.

The steamers Gorgon, Vesuvius, Phoenix, and Stromboli fired shot and shells into the town with much precision, and it is generally supposed that shells from the Gorgon occasioned the destruction of the powder magazine.