A fine warm day. I had a succession of visits which absorbed my whole time. A young man by the name of Tovle came with letters from Boston. Soon after came the Count de Paris. He was quiet talkative about America and expressed great interest in our success. I sounded him about his view of General McClellan, and to see how far it had been modefied by the report of the committee on the conduct of the war. He ascribed it very much to the party prejudices of the persons constituting the committee. it is much to be regretted that this act359 should be open to such a charge. Then came a Mr Stillewart a clergyman from Illinois with an autograph letter from the President with him a Mr Bushnell, who has long been a missionary in western africa, and is now on his return after an absence to the United States. He said he had been long familiar with the Gorilla, about which Mr du Chaillu made so much noise here two years ago. After these came Mr Walker and next Mr Forbes. I know not to what cause to attribute this, unless it was a singular leader in the Times, very highly commending my speech to the deputation on Saturday. The remarkable change of tone in the paper within a few days doubtless has some causes which I do not yet comprehend. How long it will last it is impossible to foretell. The present effect is however favorable to the maintenance of peace which is the essential point in the present contingency. My whole day was thus consumed. In the evening I went with the ladies to hear Mr Dickens read parts of his writings. He gave four chapters from Nicholas Nickelby and a little Christmas story of Boots at the Holly Tree. His manner is excellent. It seems t o me that he could not make more of his subject. At the same time it was impossible not to feel sensibly the exaggeration of his sketches of the character, and the mannerism which pervades his style. The room was not large, and the seats were not all filled, which indicates a decline in the public interest in this form of attraction. I noticed the same thing with Mr Kemble.