British Residents of Smyrna
Address of British residents in Smyrna.
Sir: The crimes that have been committed upon the persons of the late lamented President of the United States, and of the Secretary of State, the honorable William H. Seward, have excited in us the strongest abhorrence. We would fain add our voice to that of our countrymen in England in giving expression to the feelings to which those deplorable events have given rise.
The great principles of morality, which are above all social or political contingencies, have been outraged in the crimes above alluded to, in a manner that makes it incumbent upon every community, however small, to brand with execration the perpetrators of them, and to reject with indignation whatever plea may be put forward in extenuation of them.
The many and rare virtues that were combined in the person of President Lincoln, make his loss a great misfortune to the American nation, and demand that we should offer to it, as we do, our utmost sympathy and condolence.
We beg, sir, that you will be so good to transmit to your government this expression of our sentiments, and to add our respectful request that Mrs. Lincoln may be informed how deeply we grieve at the calamity that has befallen her. We have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient humble servants,
- ROBERT WM. CUMBERBATCH, Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul.
- G. WHITTALL.
- A. EDWARDS.
- FRED. LA FONTAINE.
- J. T. WOOD.
- WILLIAM B. LEWIG, M. A.,
British Chaplain. - R. J. LAWSON. HENRY E. ROSE.
- W. GILBERTSON.
- RICHARD BARKER.
And fifty other names.
John Griffitt, Esq.,
Acting United States Consul, Smyrna.