One year of President Lincoln’s term of Office has expired. It has been altogether the most stormy known to our history since 1783, Looking back to its commencement it seems to me as if the dangers in which it began have all been averted, and that now we are more consolidated as a government than we were then. The newspapers also brought us later accounts from America, announcing the capture of Fort Donnelson, with fifteen thousand prisoners and a prodigious quantity of stores and munitions of war. This is the greatest blow of the war, and if at once followed up may have a great effect in accelerating the end. We have now had in quick succession four victories, each of them won by hard blows. The moral of it is that the stronger party is developing its power just as the weaker one is giving symptoms of exhaustion. With prudence and energy for a few weeks it is by no means unreasonable to hope that we may crush the rebellion before midsummer. In any event all prospect of foreign intervention becomes distant, and my position becomes all more tolerably secure. Four person called, and I accomplished nothing but a few visits and an examinatino of a house in Grosvenor Square repulsive from neglect and wear and tear. Dined with Mrs Adams at Lord and Lady Lyveden’s. The Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir James and Lady Colville, Mr and Mrs Currie, Munchton Milnes, and the three or four more whom I did not know. Rather a lively dinner for London. Every body congratulating me upon the news. Home at eleven.44