I have divided them into three categories: the first category consists of
eleven letters addressed to Mrs. Lincoln; the second category consists
of twenty-nine communications from masonic lodges, three addressed to
President Johnson, eighteen to the United States minister at Paris, and
eight to American lodges; the third category consists of four letters
and addresses to heads of the government and of twenty-eight to the
United States minister at Paris—making in all seventy-two
enclosures.
Though these form but a small proportion, numerically, of the
testimonials of sympathy which have been already addressed to me by the
people of France, and a still smaller proportion of those yet to be
expected, they will suffice to show not only how profoundly the nation
was shocked by the dreadful crime which terminated President Lincoln’s
earthly career, but how deep a hold he had taken upon the respect and
affections of the French people. It is difficult to exaggerate the
enthusiasm which his name inspires among the masses of Europe at this
moment—an enthusiasm before which the ruling classes, however little
disposed to waste compliments upon anything tainted with republicanism,
are obliged to incline. I think it is generally conceded that the death
of no man has ever occurred that awakened such prompt and universal
sympathy at once among his own country people and among foreign nations.
There can be no better evidence that the world is advancing in
civilization than this unprecedented and spontaneous homage to the
virtues of Mr. Lincoln. It shows that the moral standard of nations has
been greatly exalted within the memory of living men. It does not
deserve to be reckoned among the secondary achievements of our people
during the last four years to have furnished the world with such a
striking demonstration of this gratifying truth.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
[For enclosures see Appendix, separate volume.]
[Enclosures to despatch No, 109.]
FIRST CATEGORY.
Letters addressed to Mrs.
Lincoln.
No. 1, L’Alliance Religieuse Universelle; %
Souverain Chapitre des Amis Triomphants, à l’Orient de Paris; 3, the
students of the faculty of Protestant theology of Mon-tauban; 4,
translation of letter from the conference of French pastors held in
Paris April 27, 1865; 5, Madame Sempé and two other ladies; 6,
Escarré and twenty others; 7, Ode of M. Descottes; 8, the pastors of
the Drôme and Ardèche; 9, the hatters of the house of Didé, of
Nimes; 10, sealed letter; 11, Ein Deutsch Amerikaner, in
memoriam.
[The above enclosures forwarded to Mrs. Lincoln.]
[Page 301]
SECOND CATEGORY.
From Freemason Lodges, addressed to
the United States minister at Paris.
1, St. John’s Lodge, Amis de la Vérité; 2, Chapter Lodge, les Amis
Triomphants; 3, Chapter Lodge, Clémente Amitié; 4, Scotch Lodge,
Elus de St. Etienne; 5, Chapter Lodge, Mars et les Arts; 6, Scotch
Lodge, No. 146, La Ligne Droite; 7, Chapter Lodge, les Amis de la
Patrie; 8, Chapter Lodge, l’Avenir; 9, Scotch Lodge, No. 88, la
Prévoyance; 10, St. John Lodge, No. 147, du Héros de l’Humanité; 11,
Supreme Lodge, Scotch rite; 12, St. John Lodge, St. John of
Jerusalem; 13, St. John Lodge, Tolerance et Progrès; 14, Lodge de
Henry IV; 15, Lodge Le Berceau d’Henry IV of Pau; 16, Lodge L’Ecole
de la Morale of Libourne; 17, St. John Lodge, La Persévérance.
Letters to lodges,
1, La Renaissance par les Emules d’Hiram to the Grand Lodge of New
York; 2, La Renaissance par les Emules d’Hiram to the Grand Lodge of
Illinois; 3, La Renaissance par les Emules d’Hiram to the Grand
Lodge of New York, colored; 4, Les Amis de l’Ordre to the Grand
Lodge of New York; 5, Le Temple des Familles to the Freemasons of
the United States; 6, Le Temple des Familles to the colored lodge of
New York; 7, The Scotch Lodge, No. 176, L’Espérance Savoysienne to
the Grand Lodge of New York, No. 17; 8, L’Alliance Fraternelle to
the Grand Lodge of New York.
Letters to President
Johnson.
1, St. John Lodge, Orion, of Gaillac, Tarn; 2, Scotch Lodge, No. 146,
La Ligne Droite; 3, Chapter Lodge, de la Bonne Foi.
THIRD CATEGORY.
Miscellaneous letters and addresses
to the President and others.
1, Abraham Lincoln in memoriam, by Ein Deutsch-Amerikaner; 2, letter,
sealed, to Presi dent Johnson; 3, address of the Evangelical
Alliance of Lyons; 4, sealed letter to Mr. Seward.
Letters to United States minister at
Paris.
1, Alfred Monod, avocat au conseil d’Etat; 2, La Jeunesse Francaise,
a deputation; 3, inhabitants of Boyan; 4, Colonel Count Faubert, of
Haité; 5, students of the School of Medicine; 6, Franco-American
Colonists; 7, Louis and Casimir, Dìdè of Nismes, manufacturers; 8,
Courier du Dimanche; 9, chargé d’affaires of Persia; 10, citizens of
Guingamp, presented by M. Edward Laboulaye; 11, Oscar de Lafayette;
12, verses by Auguste Lalure; 13, Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, minister of
foreign affairs; 14, Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte; 15, Edward
Laboulaye; 16, committee for obtaining a canal by the Isthmus of
Darien; 17, address of the Democrats of Tours; 18, Latin poem, by F.
B.; 19, Union Nationale du Comme et de l’Industrie; 20, Paul
Thouzery, accompanying a poem; 21, members of the Protestant church
of Montauban and Toulouse, and of the London Abolition Society; 22,
address from people of Strasbourg; 23, F. Campadelli, with poem; 24,
inhabitants of Vierzon; 25, address from Americans at Pau; 26,
letter from the conference of French pastors; 27, letter from Rev.
Barthe, president of the consistory of Pons; 28, L’Alliance
Religieuse Universelle.
