A rather quiet day. The latest telegrams from America had dissipated all the fiction of Monday, and the newspapers seemed to me on the whole to be encouraging. The struggle at Vicksburgh and port Hudson is severe, but as yet I see no reason for the doubt of its ultimate success. I continued my labors on my trial balance and at last brought it out. So this matter is settled for the year. Went out with Mrs Adams to pay some visits which took me all the afternoon. Called on Mr Bates, whose Wife is I think at last giving symptoms of breaking up. Dined with Mr and Mrs Bentson. Four of us, and Mr and Mrs Forster, Mr Dickens, Mr Louis Blanc, Mr Lehmann, Mr Wills, Mr Leighton and two or three more. Mr Forster is the writer on the times of the Commonwealth. I sat next to Louis Blanc, and talked with him of France and of America. He assured me of the same thing which M Garnier Pagés mentioned last year, the entire sympathy of the republicans of France with our cause. Mr Lehman is a great artist and Mr Leighton a promising one. On the whole quite a brilliant company. Mr Bentson’s hospitality is very elegant. There was an additional company in the evening, with some music.