Mr. Morris to Mr. Hunter

No. 112.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit enclosed copies of a correspondence between his Highness Ali Pacha and myself, relative to the late melancholy events at Washington.

Since the answer was written to the letter from the Porte, we have received [Page 289] the sad news of the death of Mr. Seward. This intelligence has caused a most painful impression through all circles, and particularly those of the government and diplomatic corps. He had won the admiration and esteem of all who are conversant with our politics, by his eminent ability as a diplomatic writer and by the rare skill and judgment with which he directed our foreign policy, in the most critical period of American history. His name and fame will be inseparably associated with the great events in which he was so conspicuous an actor.

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

E. JOY MORRIS.

Hon. William Hunter, Acting Secretary of State,

[Translation.]

Ali Pacha to Mr. Morris

Sir: The Sultan, my august sovereign, has learned with profound affliction the mournful news of the cruel death of President Lincoln, and of the wounding of the Secretary of State; and I have been commanded to convey to you an expression of the regrets of his imperial Majesty.

I need not state to you, sir, how much the imperial government, in its character of sincere friend of the United States, is interested in their prosperity, and how great has been the sorrow which this event has occasioned.

Be pleased, sir, to accept assurances of my high consideration.

ALI

Mr. Morris, Minister Resident United States of America,

[Translation.]

Mr. Morris to Ali Pacha

Highness: I have had the honor to receive the letter which your Highness, by order of your august sovereign, addressed me on the 1st of May, in expression of profound grief of his imperial Majesty on learning the sad news of the cruel death of President Lincoln and the wounding of the Secretary of State.

I beg your Highness to be so good as to convey to his imperial Majesty my respectful thanks for this manifestation of his regrets on an occasion which has so deeply afflicted the hearts of a whole nation. This event is the more to be regretted as it came at a moment when a desolating civil war of four years’ duration, involving alike the best interests of humanity and the American people, had been brought to a successful termination by the energy, wisdom, and firmness of purpose of President Lincoln, with the efficient co-operation of that accomplished statesman, Mr. Seward, and his colleagues in the cabinet, and by the valor and skill of our citizen soldiers and their commanders. It was hoped that these two distinguished men would have been permitted by Divine Providence to live to perfect in peace the re-establishment of that Union in defence of which so much blood had been poured out on the field of battle. In His inscrutable wisdom He has otherwise ordained.

I would also thank the imperial government for its sympathy in favor of the United States. During my residence at this court I have had frequent occasion to bear testimony to the American government of the earnest sympathy of the Ottoman government with the United States in the war for national existence in which it found itself engaged, and of the ardent desire of his Majesty the Sultan that it should terminate in the re-establishment of the Union in complete integrity, and on a firm and impregnable basis. In the hour of national calamity we have found in the Ottoman government a true and zealous friend. This new expression of its friendship only confirms its past acts, and will tend to strengthen yet more the good relations existing between the two countries.

I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your Highness the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.

E. JOY MORRIS.