Saturday, January 4th.—­Harbour of Cadiz—­ancient Gades—­with its Moorish houses and feluccas, or latteen vessels.  Some fine oranges alongside—­the product of this latitude, 36 deg. 32’ N., about the same parallel with Norfolk, Virginia.  It is one hundred and eighty-eight days to-day since we ran the blockade at New Orleans, and of this time we have been one hundred and thirty-six days at sea.  We are informed this evening that the question of our being admitted to pratique (and I presume also the landing of our prisoners) has been referred to Madrid by telegram.

Sunday, January 5th.—­Sky partially overcast, with a cool north wind.  Thermometer 56 deg..  Early this morning the health officer came alongside, and brought me the order from the Government to depart within twenty-four hours, and a tender of such supplies as I might need in the meantime.  I replied as under:—­

   C.S.  Steamer Sumter, Cadiz,
    January 5, 1862.

SIR,—­I have had the honour to receive, through the health officer of the port, an order from the Government of Spain, directing me to proceed to sea within twenty-four hours.  I am greatly surprised at this unfriendly order.  Although my Government has not yet been favourably recognised by Spain, it has been declared to be possessed of the rights of belligerents in the war in which it is engaged; and it is the practice of all civilized nations to extend the hospitality of their ports to the belligerents of both parties alike—­whether the belligerents be de facto or de jure.  I am aware of the rules adopted by Spain, in common with the other great powers, prohibiting belligerent cruisers from bringing their prizes into her ports; but this rule I have not violated.  I have entered the harbour of Cadiz with my single ship, and I demand only the hospitality to which I am entitled by the law of nations—­the Confederate States being one of the de facto nations of the earth, by Spain’s own acknowledgment, as before stated.  I am sorry to be obliged to add, too, that my ship is in a crippled condition.  She is damaged in her hull, is leaking badly, is unseaworthy, and will require to be docked and repaired before it will be possible for her to proceed to sea.  I am therefore constrained, by the force of circumstances, most respectfully to decline obedience to the order which I have received, until the necessary repairs can be made.  Further, I have on board forty-three prisoners, confined within a small space, greatly to their discomfort, and simple humanity would seem to dictate, that I should be permitted to hand them over to the care of their consul on shore without unnecessary delay.

   I have, &c. (Signed) R. SEMMES.

   To his Excellency The Military Governor of the Port of Cadiz, Spain.