Tuesday, January 7th.—­To-day I received a note from Senor de Vigo, the military Governor, informing me that the Queen’s Government had consented to permit me to land my prisoners, and to remain for repairs.  He puts my remaining, however, on the ground of necessity arising out of my crippled condition.  Received also a reply from the Yankee Consul to my note about the prisoners:  declined to receive it on account of its being improperly addressed.[5] Landed all the prisoners.  Received another note from the Governor, requesting me to hurry my repairs, &c.  Sent to the Captain of the port on the subject.  Referred by him to Captain-General.

   [Footnote 5: 

CAPTAIN SEMMES, C.S.N., to U.S.  CONSUL, CADIZ,

C.S.  Steamer Sumter, Cadiz,
January 7, 1862.

Sir,—­Your note of this morning having been sent off to me by a common boatman, I could not learn the name of the writer without breaking the envelope.  Having done so, and ascertained it to be from yourself, I decline to receive it, as being improperly addressed.  My address is as follows:—­

COMMANDER H. SEMMES,

Confederate States Navy,
Commanding C.S.  Steamer Sumter. 
E.S.  Eggleston, U.S.  Consul.]

Wednesday, January 8th.—­Complained to the Civil Governor of the Paymaster and Surgeon having been called alongside the guard-boat (whilst coming on board in a shore boat).  Despatched a Lieutenant to San Fernando to see the Captain-General about docking the ship.  He returned at nightfall, with word that the Captain-General would reply in the morning.

Thursday, January 9th.—­Visited by Engineer of docks at San Fernando, to learn the extent of the repairs which we shall require, and to take the dimensions of the ship, to ascertain whether she can enter the only dock that is empty.  A fine, clear day, with a pleasant wind from the N. Bar. 30’34., the highest that I have ever seen.  No answer from the Captain-General yet (noon), as to our being docked.  Besides the six ships which Mr. Welles says have been in pursuit of me—­viz., the Powhattan, the Niagara, the San Jacinto, the Iroquois, the Keystone State, and the Richmond—­the Ino and the Dacotah are also employed in this fruitless business.  We are fairly in the hands of the circumlocution office.  I suppose they are telegraphing Madrid.  The greatest excitement prevails all over Europe to learn the result of the English demand for the Commissioners.  The general impression is, that the Yankees will give them up, and that there will be no war.  The packet from New York is expected in England to-day.  In the meantime, Great Britain is calling home her ships of war; the Mediterranean fleet arrived at Gibraltar on January 2nd, and threw the commercial community into the greatest consternation.  Received final permission this evening from the Captain-General to enter dock.