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

Mr. Hale to Mr. Hunter.

Agency and Consulate General of the U. S. of America,
Alexandria, May 13, 1865 .

No. 26.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction under date of the 17th of April, with official intelligence of the foul assassination of the President and of the dastardly attempt, happily unsuccessful, to take the lives of the Secretary of State and the Assistant Secretary.

I have already, in my despatch No. 25, reported the cordial expression of sympathy which his highness the Pacha of Egypt hastened to make me, in an official interview, immediately after the sad news was known here.

I have since received and am daily receiving other expressions of the public feelings of all nationalities represented here, in respect for the memory of the late President and of confidence in the administration of the government by his successor.

A special religious ceremony has been ordered by the Greek community at the Greek church, and one will be held at this consulate general, conducted by the American missionaries on the day appointed for the purpose in the President’s proclamation.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHARLES HALE.

Hon. William Hunter,
Acting Secretary of State.