Mr. Judd to Mr.
Seward
No. 94.]
United States Legation
Berlin,
April 28, 1865.
Sir: I have to-day received a communication
from the minister president and minister of foreign affairs, Herr von
Bismarck-Schoenhausen, expressing the deep sympathy of his Majesty’s
government with the government of the United States at the death of Mr.
Lincoln, and the attempt on your life, and desiring me to convey the
expression of their sympathy to my government. Herr von Thile,
under-secretary of state for foreign affairs, was charged with
delivering the note in person, and came to the legation with it. In
doing so he expressed in the warmest terms, for himself and his
government, the deep feeling the sad occurrences have occasioned.
I annex, marked A and B, copies of that communication and my response to
it. Herr von Bismarck’s note has been in turn delivered in person to
Herr von Thile by the secretary of this legation, Mr. Kreisman.
My colleagues of the diplomatic corps are all calling to express their
sympathy with us in this affliction, and their abhorrence of the foul
deed.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.
A.
[Translation.]
The royal government is profoundly moved by the intelligence, which
reached here yesterday, of the assassination of President Lincoln,
and the simultaneous attempt on the life of the Secretary of State,
Mr. Seward.
In view of the so happily existing friendly relations between Prussia
and the United States, the undersigned cannot forbear to express to
their government the sincere sympathy of the royal government with
the great loss that this crime has inflicted upon them. He therefore
requests the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the
United States of America, Mr. Judd, that he will convey the
expression of these sentiments to his government, and he avails
himself of this occasion, too, to renew to Mr. Judd the assurance of
his distinguished consideration.
Mr. N. B. Judd, &c., &c., &c.
[Page 51]
B.
Legation of the United States of
America, Berlin,
April 28, 1865.
The undersigned has the honor to acquaint his excellency the minister
president and minister of foreign affairs, Herr von Bismarck, that
he will not fail to transmit at once to his government the
expressions of sincere sympathy with the great loss the United
States have sustained in the assassination of their President,
Abraham Lincoln, and the prostration of the Secretary of State, Mr.
Seward, which his excellency, on behalf of his Majesty’s government,
has been pleased to address to the undersigned, in the note of the
27th of April, 1865, and which was delivered in person, by his
excellency the under-secretary of state, Herr von Thile.
In the midst of their great affliction, it will afford the government
of the undersigned, as it does him, a sincere satisfaction to
receive a renewed and so marked a token of the happily existing
friendly relations between the United States and Prussia.
The undersigned but anticipates the directions of his government in
assuring his excellency that the expressions of sympathy and
condolence of his Majesty’s government will be received with due
appreciation and acknowledgment, and he avails himself of this
occasion, too, to renew to his excellency the assurance of his
distinguished consideration.
His Excellency Herr Von Bismarck, &c., &c., &c.
