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 Lincoln

Lincoln, May 9, 1865

At a meeting of the council of the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of the city of Lincoln, held at the Guildhall, in the said city, on Tuesday, the 9th day of May, 1865, it was proposed by the worshipful the mayor of Lincoln, Richard Sutton Harvey, esq., and seconded by Mr. Thomas John Nathaniel Brogden, and carried unanimously—

That the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of the city of Lincoln, England, in council assembled, are desirous of expressing their most profound sympathy with Mrs. Lincoln, and the people of the United States, now plunged into the deepest sorrow by a deed which has in a moment not only deprived her of a beloved husband, but them also of their elected chief, and filled the mind of every member of their great and intelligent republic, as well as the mind of every thoughtful individual throughout the world, with feelings of the utmost horror, indignanation, abhorrence, and grief.

That the mayor, aldermen, and citizens, in council assembled, are desirous, most respectfully, to present to Mrs. Lincoln their sincere and heart-felt sympathy and condolence on the melancholy loss she has sustained in the death of her illustrious husband.

That the mayor, aldermen, and citizens rejoice that the dastardly attempt upon the life of Mr. Seward was frustrated, and sincerely hope that he may long be spared, to continue that assistance to his bereaved country which he has hitherto afforded, and with the help of his great colleagues may succeed in speedily restoring it to a position of freedom, happiness and peace.

[seal.]

• RICHARD SUTTON HARVEY,
  Mayor.
• JOHN THOMAS TWEED,
  Town Clerk.