Heavy showers throughout the day. Morning at home. The telegraph news came early but brought nothing decisive. What accounts came are favorable. General McLellan is picking up his forces, and professes to be ready for action. Of course the suspense must be continued a little longer. Later in the day I heard rumours of a change in the cabinet which may perhaps put a better face on matters. Mr Stanton has been in146 his way a good Officer, but latterly I am afraid there have been divisions spring out of his absolute tempter which have impaired the energy of the service. Several visitors, mostly Americans of whom there are numbers. I took a walk, but got caught in Hyde Park in very heavy showers. I had company to dinner. Mr Peabody, Lord Stanley, Mr and Mrs Milner Gibson, Sir William and Lady Clay, Sir Emerson Tennent, Lady and daughter, Mr Mrs and Miss Morgan, Mr and Mrs Lampson and their son, Mrs and Miss Jackson, Mr and Mrs Bentson, and Mr and Mrs H. K Hawkey. My nephew F. Brooks came in from Paris just as we went to dinner. After it was over, there was a reception, not so numerously attended as before, but the presence of the company from dinner more than made up for it. Mr Peabody presented to me a volume containing the letters touching the creation of the Trust beautifully drawn up. He and Mr Morgan both told me of the change of the cabinet, extending also to the introduction of General Banks and of General Pope. My letters arrived tonight, but they say nothing of it.