8 June 1868 – 14 June 1868

To Carlyle's about 3. He is writing, but soon comes out for a walk. On the door-step we find Sir Charles Dilke and Hepworth Dixon come to solicit C.'s vote for the former. C. does not ask them in, and on hearing their errand declares briefly, ' I never gave a vote in my life,' whereupon they depart. He talked to me of Parliament and its absurdity, and how foolish for any man to desire to sit night after night for many hours in an ill-ventilated room, listening to the most tedious stuff, etc. etc. I took leave of him at Albert Gate, ' going back to Lymington to-day.' He said in shaking hands, ' You won't walk many more times with me^ which made me sad.