Very mild summerlike weather. The Despatches from home are few this week and require little notice, so that I easily disposed of the answers. But another matter was on my mind of a more troublesome description. Mr R. J. Walker and some other Americans in London have consulted together, and arranged a celebration of the day appointed by the President for a general thanksgiving. This takes place tomorrow— An invitation has been extended to me, and of course that implies a speech. I am expected to respond to the toast of the President of the United States, Although myself extremely doubtful of the propriety of a Minister’s speaking much even among his friends, I could not either the dinner or the speech without giving rise to insidious conjectures as to the cause of my refusal. So I concluded the perform the part at my own risk. Then comes the labor of preparation, which is always painful to me, because I cannot write any of it. My walk this evening was lonely on the parade after dark meditating and arranging my materials.