A heavy fog gave way to the ordinary grey sky which shuts from our sight the sun a great part of the time. I was much absorbed by my private letters and by the newspapers from America. There is a momentary appearance of reaction for war, and the rebels are passing some very desperate resolutions at Richmond. This is an old habit of the southern people. They used to resolve themselves a commercial people once a year, and to build ships the keels of which were never laid. The only time when they have acted and been really formidable has been the last three years when they resolved very little. There is to be a new solemn appeal to fire the Southern heart once more. Unfortunately they have burned it a crisp already. To do more will only turn it to ashes. On the whole, I had a pretty quiet day. Busy writing to the family, in answer to their letters. They left Paris yesterday. Read in the evening the Edinburgh review. An article on the bible and one in the criminal law, both very liberal.