The day following that on which the Sumter arrived at Maranham was the Brazilian Independence Day.  The town put on its gayest appearance; men-of-war and merchantmen tricked themselves out with flags from deck to truck, while the guns of the former thundered a salute across the ordinarily quiet bay.  Amidst their universal demonstration the Sumter alone remained unmoved.  The nation whose flag she bore had not yet been recognised by the Brazilian government, and it would therefore have been the height of incongruity to sport the slightest bunting on such an occasion.  The more so as the good folks of Maranham, though to all appearance personally well disposed towards the Confederates, were in such dread of officially committing themselves, that they did not venture to invite the officers of the newly-arrived vessel to the grand ball given by the authorities in honour of the day.

On Monday, the 9th September, Captain Semmes took up his quarters on shore, and proceeded to make a formal call on the President of the Department.  That functionary, however, pleaded indisposition, appointing the hour of noon on the following day for the desired interview.  Meanwhile Captain Semmes had hardly returned to his comfortable quarters at the Hotel do Porto, ere he, in his turn, received a visit from Captain Pinto of the Brazilian navy, and the Chief of Police, a confidential friend of the President—­the object of these gentlemen being to read to him a formal protest from the consul of the United States to the government, against the Sumter’s being permitted to receive coal or other supplies in the port.  Amongst other equally bold statements this document asserted that the Confederate cruiser had not been permitted to enter the ports of any other European power.  Assertions like these were of course easily disposed of, and it was agreed that the question should be discussed at the morrow’s interview.  The account of this discussion had, perhaps, better be given in Captain Semmes’ own words:—­

Tuesday, September 11th.—­Called upon the President at twelve, and was admitted to an interview; the Chief of Police and Captain Pinto being present.  I exhibited to the President my commission, and read to him a portion of my instructions, to show him that it was the desire of the Confederate States to cultivate friendly relations with other powers, and to pay particular respect to neutral property and rights; and the better to satisfy him that he might supply me with coal without a departure from neutrality, and to contradict the false sentiments of the United States Consul, I exhibited to him a newspaper from Trinidad, setting forth the fact that the question of the propriety of supplying me with coal in that island, had been formally submitted to the law officers of the Crown, and decided in my favour, &c.

The President then announced to me that I might purchase whatever supplies I wanted, coal included, munitions of war only excepted.  I then stated to him that this war was in fact a war as much in behalf of Brazil as of ourselves, and that if we were beaten in the contest, Brazil would be the next one to be assailed by Yankee propagandists.  These remarks were favourably received, the three gentlemen evidently sympathizing with us.