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. Culver to Mr. Hunter.

Legation of the United States,
Caracas, June 3, 1865.

No. 116.]

[Extract.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches Nos 104 and 105, together with copies of the proclamations enclosed in the latter.

I have lost no time in communicating officially to the government of Venezuela the melancholy intelligence conveyed in your No. 104, and I have no doubt I shall, at the proper time, receive the appropriate reply.

Deep sorrow pervades the hearts of all loyal Americans residing here, and sincere sympathy seems everywhere to be expressed in Venezuela for the people of the United States.

Suitable demonstrations of mourning have been made at the different consulates and at the legation.

Since commencing this despatch I am gratified to say the minister of foreign affairs has called upon me to say that he came, by special order of his government, to express to me verbally, what he is preparing to do in writing, the deep sorrow and sympathy felt by the President and people of Venezuela for the people of the United States, by reason of the death of their President.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of highest respect, your obedient servant,

E. D. CULVER

.

Hon. W. Hunter,
Acting Secretary of State.