[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Friday 28  Disturbed at 5 oclock by Mrs
d. & Lucy going off to the cars.  This
is the heaviest tax on our hospitality
-but it cannot be avoided.  I am sure
we have during the summer around
once a week that we have furnished
breakfast to departing guests at
the unreasonable hour of qr from 5.
-Robert Saunders returned to break
-fast.   I never saw a man more im
-proved by spending a winter in
Richd.  His mind seems to have expan
-ded and I dont know any one who
now converses more strikingly.  I
hope he will continue in public
life. It is something to have pure minds
[?] [?] more in the public service
From information derived from him
the forlorn hope I had of r’s innocence
is destroyed.  He sought an inter-
view with him-told him the ru-
-mors & heard a full confession.  He
 thinks if ever there was a truly sen-
-tient man he is one.
Since he misnamed the morning star.
Nor fiend nor man, hath fallen so far.
Much occupied indeed I never
was more so–my duties seem to
increase daily–then I have so much
to do at home: At night Charles
Trueheart read aloud in Albion
the battle of Dresden.  Napoleon
never showed more genius than
on this occasion–It was the last
grand battle he ever won.

Blackford slightly misquotes Lord Byron’s Ode to Napoleon:

Since he miscalled the morning star.
Nor fiend nor man, hath fallen so far.

MSS 4763