When I came to break the seal of this letter, I found it to purport, that the Governor had not the necessary _funciones_, to reply to me, diplomatically, but that he would _elevate_ my despatch, to the _Supreme_ Government; and that, in the mean time, I had better take the _Abby Bradford_ and get out of _Puerto Cabello_, as soon as possible! This was all said, very politely, for your petty South American chieftain is
"As mild a mannered man, as ever cut a throat,"
but it was none the less strong for all that. The missive of the Governor reached me early, in the afternoon, but I paid not the least attention to it. I sent the paymaster on shore, to purchase some fresh provisions, and fruits, for the crew, and gave such of the officers "liberty," as desired it. The next morning I sent a prize crew on board the _Bradford_, and determined to send her to New Orleans. Being loth to part with any more of my officers, after the experience I had had, with the prize brig _Cuba_, I selected an intelligent quartermaster, who had been mate of a merchantman, as prize-master. My men I could replace--my officers I could not. The following letter of instructions was prepared for the guidance of the prize-master:
CONFEDERATE STATES STEAMER SUMTER, OFF PUERTO CABELLO, July 26, 1861.
QUARTERMASTER AND PRIZE-MASTER, EUGENE RUHL:
You will take charge of the prize schooner, _Abby Bradford_, and proceed with her, to New Orleans--making the land to the westward of the passes of the Mississippi, and endeavoring to run into Barrataria Bay, Berwick's Bay, or some of the other small inlets. Upon your arrival, you will proceed to the city of New Orleans, in person, and report yourself to Commodore Rousseau, for orders. You will take especial care of the accompanying package of papers, as they are the papers of the captured schooner, and you will deliver them, with the seals unbroken, to the judge of the Prize Court, Judge Moise. You will batten down your hatches, and see that no part of the cargo is touched, during the voyage, and you will deliver both vessel, and cargo, to the proper law officers, in the condition in which you find them, as nearly as possible.
I availed myself of this opportunity, to address the following letter to Mr. Mallory, the Secretary of the Navy; having nothing very important to communicate, I did not resort to the use of the cipher, that had been established between us.