The bag came and brought us cheerful news on the whole. Louisa at last writes that she is better and John thinks he shall be able to get Charles out here. He was about to start for Washington the day after New Year. Both my sons left me to join their mother at Paris. I am gradually getting used to this solitude. Occupation is the only thing that makes it tolerable. I had Mr Evarts in, and conversed with upon the general policy to be pursued here. He goes over to Paris tomorrow. There is now more uneasiness about France than about England. I never had any confidence in the Emperor. A perjured usurper is capable of any thing. My own idea of policy would have been to be rather summary with him. Mr Seward always leave a little more to the550 flexible. Perhaps in the present emergency he may be right. I am glad I am not in his place. Went out in the carriage to pay visits to the Lord Chancellor, after his dinner, to Mr Duncan in return, and to Mr Senior, who I learn has been ill. I found him looking a little shaken. Mrs S said he had been very ill, but now she wanted company to enliven him. Half a dozen visiters came while I was there. Singularly enough a large proportion of the person whom I first became acquainted with on arriving, were much advanced in life, and they are gradually dropping off. I now make comparatively few new ones. Walked home. At my door found a man waiting for me to say that he knew thirty men were going from here to France, who had been enlisted for the Florida at Brest. One of them was ready to testify to the fact. I referred him to the consul, who would take the necessary steps to get his evidence in the morning. Dined by invitation at Mr Homer’s. A small company consisting of Mrs Laugel, a lady I did not know, and his two daughters, Sir Henry Dunbury, who married a daughter but who was not there, Mr Edward Romilly, a gentleman whom I saw at the Chancellor’s, but whose name I missed. A small but rather pleasant party. Mr Homer seems to be a very worthy old gentleman and a good friend of America. There was some company afterwards. Home at ten or so.