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

Municipal Council of Dumbarton

To his excellency the ambassador of the United States of America at the court of London:

The humble address of the provost magistrates and town council of the royal burgh of Dumbarton, in council assembled:

That this council, in common with all classes of their fellow-citizens, have heard with horror and indignation of the foul and execrable murder of the President of the United States of America.

That this council deeply sympathize with the great American republic under the heavy loss which it has sustained by the unexpected and untimely decease, under such revolting circumstances, of a ruler whose personal excellence and high endowments have rendered him an object of honest pride to his own countrymen, and of just admiration to the rest of the world, and whose earnest endeavor to cultivate and maintain friendly relations with Great Britain must ever endear his name and memory to the people of this country.

That this council also deeply sympathize with Mrs. Lincoln and family under their heavy bereavement, and earnestly pray that they may be sustained and supported by Him who is “the husband of the widow and the father of the fatherless.”

And this council requests that your excellency will kindly forward these their sentiments to your government.

Signed in the name and by authority of the provost magistrates and town council of the royal burgh of Dumbarton this 10th day of May, 1865.

JOHN M. AUSLAND,

Provost and Chief Magistrate.