My public Despatches for the week are neither numerous nor important. The lull in affairs caused by the Whitsuntide holidays gives a respite. But I had other incidental matters which more than made up the deficiency. Especially was this the case in regard to the repost to be made to Coll Ritchie of the state of his contract. Mr Scott Russell called and I gave him my answer to the proposal of yesterday. He then assigned over to me the bill of Messr Armstrong and Co, so far as they had changed of their work, and I surrendered the him for the eight notes left in my hands, being in amounts a sum falling about ten per cent short of the foot of their account. We passed the requisite vouchers on each side. Afterwards I drew up my report to Mr Ritchie. I likewise wrote to my son John today, reserving tomorrow to write a reply to Mr Seward’s confidential communications. To the preparation of this it seemed essential to me that I should have more decisive information as to the actual extent of Mr Yeatman’s authority. He has so singularly misrepresented the share I had in our previous action, in his letters to Mr Seward, that I may fairly infer he may have done at least as much in his references to Jefferson Davis, Mr Mason and Mr Slidell. Mr Russell repeated very precisely what he had told me before, and said he would take pains further to verify it. But he added that he thought a summary or recapitulation of the facts attending the whole transaction, pointing out the exact derivative from it caused by the action of Mr Yeatman, was due to both of us. He proposed to bring it to me tomorrow in season for my Despatches home. I had some other visits from Americans afterwards, and went out in the carriage with Mrs Adams to call upon several of them. Found no one at home. This is the most fatiguing and disagreeable of all my duties. On my return I got out and walked to Edwards’s Hotel, where I did see Mrs Borland at Boston. Mr B was out. The number of persons who came out, undeterred by the rise of the Exchange is marvellous. Quiet evening.