Tuesday, January 14th.—­* * * Had an interview to-day with the Naval-Commandant, who explained to me the orders he had received from the Government in relation to my ship, which were to put upon her only the indispensable repairs, without essential alterations.  I expressed myself satisfied with this; told him I knew the solicitude of his Government to avoid complication; and, that so far as depended upon me, he might rely upon it that I would permit nothing to be done which might involve it in any way.  Proceeding with the necessary repairs.  Some thousand workmen, many of them convicts, are employed in this yard.  They have in dock, receiving her copper, a heavy steam frigate constructed here, and another still larger on the stocks.  Immense quantities of timber are in the docks, and though the water is salt it is not attacked by the worm, the ebb and flow of the tide preventing it.  Timber which has been forty years in these docks is perfectly sound.  Five of my seamen deserted yesterday—­all foreigners, I am glad to say.  The Commandant has promised to put the police on the scent, but I have no expectation I shall get them.

Wednesday, January 15th.—­Having had the plank replaced in the bilge, and re-coppered and overhauled the propeller, we were let out of dock at 1 P.M.  These repairs were done with a very bad grace by the Spanish officials, who seemed in a great hurry to get rid of us, lest the affair of our being docked should compromise them!  This I suppose was due to official timidity, not to any want of good feeling, as the Commandant of the yard expressed to me his regret at not being able to put me in complete repair; personally offering to render me any service in his power.  Our engine not being ready for use, the Captain-General sent a small steamer to tow me to Cadiz, where we anchored at about 4 P.M.  Whilst lying in the dock, a stampede took place amongst my crew, nine of them having deserted.  Two were brought back; the rest escaped.  Some of these men had behaved themselves very well, but none of them, of course, had any attachment to the flag, not being natives, or, indeed, citizens at all, and, sailor-like, they had got tired, and wanted a change.  Some, no doubt, shrank from the arduous and perilous duties of the service in which they had engaged.  They took refuge with the Yankee Consul, and it was useless to ask to have them given up.  The enemy is certainly good at burning cities by means of negro incendiaries, and at enticing away our seamen.  Another lad ran away from a boat this evening.  Have directed no boat should leave the ship without an officer, and that the officer be armed, and ordered to shoot any men who attempt to desert.

Thursday, January 16th.—­Called my crew aft and had a talk with them about the bad conduct of their shipmates who had deserted.  Told them I did not believe I had another man on board capable of so base an act; that men who could run under such circumstances would run from their guns; and that I did not want such, &c., &c.; and ended by telling them that when funds arrived they should be permitted to go on liberty. * * * At 9 P.M., the aide-de-camp of the Military Governor came on board, bringing a pilot with him, with a peremptory order for me to go to sea.  I replied as under:—­