Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
Sir: The assassination of President Lincoln set free in France a large amount of latent respect for his character, and for the cause to which his life was sacrificed, which till then had given scarcely any sign of its existence. This fact, in view of its bearing upon the great events of which our country has been recently the theatre, has seemed to me of sufficient importance to justify the collection and preservation of the evidence by which it may be historically established. With that view I have directed a translation to be made of everything of consequence, I believe, that has appeared upon the subject in the political press of Paris, and have the honor to transmit to you the two volumes in which it is bound, by this post.
I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[For contents of the volumes above referred to, see Appendix, separate volume.]