Mr. Hunter to Mr.
Adams
No. 1420.]
Department of State,
Washington,
May 22, 1865.
Sir: The honorable Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce
has recently left with me a copy of a despatch of the 6th instant,
addressed to him by Earl Russell, transmitting a copy of an address
adopted in the House of Lords and in the House of Commons, conveying to
her Majesty the Queen the expression of the deep sorrow and indignation
with which those houses had learned the assassination of the late
President of the United States, and praying that her Majesty, in
communicating her own sentiments on this deplorable event to the
government of the United States, would also be graciously pleased to
express on their part their abhorrence of the crime, and their sympathy
with the government and people of the United States. The despatch is
also accompanied by a copy of the Queen’s answer to the address, in
which her Majesty expresses her entire concurrence in the spirit
thereof.
Sir Frederick Bruce, in giving me a copy of the communication, has
informed me that those addresses of the two houses of Parliament express
the sentiments of the whole British nation on the deplorable event.
This communication, conveying to the government and people of the United
States such emphatic and earnest manifestations of friendship and
sympathy from a great and kindred nation, is received with deep
sensibility and grateful appreciation.
You will be so good as to make this known to the British government, by
leaving with Earl Russell a copy of this despatch.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
W. HUNTER, Acting
Secretary.
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Communicated by the British legation,
and referred to in the foregoing despatch.]
Earl Russell to Sir F. Bruce
Foreign Office,
May 6, 1865.
Sir: In pursuance of the notice which, as I
informed you in my despatch of the 28th ultimo, had been given by
her Majesty’s ministers in both houses of Parliament, I moved in the
House of Lords on Monday last the address to the Queen of which I
send you a copy. The motion was seconded by Lord Derby and agreed to
nemine dissentiente. In the absence of
Viscount Palmerston, who to his great regret was prevented by
illness from being present on the occasion, Sir G. Grey, her
Majesty’s principal secretary of state for the home department,
moved asimilar address in the House of Commons, which motion was
seconded by Mr. Disraeli, and was likewise unanimously agreed
to.
The Queen has been pleased to return to both houses the most gracious
answer of which I endose a copy.
In giving a copy of this despatch, and of its enclosures, to the
Acting Secretary of State or the United States, you will say to him
that these addresses of the two houses of Parliament express the
sentiments of the whole British nation on the deplorable
assassination of the late President of the United States.
I am, &c,
Honorable Sir F. Bruce, &c., &c., &c.
Assassination of the President of the United
States.
Resolved, nemine contradicente, That an
humble address be presented to her Majesty, to convey to her
Majesty the expression of the deep sorrow and indignation with
which this House has learned the assassination of the President
of the United States of America, and to pray her Majesty that in
communicating her own sentiments on this deplorable event to the
government of the United States, her Majesty will also be
graciously pleased to express on the part of her faithful
Commons their abhorrence of the crime, and their sympathy with
the government and people of the United States.
To be presented by privy councillors.
[Page 375]
The Queen s answer to address
respecting the assassination of President Lincoln.
I entirely participate in the sentiments which you have expressed
to me in the address which I Have received from you on the
assassination of the President of the United States, and I have
given directions that my minister at Washington shall make known
to the government of that country the feelings which you
entertain, in common with myself and my whole people, with
regard to this deplorable event.
