Very much occupied until six o’clock at night in writing private letters to go home in the bag today. At about three o’clock Mr Forster called to tell me of a telegram just received and printed in the Times, which alleged that news received from Fortress Monroe dated the 2d announced that General McLellan with all his army were negotiation for a capitulation. This was communicated from Baltimore to persons in the Steamer Glasgow two hours before the departure of the Glasgow on the 5.th Very fortunately I had just received the Tribune of the 5th containing a printed letter from Fortress Monroe of the 3d, together with the account given from both sides of the battle of the 30th in which we had the best of it. More than all, in had a telegram from Cape Race to the 7th which said nothing of it, but described McLellan as receiving reinforcements. Soon afterwards I found that the news had spread like wildfire, and many eagerly caught at it as true. Mr Forster carried off the papers to the House of Commons where the motion of Mr Lindsay was about to come up for discussion. In truth I imagine that the thing was put in circulation to affect the division in that motion of Lindsay. It was very fortunate that the telegram from Cape Race, probably not known to those who had connected the scheme frustrated most of it’s effects. I felt somewhat apprehensive however of the consequences in Parliament, and sent Mr Moran there to report the proceedings. In the evening, Mrs Adams and I went to pass an hour with Sidney Brooks and the ladies. He had already discovered the absurdity of the Despatch.