In the night the temperature had changed, and the ground this morning was a gain covered with snow. This is the roughest winter of the four I have been here. Much occupied in writing letters. Having now to write to the travellers, and also to attend to the social details of answering invitations and making visits, adds materially to my work. Henry writes me that they leave Nice on the 13th for Mentone and thence by land by Genoa. The panic about the peace is almost over. Being assured by the London Times that there is no prospect of a close of the war until we are thoroughly exhausted, our English friends are comforted. A visit from Lord Lyons, who says he is getting much better. But not yet in a condition to answer the question whether he can go back. I though he was rather so inclined.211 General Barlow likewise called to say that he would dine with me on Thursday next after the work was over I remained talking in the Legation so long, that my walk and abridged. It was uncomfortable at best, as the snow makes the streets out. Dined at Mr Arthur Kinnaird’s. A company wholly unknown to me. I discerned only the Bishop of Repon and Mr Bickersteth, and a son of the Revd Baptist Noel. Kinnaird is an amiable man and a steady friend of ours, but he is connected with the evangelical division of the Church, which has generally failed to come up to its duty on the slave question. Lord Shaftsbury setting the example. All this is due to Lord Palmerston as Kinnaird admitted to me today. He said he had tried to reason with him, but all in vain. This is the secret of the course of the Times, Globe, Scotsman and other papers under his influence. The usual music after dinner, but I got away early.