Wednesday, Aug. 5th.—­At 6 A.M. got up the anchor, and getting under way, steamed out of the bay and shaped our course for Cape Town.  At 9.30 descried a sail a point on the starboard bow, and at 10.30 came up with and sent a boat on board of the Confederate barque Tuscaloosa, and brought Lieutenant Lowe on board.  He reported having captured, on the 31st July the American ship Santee, from the eastward, laden with rice, certificated as British property, and bound for Falmouth.  He released her on ransom for 150,000 dollars.  I directed Lieutenant Lowe to proceed to Simons Bay for supplies.  Steamed in for the town.  At 12.30 made a barque, two points on starboard bow; gave chase, and at about 2 P.M. came up with and hove the chase, she having up United States colours.  This was a close pursuit, as the barque was not more than five or six miles from the shore when we came up with her.  The Master might have saved himself if he had stood directly in for the land; but we ran down upon him under English colours, and he had no suspicion of our character until it was too late.  The United States consul at once protested against our violation of British waters (!).  The Governor telegraphed to the Admiral (Walker), at Simon’s Bay, to send a man-of-war round; and about 10 P.M. her Majesty’s steamship Valorous, Captain Forsyth, came in and anchored.  Some correspondence has passed between the Governor and myself on the subject of the capture, and I believe he is satisfied as to distance, &c.  Put a prize crew on board the prize (Sea Bride), and directed her to stand off and on until further orders.  The moment our anchor was dropped we were crowded with visitors.

Thursday, Aug. 6th.—­Notwithstanding the bad weather, the ship has been crowded with visitors all the morning, and my cabin has been constantly filled with people pressing to shake hands with me, and to express sympathy for my cause.  During the night we had some thunder and lightning, first from the S.E., and then from the N.W.; and the wind springing up, very gently at first, freshened to a gale by morning, with showers of rain and hail.  Communicated with the prize, and directed the Prizemaster, in case he should be blown off by a gale, to rendezvous at Saldanha Bay by the fifteenth of the month.  Captain Forsyth, of the Valorous, came on board.  Returned his visit.

Friday, Aug. 7th.—­I should have been under way for Simons Bay this morning but for the gale.  The wind is blowing very fresh from northward and westward, with dense clouds climbing up and over the Table, Lion’s head, &c.—­presenting a very fine spectacle, with the rough waters, the ships with struck upper yards, and the town half enveloped with flying mists, &c.  The bold watermen in all the gale are cruising about the bay under reefed sails, some of them with anchors and cables, ready to assist any ships that may require it.  Last night, in the first watch, a sail was reported to be on the shore near the lighthouse and firing signal guns.  Very soon we saw two or three boats put out to her assistance.  In the morning we heard that it was a Brazilian brig, and that the crew was saved.  The brig is fast breaking up in the gale.