Cloudy and dubious weather. The physicians still report Mary as mending. My time taken up in finishing up all arrears prior to my departure for the fulfilment of my promise to go to Bath, to attend the opening of the meeting of the British association, at which Sir Charles Lyell is to make the address on the assumption of the place of Presiding officer. Not having been able to secure lodgings in season, I made up my mind to go to Clifton, the place adjoining Bristol, and sufficiently near to Bath, by railway for all practical purposes. As my daughter Louisa seemed to be rather failing in her process of recovery, in the air of London, I invited her and her husband to join me. So we went together at two o’clock by the train from Paddington Station. It was very full, and fell behind time, so that instead of reaching Bristol at a quarter to six, it did not get there until half past—and it was nearly eight before we arrived at the Clifton Down Hotel. We had little left to do but to dine rather late, and take a brief stroll on the height in point, to catch a glimpse of the scene by moonlight.