A very pleasant day. The lull of all business is such that I have too much time to think of my private affairs. The condition of my daughter Louisa is by no means satisfactory to me, and my own is creating some anxiety by a return of symptoms of five or six years ago. Continued my work on the Catalogue. I had a visit from Mr Wilson, the person for whom Mrs Greenhow intruded. He is a stunt, dark complexioned, rather heavy looking young man, not unlike many of the Southern people. His story was soon told. He was out of health and spirits, anxious to go to America and ready to pledge himself not to serve against the United States, unless regularly exchanged. I asked him some questions about his conduct in the action which had been mentioned to me as honorable. He simply said that when in command of a boat containing some of the wounded, he had directed them to be taken to the Kearsarge, and not to the Deerhound. I said that Mr Smith and Mr Preble had spoken favorably to me of his deportment. I should not pretend to any authority over Captain Winslow—but I would write him a note to express my concurrence in any judgment which he might incline to adopt in the case. He took the note, thanked me for my attention, whatever the result might be, and went his way. I afterwards took a walk and called to see Mr and Mrs Butterworth at Edward’s Hotel. They72 brought a letter to me from Mr Everett, but I have been unable to do any thing for them. In the evening, with Mr Kuhn to the gardens of the Horticultural Society, where was an assemblage to receive the Prince and Princess of Wales. The card was from the Duke of Buccleuch as President— But no arrangements had been made to receive the guests, so we wandered about in the crowd, finding few acquaintances, and these as much befogged as ourselves. The Duke received, without apparently knowing any body. The conservatory was lined with green plants climbing and turning around the around the pillars, but in no way reflecting the light of the gas jets from above. Presently the Prince and Princess came, making their way in the land formed for their passage along the central way, until they ascended a flight of steps and disappeared. It was by this time a quarter after eleven, and we were bound to join the ladies at Lady Wensleydale’s before midnight. The carriage was however so much delayed that the we got there precisely as every body was leaving. So the whole affair was eminently unsatisfactory. With the exception of Lord Granville’s fète for the Prince, I have never known one of these occasions which was tolerable. This however from the entire absence of attention was the worst of all.