Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part IV, Appendix to diplomatic correspondence of 1865; the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, late president of the United States of America, and the attempted assassination of William H. Seward, Secretary of State, and Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary, on the evening of the 14th of April, 1865; expressions of condolence and sympathy inspired by these events

Mr. Kirk to Mr. Seward .

[Extract.]

Legation of the United States,
Buenos Ayres , May 30, 1865.

No. 115.]

Sir: The awful report of the assassination of President Lincoln and the attempted assassination of yourself reached here on the 27th instant. I will not attempt to describe the intense excitement, indignation, and heartfelt sorrow it has produced throughout this part of South America. During Saturday and Sunday I had continual calls from ministers and citizens giving expression to words of condolence. On the same day the news arrived here I received a letter from the minister for foreign affairs, with a resolution passed by his government. * * * * * * *

Agreeably to that resolution, on Sunday the national and provincial flags were at half-mast, and the flags of foreign consuls followed the example.

All the newspapers of this city appeared in mourning. * * *

The native press is filled with glowing editorials on President Lincoln.

It has never been my lot to witness such intense sorrow as this sad event has produced, and the universal prayer is that you may speedily be restored to health. The same mail which brought the sad news brought the news of the surrender of Lee’s army.

The provincial legislature has passed a decree authorizing the next town started in this province to be named “Lincoln.”

Hoping sincerely that you may soon recover from your injuries, I am, sir, your obedient servant,

ROBERT C. KIRK.

Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.