JOAQUIN PEDRO DE CASTELBRANCO, Post-Captain and Captain of the Port to the Civil, February 29, 1864

Captain of the port to Governor Perdigao.

[418] Most Excellent Sir: I communicated your excellency’s order to the commander of the steamer Florida, said orders being to the effect that he might acquire the provisions and water required to proceed on his voyage, and that with regard to coal, your excellency only allowed him to take twenty tons. In reply I have this day received a communication from said officer, of which I have the honor of transmitting you a copy inclosed, wherein said commander states he cannot proceed on his voyage without taking in forty tons of coal.

A short time after my receiving this communication, this officer came to me, and I then made known to him your excellency’s positive orders, and he at last agreed to leave this evening, taking only the twenty tons of coals allowed by your excellency, declaring that he would not proceed to sea under these circumstances should any war-steamer of the United States make her appearance in sight at the moment of his leaving the port.

God preserve your excellency.