Dr. Hitchcock, of
California, the surgeon of General Taylor at the battle of Buena Vista, who
saved the life of Jeff. Davis by extracting from the wound he received a piece
of steel of a spur and part of its leather strap, brought me direct from
Secretary Black a despatch instructing me to oppose any recognition by this
Government of a Minister from the Confederate States. . . I immediately asked
an interview with Lord John Russell. As this despatch relates to high questions
of domestic politics, and is dated as late as the 28th of February, only three
days before the Inauguration, it suggests the possibility of its having been
sanctioned by Mr. Lincoln, for his inaugural speaks to the same effect.
Macaulay's fifth
volume, edited by Lady Trevelyan, is just out, and is a brilliant specimen of
picturesque history. His sketch of Peter the Great and his development & of
the rival pretensions to the Spanish succession are admirable in every way.
