A sudden change in the weather made me feel chilly and shivery. My arrears of letter writing disposed of, I had several visits from Americans to absorb the rest of the morning. Mr Bayman, Mr Davidson and Mr Bachlan with several more. Then out with the ladies of the family to the Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts. I had been there already twice before, and had little to notice, either new or calculated to change former impressions. From thence a visit or two and a long walk. We had young Mr Hauteville and his bride to dinner today. He has been in the army for more than a year of the war, and has had opportunities of much knowledge of men. Some of his revelations are neither creditable nor pleasant. He thinks very highly of General Banks. After they left us I and my children went to Lady Palmerston’s reception, the last but one of the season. It was well attended. Lord de Grey and Lord Palmerston both spoke to me of America. The former seemed surprised and incredulous when I told him that I considered the invasion as ever. The latter certainly had a better notion of the facts, and contented himself with talking about the Offices. He evidently thought the change of future to be in a measure owing to the selection of an alum of West Point. I reminded him that all the chiefs of the Potomac army had come from the same school, which surprised him. He clearly thought I had made a mistake about Hooker. This is the first time his Lordship has made any advance since our difficulty. I was civil in response and that was all.414