Seward read the dispatches which he proposed to send to Mr. Motley,—the first, protesting against the sending of troops to Mexico by the Aus...

Major-General Benjamin F. Butler is exercising a great and dangerous influence at the Treasury Department. He has been employed in some case...

This being St. Patrick's Day, considerable apprehensions were entertained by the Englishmen here that there would be more active demonst...

I had an interview with the President concerning Semmes, as understood yesterday. Showed him the papers, and, after some conversation, he pr...

The Secretary of the Treasury is embarrassed by the test oath. He finds it difficult to procure good officers for collectors and assessors i...

Myers of Philadelphia had a long conversation with me in regard to the "admission" of Tennessee. I told him, as I have others, tha...

Had a call this evening from Mr. English, the Democratic candidate for Governor in Connecticut. He is very decidedly, and I think sincerely,...

Secretary McCulloch sent me his letter this morning on the subject of the test oath, to read and criticize. It is in the main very well done...

A quiet Cabinet-meeting with nothing of interest discussed. Dennison read his communication on the test oath. It is less vigorous and pertin...

Colonel Bolles and Eames have prepared an order for the President to sign for a mixed commission to try Semmes. I took it to the President t...

McCulloch asked me yesterday, in the President's room in the Capitol, if I had examined the Freedmen's Bureau Bill, and when I told ...

Attended special Cabinet-meeting this morning, at ten, and remained in session until about 1 P.M. The President submitted a message which he...

Told Mr. Hunter that it would be best to turn over the Shenandoah to the Secretary of the Treasury as abandoned property, and let Consul Dud...

My letter to the Naval Committee in relation to the contract of Paul S. Forbes for the Idaho has disturbed certain parties. It interposes pr...

I submitted the two cases, one of Judge Wayne for money due his granddaughter, and one of Mallory for a cylinder, to the Cabinet. The partie...

I had this P.M. quite an animated talk with Senator Sumner. He called on me in relation to Semmes. Wished him to be tried on various importa...

McCulloch, Stanton, and Dennison are absent from Washington. Seward read a letter from Bigelow at Paris, which indicates peace, though all t...

Sumner called on me with young Bright. We had quite a talk on the policy of the Government, and his own views. Sumner's vanity and egoti...

Called on Secretary of the Treasury in behalf of Pease of Janesville for collector. He, McCulloch, defers too much to the dictates of Member...

The question of the Indian war on the Plains was again brought forward. No one, it appears, has any knowledge on the question. The Secretary...