I have entered the harbour of Cadiz with my single ship, and I demand only the hospitality to which I am entitled by the law of nations--the Confederate States being one of the _de facto_ nations of the earth, by Spain's own acknowledgment, as before stated.

I am sorry to be obliged to add, too, that my ship is in a crippled condition.

She is damaged in her hull, is leaking badly, is unseaworthy, and will require to be docked and repaired before it will be possible for her to proceed to sea.

I am therefore constrained, by the force of circumstances, most respectfully to decline obedience to the order which I have received, until the necessary repairs can be made.

Further, I have on board forty-three prisoners, confined within a small space, greatly to their discomfort, and simple humanity would seem to dictate, that I should be permitted to hand them over to the care of their consul on shore without unnecessary delay.
I have, &c.