Warm and showery with constant clouds. The bag came and brought with it the details of yesterday’s intelligence as well as a great number of despatches. I was absorbed and excited the whole morning. My private letters were more scant but on the whole encouraging. It is almost impossible to help thinking that this great rebellion is dying out. Looking at the state of things one year ago, and comparing it with what it now is the progress has been striking. We have now resumed the control of the entire seacoast, have driven the resistance away from the capital and from four57 of the five border states. The currency of the confederates is entirely depreciated, and their resources in every respect shortened. What is most important of all, their spirit is gone. The Slaveowner is arrogant and daring, but he has no endurance. Mrs Adams and I dined with Sir Emerson Tennent. I knew few of the company. The most noted was Browning, and Sir James Kaye Shuttleworth. There was likewise Sir William Martins with his Wife and daughter, Mr Spring Rice, and a Manchester gentleman whom I met also at Mr Field’s breakfast. Lady Tennent being unwell I took here daughter down to dinner, and found her intelligent and conversible. Mr Browning spoke with interest and affection of the Storys at Rome. On the whole the entertainment was above the average. We took leave early to go to the reception of Mr and Mrs Lowe, the vice president of the Board of Education, and long connected with the London Times. He is by no means friendly to us in our present struggles, for which reason I felt bound not to slight his civilities. No many persons, at a time, as they were constantly going and coming. The most curious spectacle was a small circle seated in the middle of the back rom, composed of cabinet ministers, evidently in consultation. Among them I recognized Mr Gladstone, Sir George Grey, Sir Charles Wood and Mr Law standing with them, evidently taking a part. Doubtless it could be conjectured what the matter was. The government is embarrassed by the manifest coldness with which their modified plan of education is received by the House of Commons. It is far too weak to press any contested point. Hence consultation to know how to meet the discussion. We remained but a short time, and then repaired to the house of Mr Samuel Gurney’s the banker, who had a large assembly and an entertainment for Mr Cyrus W Field and the telegraph enterprise. During the evening messages were sent to and answers returned from various parts of the world, as for example Paris and Madrid and St Petersburg. Some loud remarks on the condition of the Atlantic telegraph enterprise, in the course of which I was called on, and said a few words. Home at 12.58