Mr. Hunter to Mr. Adams
Sir: The melancholy duty devolves upon me, officially, to apprise you of the assassination of the President at Ford’s theatre, in this city, in the evening of the 14th instant. He died the next morning from the effects of the wound.
About the same time, an attempt was made to assassinate the Secretary of [Page 322] State in his own house, where he was in be suffering from the effects of the, late accident. The attempt failed, but Mr. Seward was severely cut, on the face especially—it is supposed with a bowie-knife.
Mr. F. W. Seward was felled by a blow or blows on the head from the assassin, and for some time afterward was apparently unconscious. Both the Secretary and Assistant Secretary are better, especially the former.
Andrew Johnson has formally entered upon the duties of President. I have been authorized temporarily to act as Secretary of State.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., London.
[Same, mutatis mutandis, to all our representatives abroad]