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 José Antonio Saraiva to Mr. Webb

[Translation.]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Rio de Janeiro, May 19, 1865.

At the conference I had yesterday with J. Watson Webb, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America, I manifested to him the great sorrow caused by the information of the dreadful crime perpetrated in Washington, on the 14th of last month, on the person of his Excellency the Honorable Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States.

It is my painful duty now to tender to General Webb, in the name of the government of his Imperial Majesty, the expressions of the feelings with which it finds itself overwhelmed. The imperial government, with the highest severity, condemns an act so criminal as the one which has for its victim the Chief Magistrate of the Union; and it comprehends the infinite pain thus inflicted upon American citizens, with whom ours so sincerely sympathize, in consequence of the close relations of the two countries.

With the hope that General Webb will be pleased to convey this sincere manifestation to the knowledge of his government, I have the honor to reiterate the assurances of my perfect esteem and distinct consideration.

JOSE ANTONIO SARAIVA.

J. Watson Webb, Esq., Minister of the United States.