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

Inhabitants of Derby

Borough of Derby, May 8, 1865.

Resolutions passed at a meeting held by the inhabitants of Derby.

At a public meeting convened by the mayor, in the Guildhall, Derby, on Monday, the eighth day of May, 1865, upon the requisition of a large number of the inhabitants, for the purpose of expressing indignation at the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, late President of the United States, and of condolence with his bereaved widow and family, as well as of sympathy with the American people in their present trying position, the following resolutions were passed unanimously—Thomas Roe, esq., mayor, in the chair:

Moved by the Rev. W. F. Wilkinson, M. A., seconded by Herbert Holmes, esq., and supported by Josiah Lewis, esq.:

Resolution 1. That the inhabitants of Derby have heard with horror and indignation of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, whose genuineness of character, whose desire for peace, and whose faithful discharge of the duties of his high position must endear his memory to all Americans; and whose friendly feelings towards this country will ever be recalled in England with melancholy interest and satisfaction.

Moved by the Rev. E. W. Foley, M. A., seconded by the Rev. J. Merwood, and supported by the Rev. William Griffith:

Resolution 2. That we, the inhabitants of Derby, desire especially to express our deep sympathy with Mrs. Lincoln in the bereavement which this atrocious crime has inflicted upon her, and humbly hope that the veneration of her countrywomen, the respectful commiseration of the whole civilized world, and the remembrance of her husband’s great career, in which he was never unmerciful, even to an enemy, may help to sustain her in her sore distress.

Moved by the Rev. John Hyde, seconded by the Rev. William Jones, and supported by Frederick Longdon, esq.:

Resolution 3. That this meeting earnestly hopes that the eminently conciliatory policy of the late President may not be without its due effect upon his countrymen, but may be carried forward by his successor to the speedy re-establishment of peace, and the securing of prosperity to the great American nation.

Moved by the Rev. H. Crasweller, and seconded by the Rev. J. Baxendale.:

Resolution 4. That two copies of the resolutions passed at this meeting be made, and that his worship the mayor do forward them to his excellency the American minister in London, with the request that one copy shall be sent to Mrs. Lincoln, and the other to the government of the United States.

THOMAS ROE,

Mayor.

Moved by John Flewker, esq., and seconded by Benjamin Wilson, esq.:

Resolution 5. That the thanks of this meeting be given to his worship the mayor, for his kind compliance with the request of his fellow-townsmen in granting the use of the Guildhall; also for consenting to preside over the meeting, and for the able and impartial manner in which he has discharged the duties of chairman on this occasion.

JOSEPH JONES,

Honorary Secretary.