I omitted in my record of yesterday to mention a visit from Mr Cobden to me yesterday, to talk about American affairs. He did little more than repeat the substance of what he said before. The pressure was becoming more intense in the manufacturing Districts as the stock of cotton was declining, and he wanted to know what the probabilities were of obtaining any supply. I answered in substance that this was only a question of time. And it must depend upon the degree of confidence inspired by the progress of our arms. Things were going on well both at Memphis and New Orleans, at the last accounts. If they continued in the same way, so that the government could insure protection to the planters, I had little doubt that a considerable amount might be obtained. Mr Cobden then made the same intimations he did before about the possibility of a joint representation to the United States from Great Britain and France. This led me to enlarge upon the possible consequences of such a step on the policy of the United States. Thus far they had carried on the war with a desire to save the slaveholding states from a convulsion which might destroy them, and to enable them to reinstate themselves. But any thing like an attempt to bolster up their system by foreign interference would inevitably lead to an abandonment of all further efforts to restrict the character of the war. From that moment emancipation would follow. This had already been declared by the government in a late despatch to me a copy of which I had furnished to the authorities here. Mr C said he had always seen the matter in the same light. We then talked generally of the effects of this policy. Mr C ended by suggesting to me the propriety of urging Mr Seward to take some occasion of expressing concern for the difficulties in which foreign countries were involved, and of generally presenting the view of his policy. I promised so to do. Strangely enough I did not receive a single line by the Persia, the first instance of the kind since I have been here. Today I attended Divine service at the Chapel in Portland Street. Mr Martineau preached. The attendance very full. Walk afterwards with Mary in the Zoological gardens. M. Everett dined here.140