Spring like day. Received my Despatches and letters which are generally cheerful. But nothing from Mr Seward in relation to myself. Much taken up in reading the details. A visit from Lord Houghton. At a quarter before three o’clock I had once more donned my masquerade harness, which I had hoped never to do again, and in company with my Secretaries went to Buckingham Palace, to attend the Court held by Queen. A very full attendance of the Corps Diplomatique, embracing all the attachés, and their wives, if they had them. We went in by Legations, but not separating the sexes as at Drawing rooms. I presented Mr Alward. The Queen was dressed in black, and a small cap, plain but with a necklace of heavy diamond. The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Helena and Louisa made the supports. The Queen spoke to several of the corps. She asked me concerning Mrs Adams. After this was over, the chiefs of Legations were requested to remain in the room, whilst the others left it We then formed a circle, and the Queen proceeded to speak to each individual around the whole She asked me again whether Mrs Adams was to remain long, and then a remark about the sever weather. This is royal conversation. When she had completed the circle, there were the usual bows and adieus The whole thing lasted an hour. It went off vastly better than that of last year. With a little repetition I think it would make a very great improvement on the old Court ceremonies. The Queen looked much better than on the former occasion, and she had resumed much of her old ease and dignity.221 It is said that she is to continue these, embracing about a hundred persons at a time until she has gone through the nobility. She resorts to new forms from her aversion to facing the associations with old ones. I confess I feel a good deal of sympathy for this woman, who in the midst of the vanities of her position retains all the simplicity of the affections for her sex. The throne of England has never been filled by a more honest, conscientious and scrupulous individual, in the performance of her duties. The loss she has experienced is irreparable, because her husband supplied her with those qualities in which as a Sovereign, she feels her deficiency. Home at four, when I wrote a letter to Mrs Adams. Dined at Lord Stanley of Alderley’s. Lord Dalhousie, Lord De Grey and Lord Sligo, Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood, Lady Dufferin, or rather Gifford, Lord and Lady Ambreley, besides young Stanley and the unmarried daughter, Mr Levenson-Gower and myself— Dinner rather dull. From thence to Mrs Gladstone’s, reception. Pretty full. There was music. Conversation with Baron Brunnow and Mr Gladstone. The former spoke to me of the late appointment of Sir Frederick Bruce. He said it marked the disposition of this government to maintain friendly relations with us. He felt anxious that we should not mistake this matter and by any measures of ours play into the hands of the Emperor, who, to his knowledge, was constantly egging things on her to an adverse policy. I told him that I had written in just that sense to my government. Mr Gladstone was quite talkative about trade and supply and the use of spirits. I have not known him so gracious for a long while.