Friday, July 26.—Weather clear and pleasant. Ran along the land to the westward again at daylight, and soon after made the fort on the hill above the town of Puerto Cabello. Ran past the group of small islands that outlie the town [to] the eastward, all of which are bold, and anchored in the port at 8 a.m. without a pilot. Dispatched a letter to the governor requesting permission to leave my prize until adjudication. Replied that it was beyond his functions to entertain this question and that I must depart in twenty-four hours. Landscape as bold and lovely as a picture of mountain scenery. Had a proposition for the sale of the cargo.
Extracts from the journal of Commander Semmes, C.S. Navy, commanding C.S.S. Sumter
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