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Sir: The rebel steamer Florida, Morris commander, arrived here on the night before the last, reporting as eighteen days from Brest, and requiring supplies of coals, water, bread, &c. Mr. Blandy, an English merchant, had engaged to furnish 110 tons of coals, but the governor forbade her being supplied with either coals or provisions. Last night there was an attempt to coal her clandestinely, which I ascertained and reported to Mr. Bayman, acting consul. We had a long interview with the governor and stopped it; two boats were loaded and are now afloat, watched by police boats.
Mr. Bayman writes me this morning that the governor, acting on old instructions—not the recent ones—had decided to give the Florida sixty tons of coals, since reduced to twenty, but I am not sure that he will adhere to this.
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The rebel commander says his mission is to destroy our commerce, not to fight, and that he cannot afford to risk the chances of injury to his machinery. I have, therefore, little hopes of bringing her to action with my canvas wings, though I shall follow her to sea, if practicable, and try. He will probably go to sea in the morning calms, before the land breeze sets in. If not allowed to coal here I think he will go to Teneriffe, where the Georgia was coaled last October, and where I hope he may fall in with the Sacramento. We left her at Fayal, to sail as soon as coaled, and she would probably be detained at Santa Cruz to overhaul her engines. The rebels were offering $50 advance yesterday for additions to the crew.
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Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. James E. Harvey, United States Minister Resident, Lisbon, Portugal.