resident, to present me with a copy of a paper, which had been handed him, by the United States Consul, protesting against my being permitted to coal, or receive any other supplies in the port of Maranham.
Oh ho!
thought I, here is another of Mr. Seward's small fry turned up. I read the paper, and found it full of ignorance and falsehoods—ignorance of the most common principles of international law, and barefaced misrepresentations with regard to my ship; the whole composed in such execrable English, as to be highly creditable to Mr. Seward's Department.
I characterized the paper, as it deserved, and said to the gentlemen, that as I had made an appointment to call on the President, on the morrow, I would take that opportunity of replying to the slanderous document.
The conversation then turned on general topics, and my visitors soon after withdrew.
As I rode out, that afternoon, with Porto, he said, Never mind!
I know all that is going on, at the palace, and you will get all th
back, as we have just seen.
It might do, doubtless thought Captain Palmer, to kick some small power, but France!
there was the rub. If the Sumter were only in Bahia, where the Florida afterward was, how easily and securely the kicking might be done?
A gallant captain, with a heavy ship, might run into her, cut her down to the water's edge, fire into her crew, struggling in the water, killing, and wounding, and drowning a great many of them, and bear off his prize in triumph!
And then, Mr. Seward, if he should be called upon, not by Brazil alone, but by the sentiment of all mankind, to make restitution of the ship, could he not have her run into, by accident, in Hampton Roads, and sunk; and would not this be another feather in his diplomatic cap— Yankee feather though it might be?
What is a diplomat fit for, unless he can be a little cunning, upon occasion?
The b'hoys will shout for him, if history does not. The reader need no longer wonder at the backing and filling of the Iroqu