I arranged about coaling the Georgia and this ship by means of launches, as there were port objections to the ship being hauled alongside.  He seemed anxious that our stay should be as short as possible, lest our delay might compromise his neutrality in some way.  He said my sailors had been behaving very badly on shore, and indeed I knew they had.  I told him he would oblige me by securing the rioters and putting them in prison.  This evening we were entertained very handsomely at the residence of Mr. Ogilvie, where we met all the English society of the place.

Saturday, May 16th.—­This day the ship (Castor), from which the Georgia was coaling, was ordered to be hauled off, and the operation suspended, the Yankee Consul having alleged to the Government that she had munitions of war on board.

Sunday, May 17th.—­In the morning an officer came on board and read me a despatch from the President, expressing displeasure at my remaining so long in the port, and directing me to proceed to sea in twenty-four hours.  The same paper was read on board the Georgia.  I replied that the Government itself had caused our delay, by prohibiting us from coaling from the ship from which we had purchased our coal; and that I could go to sea in twenty-four hours after this prohibition was removed, &c., &c.  A party of English ladies and gentlemen visited the ship this afternoon.  We were crowded all day, besides, with miscellaneous visitors.

Tuesday, May 19th.—­This morning, at the request of the President, I went on shore to see him, and we had a long and animated discussion, in which he stated he had certain proofs, adduced by the United States Consul, to the effect that the coal-ship Castor had been sent here to meet us, &c.; and that under these circumstances (the ship being charged, besides, with having munitions of war on board), he felt it his duty to prevent us from coaling from her, but that we might have free access to the market, &c.  The Consul, too, had told him that I had shipped one of the prisoners after landing him:  the fact being that, although many of them volunteered, I refused to receive any of them, having already a full crew on board.  In the afternoon addressed a letter to the President, insisting upon the right to coal from the Castor.

Wednesday, May 20th.—­We were promised lighters with coal from the shore this morning; but not one has yet come off—­half-past twelve.  Just at nightfall a lighter came alongside, and during the night we filled up.  The next day we got under way and steamed out of the harbour.

Sunday, May 24th.—­I am quite home-sick this quiet Sunday morning.  I am now two long, long years away from my family, and there are no signs of an abatement of the war; on the contrary, the Yankees seem to become more and more infuriated, and nothing short of a war of invasion is likely to bring them to terms, unless indeed it be the destruction of their commerce; and for this, I fear, we are as yet too weak.  If we can get and hold Kentucky, the case may be different.  Well, we must sacrifice our natural yearnings on the altar of our country, for without a country we can have no home.