Chilly with clouds and rain. Attended Divine service at the Chapel in Portland Street. Mr Martineau has got home and the attendance was full again. His sermon was more mystical than ever. I became drowsy and lost the thread of it. The music was good, especially of the first hymn. Called to see Sir Charles and Lady Lyell, Sir Gore and Lady Ouseley, and Mr and Mrs Bates. Nobody at home. On my return I found Mr H. T. Parker who seemed curious to know something of Mr Davis’s movements int he pending election in Massachusetts. I told him all I knew of it, and of my action in declining to become a party to the resistance to Mr Sumner. We had then visits from Mr and Mrs Blatchford, just arrived in the Scotia, and on their way to Rome, where he is to be the minister in the place of Governor Randall, who has returned, like Mr Cameron. Diplomatic fungi gone in a night. Mr Blatchford told me much of the secret history at Washington, which went far to clear my vision of the causes of many appearances I had not penetrated before. The principal features are the honest incompetency of the President, the selfish intrigues of the head of the Treasury, the dissatisfaction of McClellan and all the various effects of these conflicting powers. He says that there has been danger of an open collision between McClellan and his army, and the cabinet at Washington. It has been removed by the President’s late visit, and the orders subsequently issued by the General, It is now understood that he moves on his campaign. I trust it may be so. But I have all along marvelled at the manner in which the latter held his had, after Lee’s defeat, and yet am puzzled by his delays. Mr and Mrs Jones and their son also came in on their way home to New York. They were full of the Paris rumors about my return to be Secretary of State. They could hardly believe it pure fiction. Sir Charles Lyell came in afterwards and talked pleasantly. He is one of our best and most reasonable friends. Thus my whole day was absorbed. In the evening I continued and finished the first volume of Lord Auchland’s papers.219