I had a visit this morning from Mr George L Schuyler of New York, who has been sent out by the government to complete the purchase of arms for the United States. I am much rejoiced at this as it takes off of my shoulders the whole of the responsibility which had fallen upon them. I therefore endured the carriage and drove down to Messr Barrings to let Mr Bates know of the change. I believe he was as much pleased as I. In the gigantic undertaking of this war I foresee that one of its accompaniments is to be a fall in the country’s credit. I therefore am not zealous to accelerate this catastrophe. Mr Schuyler dined with me, and gave me much information of the condition of affairs at Washington. He draws comfort from the improvement of affairs consequent upon the lesson of adversity at Bull run. My views are not so sanguine. The difficulty is in the President who is not equal to the gravity of his position. This painful idea has never left me since the day I heard of his first speech on leaving Springfield for the seat of government. If we escape this danger, it ill be the providence of God and through some other agency. After Mr Schuyler left. I spent some time, making up the arrears of my Diary, occasioned by my absence.