Damp, chilly with rain. The season is most unfavorable. I was busy this morning with my customary draft of the despatches for the week. My attention however was somewhat drawn off by the process going on in the street of an election of Cormer for this parish.147 It has been going on for several days, and the process gives a good idea of the whole system as a practised in England. It is rough like almost every thing in manners and character of this people, but there is more of liveliness and humour than commonly appears on the surface. Our plan is much less boisterous but it is comparatively dull. This day the successful candidate came to the hastings with his friends, and the speeches after the declarations by the sheriff were made with the usual demonstrations of applause and disapprobation. The numbers engaged are comparatively small. I had another visit from Captain Craven with whom I made arrangements. Likewise from Dr Evans and Dr Deremus. The former claims great intimacy as professional dentist, with Napoleon. He thinks him decidedly friendly to the United States. Credat Judeous. Mr Peabody also called to give me a card of admission to the ceremony of the presentation of the city to him, tomorrow. There is a dinner given afterwards by the Mayor to him, at which I am expected to make a speech , and it had been haunting me for two or three days. In the afternoon went with my daughter to the third flower show of the regular series at the Botanic Society’s gardens. There was no great variety in the flowers beyond the preceding ones, but the display of grapes, and peaches and nectarines and strawberries and cheeriest was extraordinary. They are all more or less artificially produced and therefore have less flavor to the taste, but they are more beautiful to look at than our fruit. Quiet evening. I sat up late maturing my speech. What a troublesome thing that is, and yet I cannot escape.