Had a visit from Mr Cobden who talked of the outfit making of the armed vessel, and asked my opinion of the expediency of drawing out the Ministry before the close of Parliament. I gave much the same reply that I did to Mr Forster when he made the attempt that ended so ill. If he could get nothing more satisfactory, if would be better to go without any thing. I tried to impress upon him the very grave nature of this case, and my conviction that it would end in war sooner or later, unless events should help us out of our difficulties in season. Mr Cobden is really in earnest in his efforts, but the drift is too much for him. I was at work on my Despatches which were not heavy. Indeed the actual business of the Legation has declined of late. I took a walk as far as Wood’s Hotel, Furnival’s Inn, to return the visits of Messr Lyman and Weiss. Found the former suffering a little from gout. Dined with Mr and Mrs Tinker, American resident here. The company small Mr and Mrs Harriman, Mrs Leslie, the Widow of the Artist, Mr Gooch, Mrs Muse, Mrs Adams and myself. Like all other American women in London, Mrs Tinker finds it impossible to transplant herself in this congenial soil. I listened to her complaint and fully sympathized in her sorrows. I know not what would tempt me to stay an hour after my duty shall cease to demand it.