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

Señor Arrazola to Mr. Perry

[Translation.]

Department of State, Palace,
April 27, 1865.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have received your note of this date, in which, unhappily, I find confirmed the sad news of the horrible crimes committed on the persons of his Excellency the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, and of the distinguished Secretary of State, Mr. Seward.

Knowing as you do the sentiments of sincere friendship and good intelligence which animated the government of the Queen, my lady, with respect to the United States, you will easily comprehend the horror with which we have learned the treacherous murder of the Chief Magistrate of that great nation which you so worthily represent, and how much we deplore also the villanous attack upon Mr. Seward, for whose recovery we make the most fervent vows.

I beg you to be pleased to make known to his Excellency the President of the republic the sentiments of profound indignation which the sad events you announce have produced in the mind of her Majesty the Queen, and in that of her government; and I thus renew to you the assurance of my distinguished consideration.

L. ARRAZOLA.

The Chargé d’Affaires of the United States.