A day of heavy rain I was at home all the morning making up the Diary of yesterday and despatching several notes. I also read some of Mr Senior’s Volumes which are all highly interesting to me. At a quarter of three in the midst of a drenching storm I found myself by appointment at Lord Russell’s Office at Whitehall. Met in the anteroom M Musurnes the Turkish Minister with whom I made acquaintance, and we talked a little while. He said he had been here eleven years, and was now wishing to return home. He is a handsome man with a sallow complexion and mild address. I soon went up to Lord Russell to whom I communicated the object of my visit. It was to read to him the despatch from Mr Seward which I received this week on the case of Mr Bunch, and the Mail bag. The tone of it is so very conciliatory that I preferred to take this course in order to do away so far as I could the very strong prejudice imbibed here against him as anti anglican. I though his Lordship was somewhat mollified. I offered to put it in the shape of a note, which he once accepted. I then went on to speak of the rumor mentioned by Lord Palmerston yesterday of Mr 282 Mr Bunch’s exequatur having been revoked, and asked if had such news. He said that the news came from Lord Lyons by a telegram of the latest date. In his despatch of the 26th. Lord Lyons had mentioned that Mr Seward had read to him a letter that was to be sent to me, but I as I had received no such letter he presumed the thing had been suspended. On returning home I found that there was a gap in the correspondence from the Department, No 109 not having come. I then went on to ask of his Lordship about the step taken by Mr Mercier at Washington, and whether it was known to the government here. He said yes. Lord Carley had sent them word of it. I asked whether this was a concerted monument. He said Lord Carley had been asked whether Lord Lyons would follow suit and the answer had been in the negative. But in truth that the French proceeding had not been any thing more than a suggestion, and pointed to no measures. I replied that it had been enough to alarm Mr Seward exceedingly, and I expected a special messenger from him on the subject by the most Steamer. I spoke then of the invitation and annoyance produced by the steady departure of steamers from here with contraband of war, and all sorts of supplies for the rebels. His Lordship hinted that I might get my remedy by applying to the courts of law. And he instanced some former cases in which the application had been made effectual. I laid up the advice for reflection. I then asked him some questions about the joint agreement as to Mexico, and asked for a copy if he was at liberty to send one. He said the papers were not yet exchanged, but he could send a copy so soon as they should be. I then left him. But it is plain to me that I am making my way into the confidence of the ministry by simple, strait forward dealing. The course of my predecessors for some time back has tended rather to raise prejudices against the country which it is not easy to remove. Time and patience, if I am permitted to use them long enough, will doubtless do it. But in the mean time difficulties may occur at every step. From this place I drove to Morley’s Hotel to see M la Fuente. I told him the substance of my conference about the Mexican affair. He goes back to Paris tomorrow, evidently much disheartened. From here283 I walked home in spite of the rain. Spent the rest of the evening quietly reading Mr Senior’s Diary. Heavy came back tonight from Manchester. The Storm was very high all night. The wind roared for the first time that I recollect since I have been here.