Friday, November 12th.—­Fine, pleasant weather.  Watering ship.  I did not visit the shore to-day; some of the officers are on shore dining, &c., with the French naval officers.  There is evidently great sympathy for us in the island.  We have got on board all our “liberty-men,” no one of them having shown a disposition to desert.  At 9 P.M., a drunken fireman jumped overboard and swam ashore, in spite of the efforts of a boat to catch him.  He thus braved the discipline of the ship solely for a glass of grog!—­so strong upon him was the desire for drink.  We sent an officer for him and caught him in a grog-shop.  It is reported to us, as coming from the Captain of the Port, that there is a frigate cruising off the Diamond Rock.  The ship Siam arrived to-day, with 444 coolies!

Translation of Reply received from the Governor, in Answer to the preceding.

Fort de France, 12th November, 1861.

TO THE CAPTAIN—­

I have the honour to send you the enclosed letter, which I ask you to hand to the Collector of Customs at St. Pierre, in which I request him to permit you to embark freely, as much coal as you wish to purchase in the market.

I do not change at all from the position which I took with you on Saturday last.  I do not consider that I am empowered any more to give you coal from the Government supply of this division, than I am to interfere with the market to prevent its being sold to you there.

With the expression of my highest regard for the Captain,

(Signed) MAUSSION DE CONDE.

Wednesday, November 13th.—­Got up steam, and unmoored ship at daylight; and at half-past six passed out of the harbour of Fort Royal, or rather now Fort de France.  The pilot repeated the intelligence that there was a frigate off the Diamond Rock.  As we passed the picturesque country-seat of the Governor, perched upon a height overlooking the sea, we hoisted the French flag at the fore.  Passed the St. Pierre steamer on her way down.  At eight, came to, in the harbour of St. Pierre, at the man-of-war anchorage south of the town.  Several of the custom-house officers visited us, saying that they had not come on board officially, but merely out of civility, and from curiosity to see the ship.  Sent a lieutenant on shore to call on the commandant, and make arrangements for the-purchase and reception of coal, despatching to the collector the Government order to permit us to embark it.  At 1 P.M., shifted our berth nearer to the shore, for the convenience of coaling, mooring head and stern with a hawser to the shore.  Received on board thirty tons by 9 P.M.; sent down the foreyard for repairs.  Quarantined the paymaster and surgeon for being out of the ship after hours, but upon the explanations of the former, released them both.  The market-square near the water is thronged with a dense crowd, eagerly gazing upon the ship; and the newspaper of to-day gives a marvellous account of us, a column in length.  Among other amusing stories, they claim me to be a French officer, formerly serving on board the Mereuse!