A fog rather thick for a time. I notice however that at night it generally becomes clear. Time spent in disposing of the business brought by the Steamer, and in my own accounts which I bought down to the close of the year. In spite of the heavy extraordinary charges incurred in the journey to Scotland in August, the residence at St Leonard’s in October and November and the frauds of Charles Light, I do not perceive that the average expense of the half year exceeds that of either of its predecessors. Visits from Mr Walker who came charged with information which he though of importance as to the contracts of Jefferson Davis to build six Steamers in France, and from Mr Ritchie who came from Walton and was returning. I suggested to Mr Walker the expediency of communicating on the subject with Mr Dayton. His informant he made a secret of, but from his description I inferred it must be either or Pliny Miles. Walker himself is a little restless. Sent out here by Mr Chase for purposes not very clearly defined he seems not to relish being quiet though he is distincly enjoined to take no public character. He has given me no trouble, but I see that he is not at his ease. Very quiet in other respects, as the number of americans who call on me has of late greatly fallen off. In the evening took a long walk through Regent Street, the Haymarket, the Strand, Fleet Street to Farringdon and Holburn and Oxford Streets. Read a good deal of Hunt’s London.530