At work writing my private letters, but I got through by half past four o’clock. The news from America is that Wilmington has fallen, so that the armies are now at liberty concentrate around Richmond, thus leaving the question of evacuation or ultimate surrender for General Lee to choose. It does seem as if this must be determined before long. The prohibition of all intelligence of Sherman’s progress in the Richmond papers is significant. The same thing was done in his Georgia campaign. In both cases the silence is significant. Weather rough and rainy. Walk around the Regent’s Park—much the best in wet weather. Dine at home. Evening to Marlborough House to a ball given by the Prince of Wales. A pretty large embracing most of the nobility, and the Ministry of the Diplomatic corps. The Orleans family were three in force. The usual bows and curtsies—and the two quadrilles, one at one end of the hall for the blood royal, the other for the quests. The house is not large. It is historical insofar as that it was built by Sir Christopher Wren for the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, who had the pride to outshine Queen Anne’s palace over the way at St James’s, which indeed was not difficult. It is handsome inside even now. But these royal parties weary me quickly, so I slipped away and home at midnight.228