Cloudy with showers. The American news of course was the all absorbing subject. Mr Seward has sent me a new map and a despatch of unusual power, which I think I must lay before the government here. The statement of the case is so strong that it may well open the eyes of foreign nations to the suicidal character of their course. But I expect no immediate result from it. Great Britain is so intensely selfish in her views that in pursuing her object she often destroys more advantage than she gains. Mrs Adams and I dined by invitation for the third time with Mr and Mrs Lampson. Much the same company as before. Mr and Mrs Pepen, Miss Hampden, Lady Ouseley, Mr Morgan and his daughter, Mr Ward, Mr Kinnaird and some more whom I did not know. No great variation in the form. After dinner Mr Ward asked to be presented to me. He was the minister the China under the last Administration. He belongs to Savannah in Georgia, but married a daughter of William Sullivan of Boston. He has therefore a divided feeling on the struggle and prefer to remain in Europe than to take a side at home. I expressed my regret for this terrible conflict, in which he seemed cordially to join. His manner was subdued. We got home by eleven.94