A fine and very quiet day for our national anniversary. No arrangement had been entered into for any celebration this year, the last one having turned out so little satisfactory. I cannot regret it, for it relieves me from the necessity of declining to make any speech, or else of saying something that might commit me. Yet my thoughts turned to my dear native land, and the agony through which it is passing to make good the pledges it gave to the world eighty seven years ago; then to the ill suppressed joy of all the404 enemies of freedom over the would at what they hope will prove the failure of the great experiment of self government. At times my fears predominate that our people may not prove equal to their great trial. Then again I feel that they have not yet shown any real symptom of failing, and that a little more perseverance with the favor of Divine providence will carry them through in safety. God in his mercy will spare us the punishment we deserve for our offences, and will make this experience a lesson to us to fulfil our duty more fruitfully hereafter. Such are my meditations on this day! A visit from Mr H. W. Brecker, the celebrated clergyman from Brooklyn, New York. Whilst he was with me I received a telegram which proved to be from Mr Seward and in cipher. My emotion was not small whilst Mr Moran was reaching it out. For I naturally concluded it must be either bad or good public or private intelligence. It turned out to be neither—but related to some papers which had been wanted here in the Alexander case, and were just found. Attend the last day of the sale of Ivanoff’s collection. I am rather partial to these occasions as a total diversion of my mind from present affairs. The attendance very much as before. The sale quiet high. I purchased a few, and learned something besides. Home in time to go with Mrs Adams and May to dine with Sir Stafford and Lady Northcote. The company consisted of Lord and Lady Fortescue, Lord and Lady Cainarrow, Lord and Lady Campbell, Mr and Lady Dorothy Nevill, Sir Edward and Lady Denison, Mr and Mrs Talbot, and others— Almost a new company to me, and strangely enough, most of them quite marked sympathizers with the rebels. This is the first time such a thing has happened to me. Sir Stafford himself is a decided friend, so that every thing passed just as if no political feeling existed. The only evidence I had of its existence was the formality of the politeness between us. The dinner was more than usually amusing to me however from the conversation of Lord Fortescue, which was sensible and humour. Home quite late.405