June 30th Tues[day]. Various rumours are afloat today but it is difficult to know what to believe. The Rebels at Rockville seem to be a body of cavelry under Gen Stewart on their way to join the main body of the army which is supposed to [be] concentrating some where near Gettysburg. Paid a visit to Prof Matill in his room this evening & watched him make a casting of a South American idol. Father read Chalk on the war after tea. He likes his views very much.
July lst. Wed[nesday]. Mr & Mrs. Peale & Mr. Welling spent the evening with us. In speaking of improvements which may be made in the city- Father said when he first came here he had taken great interest in the matter & had made great efforts for carrying out of certain plans for beautifying the city but met with so little encouragement from the mean self interested motives & petty party spirit of men in office that he became disgusted. It was through his influence however that the range of parks from the Capitol to the river were left open & so many of the triangular spaces along Penn. Av. fenced in & planted with shrubbery.
Mr. Peale in speaking of the war thought we had the rebels now completely in our power. If Government were to intrust him with our armys he thought he could surround & completely destroy them without the slightest hope of escape. Father without meaning to be personal to Mr. Peale told an amusing anecedote of speaking of
