At 11.30, a boat with the Spanish flag anchored a short distance from me, evidently a guard upon my movements.  The Yankees have been at work, no doubt, to bring all this about.  The military governor is telegraphing my reply back, and we shall see what the answer will be.

I was mistaken in the above.  The order to proceed to sea was begotten in the wise brains of the local authorities.  My reply to it having been telegraphed to Madrid, the authorities were overruled; and the Queen despatched an order to permit me to land my prisoners, and to make such repairs as I needed.  So this business, which has troubled us a couple of days, is at an end.  This evening, just before dark, a Spanish steam-frigate came down from the Navy Yard, and anchored near us.

Monday, January 6th.—­Last night I was aroused at 2.30 A.M., by a boat from the shore, with a note from the military governor, requesting me to delay proceeding to sea, that the benevolent intentions of her Majesty’s Government in regard to me might be carried out.  The “muddy heads” on shore had received a despatch from Madrid, in reply to my letter to them.  Weather clear and bracing.  Wind from the North.  Thermometer at noon 59. deg.  The steam-frigate disappeared somehow during the night.  Protested, as under, against the presence of a health guard-boat:—­

   C.S.  Steamer “Sumter,”
   Cadiz, January 6th, 1862.

SIR,—­I have had the honour to receive your Excellency’s note of to-day, in which you inform me that the proceedings of the local authorities of Cadiz, commanding me to proceed to sea within twenty-four hours, have been overruled by the Government at Madrid, and that the Queen had graciously permitted me to land my prisoners, and to remain to put the necessary repairs upon my ship.  Do me the favour to communicate to her Majesty my thanks for her prompt and friendly action in the premises.

In the meantime, allow me most respectfully to protest against the presence of the guard-boat which has been placed in surveillance upon my movements, as though I were an ordinary ship of commerce.  Compliance with the laws of quarantine should be left with me as a matter of honour, and the presence of this boat implies the suspicion that a ship of war of a friendly Power could so far forget herself as to infringe the regulations of the port—­a suspicion as unworthy the health authorities of the port of Cadiz as it is offensive to me.

   I have the honour to be, &c. &c.

   (Signed) R. SEMMES.

   Senor Ignacio Mendez de Vigo,
   Military Governor of the Port of Cadiz.