Governor not having authorized him to say as much to me.  I took the hint, and went on shore at 8 P.M., accompanied by my clerk, to call on his Excellency.  He did not seem to have anything in particular to say, except to renew his invitation for me to go to Fort de France in my ship, which I declined, on the ground that this would be a more convenient port from which to escape, and one affording more facilities for the repairs of my engine.  He told me that the Captain of the Iroquois pleaded ignorance as to his violation of the neutrality of the port; but added, he knew better.  An American (enemy) schooner got under way at dusk, and stood out to the Iroquois, where she remained about an hour before proceeding on her cruise to the northward and westward.

Tuesday, November 19th.—­Some surf observable this morning, increasing until about 4 P.M.; the wind variable, settling for a short time in the south-east.  I became anxious on account of my berth, which was represented to me as insecure, in case of a blow from seaward.  I sent and got a pilot on board, but when he came he said he thought we should not have bad weather; and as by this time the sea had gone down, I was of his opinion, and concluded to remain at my anchors for the present, especially as the repairs to our machinery would be finished by to-morrow evening.  Heavy rain in the evening.  The Iroquois within the marine league.  Visited by the commander of the French schooner of war, whom we called on yesterday.  About 10 P.M. the British mail steamer arrived from St. Thomas.  Sent a boat on board of her, and got English papers to the 1st November.  She brings intelligence of the enemy’s steamer St. Jacinto, having boarded an English steam-packet, and taken out of her Messrs. Slidell and Mason, who had been carried to the Havannah by the Nashville.  The English people will regard this as an insult to their flag, and in this way it may do us good.  Night clear; moon rising a little before eight.  Not quite darkness enough for our purpose yet.

Wednesday, November 20th.—­Morning clear; wind variable.  The Iroquois never loses sight of us, violating the neutrality of the port by night by coming within the marine league to observe us.  Sent the engineer on shore to hurry the repair of his pumps.  Loosed sails.  Furled at meridian, and ordered the fires to be lighted at 1 P.M.; the weather looking unsettled, heeled the ship and scraped the grass off her port side near the water-line.  The Iroquois crawled in again last night within about a mile and a half.  As it was cloudy we lost sight of her in the early part of the night for the first time.