A rather quiet morning. I had visits from two Americans Mr John S Dwight and Mr George Bemis who talked much of our affairs. They have been in Europe some time. The latter spent the winter in Rome and in Paris and gave a good account of the state of feeling during the period as alternating according to the accounts from home. I went out with Mary who has caught a very bad cold which makes me anxious about her. She suffers a little from her solitude which is almost as complete as if she were in the wilds of America. This being the day fixed to celebrate the birth day of the Queen, I must in full dress to dine by invitation with Lord John Russell, at the Official residence in Downing Street. The company consisted of the Diplomatic corps, and a few additional gentlemen. I sat between Mr Bills and General Duprey, the Minster from Hayti, He is a colored man, but so slightly as not to be noticeable. Quite intelligent. As his government has never been recognized by us I treat him only as an acquaintance, but I endeavored to be civil to him. I asked him how the Dominican matter stood now. He said that Hayti could make no effective resistance to Spain, and as the manifest tendency of things was to draw the United States closer to France, Great Britain, very naturally relucted at any186 act which might tend to alienate Spain from herself. I intimated that we had entered a protest, which apparently he did not know. He asked me if he could get a copy. I said I was not at liberty to give him one. The dinner was formal and dull. Two sentiments were drunk standing, “Her Majesty,” proposed by Count de Flahaut, and “the friends and allies of her Majesty,” proposed by John Russell. After dinner I renewed my acquaintance with Mr Addington, who was at Washington a great many years ago when my father was Secretary of State. As I returned home I saw several houses illuminated in honor of the Queen, the most brilliant f which was Apsley House, the residence of the Duke of Wellington.