Rainy morning. I wrote my private letters today, but was obliged again to take out two hours in order to go to the city to acknowledge a couple of new instruments which my son John has sent to me to execute. This pressed me up a little for the remainder of the day, so that I did not succeed in securing my customary hour for exercise before dinner. That meal was set a little earlier today in order to let the rest of the family go to hear Mr Dickens read again. I spent the time in a walk, after which they took me up on their way to Lady Wensleydale’s, to go to the second reception of Lord de Grey. I met there rather more acquaintances than usual. Remained half an hour and then returned after calling for the rest of the family home.368