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

Louis and Casimir Didett

undated

[Translation.]

Madam Lincoln: Will you have the goodness, madam, to receive the expression of our sincere regret, and permit us to lament with you the immense loss which you have just experienced in the person of the greatest and most honest citizen in the universe.

Yes, we deeply lament the loss of the man who, sprung from the laboring class, has, by his intelligence, energy, and virtue, earned the glory of creating equality in his country by the abolition of slavery.

Let all America accept the wishes which we sincerely feel for the prosperity of her noble country; and let the family of that great man believe in our affectionate sentiments, with which we have the honor to be your devoted servants.

(Here follow thirty-three signatures.)