Cloudy with light rain. The accounts of Mary are favorable, and the surgeon is now of opinion that it would be better to delay the departure until February. Wrote the usual number of letters and employed myself an hour or two in numismatics. Went out early to return a visit of Mr Hazard. He was not at home, so I went on in Piccadilly as far as Albert Gate, where I crossed Hyde Park and home. Noticed that the first house I occupied here, No 17 St George’s Place has been merged into a grand Hotel called the Alexandra, the entrance completely expunged. In the evening, Mr Alward came to spend an hour, and brought me some of his Autograph collections, for us to look at. The American news down to the close of the year gives an account of the failure of the attempt on Wilmington by the refusal of General Butler to prosecute it. This is no cause of surprise to me. My astonishment is that he was ever entrusted with such a command.