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.