A mild pleasant day. I drew up the forms of the Despatches for tomorrow, which are not important, and then went off on a expedition to Battersea Park. As Mrs Adams now needs the carriage for Mrs Frothingham pretty much all the time, I resort to the most pleasant means of public conveyance. So I walked down to the Hungerford pier, there took a river Steamer to Battersea, and walked thence to the grounds. There was no crowd, and the water passage was quiet pleasant. The park is a large reserve made on the opposite side of the river for the convenience of the growing suburban population in that quarter. The inclosure for the Agricultural show was quiet extensive, and convinced me at once of the impossibility of going over it all in one day. I therefore confined myself to the stock Department. The show of all the various English breeds was extensive. I think the precocity of the specimens is perhaps the most remarkable feature. Six month calves are as large as ours at two years, and two years steers are equal to our full grown. This is more particularly true of the four or five English breeds and particularly the short horns, which are clearly the favorites. I prefer the appearance of the Devons. The Herefords and Long Horns are both open to objection. But there is a homeless breed called the polled angus with which I was much pleased. The Scotch and Irish are much smaller, and better adapted our pasture and climate. The Ayrshire and Kerry particularly. Of the foreign cattle I liked the Swiss the best. They resemble the Jersey with better points. A couple of bulls from the Pyrenees were remarkable, but the Breton cows looked inferior. Indeed as a general thing the foreign show was imperfect and indifferent. Of sheep I have little experience. The horses were the best in the inferior classes, as draught animals and ponies. I saw but two or three fine hunters. My time slipped by before I could se all however, and even at that I was late home. In the evening as Mrs Adams felt unwell and desired to stay at home the last evening before her sister’s departure I went with Henry, to Lady Wensleydale’s reception. Not large, and only a few person there whom I knew. From thence to Count Flahault’s reception to Prince Napoleon. I missed seeing him, as he went off early. Many of the Diplomatic Corps and foreigners.138