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

Friends of the Country Lodge

[Translation.]

Sovereign Chapter of the Friends of the Country, Paris, May 24, 1865.

Sir: The Sovereign Chapter of the Friends of the Country, in the valley of Paris, expresses its cordial sympathy with the American people, and participates in the numerous manifestations of sorrow which have come from all parts of the world on account of the event that deprived them of their Chief Magistrate.

Immortal homage to the large heart that has inscribed the principle of human liberty upon the Constitution of the country by the abolition of slavery, Glory to our brother, Lincoln, who practiced the virtues inculcated by our order, and whom masonry is proud to number among the number of her children.

Please send our tribute of respectful sorrow to the President of the American Union and to the family of the illustrious deceased.

Accept the assurance of our most distinguished consideration.

A. H. MORIN,

For the Sovereign Chapter. By order:

GRÉHAN,

Secretary.

The Minister of the United States of America, Paris.