Clear and fine. Not having succeeded in finding a Church, I took my son Brooks who was at home this week into the City, where we stopped into St Nicholas Cole Abbey in the old Fish Street. This one of Wren’s plainest designs— A rectangle, the walls adorned only with fluted pilasters which terminate in composite capitals that support an entablature with a flat ceiling divided into panels. On the west end only is a gallery with three open arches making a good effect. The pews and wainscoat were of oak, perfectly plain. Light on three sides by plain glazed windows. Few monuments, all on the south wall. The service was good, and the hymns better than usual. The sermon rather below the average. This makes the twenty fifth of Wren’s Churches that I have visited, including probably all his best designs. The remaining ones are comparatively without interest. Home to luncheon, after which I took Brooks, and his friend Evarts to the Zoological gardens. The animals not lively, probably owing to the season. My little marvel, the small monkey was not in sportive mood. We had to dinner today, Mr and Mrs H. T. Parker Mr Evarts and his son, and a Mr Phillips, a classmate of Henry. Afterwards, visits from Mr Forster and young Mr Stanley. They remained until nearly midnight. I have proposed to Mrs Adams, that she should have her house open without any ceremony for this evening. This is an experiment, as it is plain that any attempt like that of last season could not succeed. Mr Forster seems anxious to lift up Lord Russell a little. He intimates that the Ministry may not continue. How this might affect us is a question.