My day was spent in the ordinary routine of visitation excepting that in the afternoon I undertook to find my own way from Portland place to Guilford Street, Russell Square to return a visit too long neglected to Mr Forster. To my surprise I succeeded with very little diversion from my path although I turned several corners, and by no means followed the path of the carriage which took me to breakfast I met Mr Forster just issuing from her own door, who regretted her husband’s absence. I then walked back to Regent Street without difficulty. This was more easy, we with the general sense of direction, it is only necessary to strike one of the two thoroughfares, Oxford Street or the Strand to know your way at once. I was very sorry not to see Mr Forster, though I might have supposed if he was really punctual in attendance on the house of Commons that he would be gone. This is so little the custom however, that i did not pay much attention to the hour. After dinner Henry and I walked to the Parliament House to attend the adjurned debate of Monday. We met with Messr Wilson and Moran who had with them Messr Fogg and Harvey, two of the new diplomats on their way to their destination. The galleries were so much filled that it was with difficulty I could get my son in, and the two strangers. The benches were thin when we got there, and I noticed a marked degree of languor in the opposition different from what it was on Monday. The speaking was at first much the same, but the animation increased when Mr Colden rose. His speech was plain, strong and effective. It was replied to by Mr Thomas Baring neatly but not forcibly—and then Mr Gladstone followed in general close. The great object of the whole assault of the government at this time had been to break him down. Each speaker of the opposition had short his dart at him, so that his reply was looked for with no little interest. I think it could scarcely be disputed that he fully sustained himself. He shewed readiness, sarcasm and logic, pressing hard upon each of his opponents in turn. Mr Gladstone has not much of the higher class of oratorical talent, He despises imagination, His style is plain, direct and printed, but it is strictly material and for the occasion. There is no philosophy, little generalization. It was clear to me when Lord Palmerston closed, what the issue would be. A division followed which I di not care to await. We got home at about one o’clock.153