Thursday, August 21st.—­Clear fine weather.  I am charmed with the appearance of Terceira.  Every square foot of the island seems to be under the most elaborate cultivation; the little fields divided by hedgerows of what appeared to be sugar-cane.  The white one-storied houses are dotted thickly among all this cultivation, giving evidence of great populousness in this primitive paradise—­so far removed away from the world, and so little resorted to by commerce.  Wind inclined to haul to the S.E., which will open us to the sea again, and I am, of course, quite anxious.  Received a letter (or rather Captain Butcher, who is still the nominal commander of the ship, did) from the English Consul, informing us that the authorities still insisted upon our going round to East Angra.  Replied that we had come in to receive coal from the barque in our company, &c., and that as the day seemed fine, and we should probably have a good lee for the purpose, I would go to sea without the marine league for the purpose.  I knew they suspected me of arming as well as coaling, and hence I resorted to this step to quiet their apprehensions of my infringing their neutrality.

Stood along the island—­the Bahama in company and the barque alongside—­and hoisted out the gun-carriages, and mounted as many of the guns as we could.  Returned during the afternoon, and after nightfall anchored in East Angra, with the barque still alongside.  We were hailed very vociferously as we passed in very bad English or Portuguese, we could not make out which, and a shot was fired at us.  The Bahama, which was following, hauled off and stood off and on during the night; we continued our course, and anchored about 8.30 P.M.  Near midnight I was aroused from a deep sleep into which I had fallen after the fatigue and exertions of the day, and informed by the officer of the deck very coolly that the man-of-war schooner was firing into us.  As I knew they did not dare to fire into me but were only firing at me, perhaps to alarm me into going out of the harbour, I directed the officer to take no notice of the proceeding.  In the morning we learned that this had been a false alarm, and that the firing had been from the mail steamer to bring on board her passengers.

Had a talk with the old boatswain’s-mate, who consented to go with me, and to use his best exertion to bring over to me all the good men over whom he could exercise influence.

Friday, August 22nd.—­Wind from the S.W., promising us a smooth day for our work.  Called all hands at 6 A.M., and commenced coaling.  At 7 A.M. a number of Custom House officers and the English Consul came on board.  Our coaling was suspended until the two ships could be entered at the Custom House.  We lost a couple of hours by this visit, but I was gratified to learn as the result of it that we might remain quietly and continue our coaling, &c.