Several merchants and shipbuilders from Baltimore interview President and cabinet in special session. Baltimore Sun, 6 June 1861.

President makes short speech of welcome to Marcelino Hurtado, minister plenipotentiary from Granadian Confederation. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 5 June 1861, 3:1; Reply to Don Marcelino Hurtado, 4 June 1861, CW, 4:393.

Ignores secession in Texas and recognizes Miguel Zaragosa as consul for Mexico at San Antonio. Baltimore Sun, 8 June 1861.

In the evening, President Lincoln and First Lady Mary Lincoln host a dinner for members of the "diplomatic corps." A newspaper reports, "It was in many respects the most brilliant affair of the sort that has ever taken place at the Executive Mansion." Mary Lincoln decorates using "fragrant natural flowers. . . . [from] the White House conservatories and grounds" in place of the existing "stiff artificial flowers." "The dinner was served in a style to indicate that Mrs. Lincoln's good taste and good judgment had exercised supervision in this department also." Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 7 June 1861, 2:1-2; National Republican (Washington, DC), 7 June 1861, 3:1; The New York Times (NY), 7 June 1861, 8:1.