Quite a summer’s day. Attended Divine service at the portland Street Chapel, and heard Mr Jerson preach the second of the series of Lectures on the effects of the act of Uniformity of 1662. This gentleman reviewed the effect at the moment and that which has followed ever since, as well in the Established church itself as in the body outside of it. He was far more sharp and stern in his tone, than his predecessor. He viewed the act as a purely political measure intended for a peculiar purpose, to crush the independence of thought of the religious classes. To a certain extent it had succeeded, but it had left in the bosom of the church the seeds of its destruction. For it had ever since prescribed a uniformity of belief which was impossible. The style was clear and vigorous. On the whole I may say that the strangest proof of the truth of the last remark is found in the relative merit of the persons respectively engaged in the Episcopal and the Disputing sects. The superiority of the latter as preachers is most marked. In the afternoon I went with Mary to the zoological gardens. The only chance I noticed was in the serpent tribe to whom the warmth of the day seemed to have imparted activity. The elephant also was engaged in giving himself a shower bath in the most approved fashion. A large number of person out in the Regents park. I counted in our walk as many as seven preachers, each having collected a ring of people around him. Mr G B Sohier dined with us, and spent the evening.