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 Newburgh

Address of the magistrates and town council of the burgh of Newburgh.

To his Excellency Charles Francis Adams,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States of America, London:

May it please your Excellency: We, the magistrates and town council of the burgh of Newburgh, in the county of Fife, North Britain, in common council assembled, do hereby express deepest sorrow and indignation at the atrocious assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, and at the dastardly attempt about the same hour on Mr. Seward, Secretary of State.

We desire that the government and people of the United States should understand that no difference of opinion on the merits of the conflict of the last four years avails to prevent the unanimous condemnation of so great a crime against our common humanity. No fouler crime stands chronicled in all history.

We hereby offer our sincere sympathy with the people of the United States on the afflicting and heavy loss which they have thus sustained, and trust that the event may be overruled for their good.

May it please your Excellency to forward this humble address to the proper quarter, in order that the American people may know they have the sympathy of the council and inhabitants of this burgh.

Signed by the chief magistrate at Newburgh, May 10, 1865.

[seal.]

ANDREW MILNE,

Chief Magistrate.