Received a visit this morning from Mr Scott Russell. He had misunderstood Mr Yeatman’s note as I did; but had since received a letter from him which he had brought with him, and proceeded to read to me. It consisted of a recital of his adventures from the time he left here. His change of intention to go in a blockade runner the Let her B’ because she was to stop at Bermuda, and his final departure to New York. After this the narrative18 substantially coincided with that contained in Mr Seward’s papers. There were sharp complaints of rough usage, and of mortifications, not unnatural and perhaps in a small degree well founded. On my side I then read the whole series of papers which had come to me, and pointed out the successive errors which Mr Yeatman had unremitted. His first had been in writing directly to Mr Seward. His second, in writing as he did repeatedly to Judge Wayne. His third in not going directly as he intended and had given me to understand he should do, to the rebel States. The main purpose of this was to yet his support clearly determined before he proceeded to make overtures to Washington. Overlooking this important step of evidence to occurrence the prevailing distrust of his authority, Instead of this he Mr Yeatman, had opened a correspondence with Judge Wayne, as if about to open negotiations in the United States as an agent of the Confederate government. In point of fact Judge Wayne had never been named by me excepting in the light of mere medium of communication, to save any direct relation between the parties. There were some incidental allusions to myself in Mr Yeatman’s letters which were full of error but I passed these over as of less importance. The sum of it all was that his indiscretion and precipitation had fully verified the judgment that had been passed upon him by Mr Seward. Mr Russell admitted these errors most fully. Yet believing Mr Yeatman’s honesty of intention he sympathized with him in his failure more than I could. I though moreover that he felt as if he had been treated more sharply than was called for by personally animated with a desire to conciliate. In this I am not sure I should widely differ. The President and his chief advisers are not without the spirit of the serpent mixed in with their wisdom Their moral is high without being lofty. Throughout all this dreadful struggle there has not been visible any of that sense of Christian charity grieving for the errors and offences which call for the correcting hand of justice mitigating the severity of the infliction with as much of gentleness of mercy as the emergency could gratify. This would have been the heroic policy19 which would have smoothed the path to reconciliation, or, in case of the worst would have exalted the righteous government at the expense of the successful wrongdoer. And brought him perhaps ultimately back repentant. Mr Lincoln is not on that level. He is honest, but trite and commonplace; well intentioned but not great. We must be thankful that we got even him in such a narrow chance as we have been in the habit of running for available candidates for the Presidency. Mr Russell agreed with me in the opinion that Mr Yeatman’s usefulness in this line was over. It only remained to consider whether any thing to think it over, and examine Mr Yeatman’s letters to him. He had gone to Edinburgh to restore himself from the effect of his voyage; and his mortification. From this subject, Mr Russell turned to that of the contract for guns made by Mr Ritchie. Much of the work had been executed, and the Elswick company were desirous of receiving a partial payment. The draughts which I held in my hands with the acceptances of Messrs Barings would be due tomorrow. What disposition would I incline to make of the money? I said that with respect to a payment on account I should be willing to pass over to him, as the person to whom they were payable, a proportion of the notes tomorrow. With regard to the remainder I should like first of all to see and consult with Messrs Baring as to their disposition to pay or otherwise. We agreed that he should call for an answer tomorrow. I went at once to the city to see Messrs Baring about the matter. It was finally settled with them that I should retain any of the notes I did not want to pay over at once, as long as I thought proper. The retention would make no difference. So I returned forthwith. The day was very warm, and the sun really oppressive. Wrote a letter to Mr Dana and one to T. B. Frothingham. After which I went out again and rambled over the Regent’s Park. What a blessed thing to the poor children of this overgrown metropolis. Quiet evening at home.20