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

Hon. M. H. Richey, mayor of Halifax, to United States consul.

Mayor’s Office,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 18, 1865.

Sir: I have the honor to enclose, by request of the city council, a resolution passed by that body, at its session yesterday, upon receiving intelligence of the tragic and terrible event which has filled with horror and lamentation the great nation of which you are the chief representative at this post.

Permit me, in conveying to you this expression of sympathy on behalf of the city council, to add emphatically my own, as deeply sensible of the overwhelming grief which must pervade the United States of America upon so truly calamitous an occurrence as the violent death of their honored President.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,

M. H. RICHEY,

Mayor.

M. M. Jackson, Esq,
United States Consul, &c., &c., &c.

Extract from minutes of city council, Halifax, N. S., April 17, 1865.

Resolved, That this council have heard with deep regret that the President of the United States has fallen a victim to the foul assassin, and they desire to express their sincere sympathy with the bereaved family of the illustrious deceased and the great nation of which he was the head.

To publicly mark their sense of regret, this body respectfully requests his worship the mayor will order the city flag to be drooped over this building on the day of the obsequies; and further, that his worship the mayor be requested to direct a copy of this resolution to be forwarded to the representative of the united States residing in this city.

For and on behalf of the city council.

J. NONCRAGG,

City Clerk.

City Court House, April 18, 1865.