Municipal Council of Edinburgh
Madam: When the sad intelligence of the death of your great and beloved husband reached this city, a large and influential meeting of the inhabitants was held, at which I had the honor of presiding, to express the great and universal sympathy with yourself and the people of America which pervaded the whole community here.
One of the resolutions adopted by the meeting was thus expressed: “That an address prepared in accordance with these resolutions be transmitted by the lord provost of Edinburgh to the American minister in London, and that his lordship be also requested specially to transmit along with the expression of the warmest sympathy of the inhabitants of Edinburgh a copy of the foregoing resolutions to Mrs. Lincoln.”
On the part of the inhabitants of this city, therefore, I have now the honor to transmit to you a copy of the resolutions referred to, and to convey to you an expression of the deep and universal sympathy which is felt for you in the sudden and heartrending trial which Providence has lately permitted to overwhelm you, your family, and the people of the United States of America.
Your late husband, the President of the United States, was as much respected and admired here as he was beloved in his home and his country, and if, in such a severe affliction as yours has been, it is any consolation to possess heartfelt and widely spread sympathy, this consolation must be yours in great abundance, and from none more sincerely or warmly than from the people of the city of Edinburgh.
I have the honor to be, madam, your most obedient, humble servant,
Lord Provost and Chief Magistrate of Edinburgh.