A fine day and quite clear for this climate. I was much interrupted with visits Mr Putnam the consul at Havre came and talked of the troubles at home, pushing his speculations of future changes far beyond any point I care to reach. Mr Goddard is the Consul to Constantinople and is on his way. He is much astonished at the drift of popular opinion here, and also in Canada from which country he embarked. He gave an amusing account of his conversation with Dean Trench who evidently is as little master of our affairs as most people in this country. Sir Henry Holland came in and talked a little. I asked him as to the prospect of a change of ministry. He expressed his utter disbelief in any change so long as Lord Palmerston should survive. I know not how far he is a judge. I went out earlier than usual, to return the visit of Mr Moreira who lives close by. I sounded him about the Spanish attempt on Mexico. He was incredulous of any thing beyond the ordinary mode of securing indemnity and satisfaction. He even doubted whether261 the project of intervention was really entertained in Spain. He believed them to be egged on by France and most of all by this country. He characterized the policy of Great Britain as tricky and selfish. They were burning with jealousy of the United States, and that was at the bottom of all their action towards them. He thought the tories bad enough, but they were more straitforward than the Whigs who were mean and timid and false. The earnestness of his manner showed that he felt what he said. It is one of the peculiarities of the English always to make foreign ministers dislike them. But I do not quite subscribe to M Moreira’s wholesale condemnation of them. Selfish they are and stiff in their notions, but they are not dishonest. Very unpleasant to deal with but generally faithful to their engagements. From hence I went to Mr Kuntse and gave him a fifth sitting. He waist to see the family and hear their comments, before making the last effort. A walk around Regent’s park. In the evening I began to read the Diaries of Lord Malmesbury.