Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part IV, Appendix to diplomatic correspondence of 1865; the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, late president of the United States of America, and the attempted assassination of William H. Seward, Secretary of State, and Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary, on the evening of the 14th of April, 1865; expressions of condolence and sympathy inspired by these events

Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward

[Extract.]

Legation of the United States,
Paris, May 10, 1865.

No. 90.]

Sir: At my suggestion a meeting was held at this legation on Tuesday, the 2d instant, which appointed a committee of nine to prepare an address that should express the feelings inspired among them by the horrible crimes perpetrated at the seat of government on the night of the 14th of April.

On Tuesday, the 9th instant, the committee, at the legation and in the presence of a large concourse of our country people, presented me the address, which they had prepared in compliance with their instructions, and which was signed by several hundred Americans.

You will find also that the address and reply have been deemed worthy of the hospitality of the Moniteur of this morning, a grace which will probably insure their general circulation throughout France.

It would have been more satisfactory to our colony here, because more in accordance with our national usages, to have held a public meeting, in the exercises of which there could have been a more general participation; but, in view of the profound excitement produced throughout France by the events which would constitute the pretext for holding such a meeting, I did not think proper to give to such a demonstration any encouragement. A funeral service, conducted by the respective pastors, was held in both the American chapels here on different days, and both had an overflowing attendance.

The expressions of sympathy which reach me daily from every quarter are to me, as an American, of the most gratifying, I might indeed say of the most flattering character. The press of the metropolis shows sufficiently how overwhelming is the public sentiment. Among innumerable written testimonials of sympathy, I have received some from public bodies and from groups of people which I propose to send you as soon as I have enough copying force liberated to prepare them.

I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,

JOHN BIGELOW.

Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.