Office of the Historian
[Circular.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Moran

No. 12.]
Department of State, Washington, June 16, 1868.

Sir: I have caused to be forwarded to you two copies of a volume containing expressions of condolence and sympathy, inspired by the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, late President of the United States.

One of these copies you will present to the government near which you reside, and the other to the gentleman who, at the death of President Lincoln, held the position of minister of foreign affairs.

In forwarding these volumes to their respective destinations, you will inform the minister of foreign affairs that this department acts in pursuance of a resolution of the Congress of the United States, approved March 2, 1867, and that these testimonial volumes are presented to foreign governments, corporations, associations, and individuals, as a mark of the grateful appreciation in which the generous expressions of condolence and sympathy in their national bereavement, received from them respectively, are held by the people of the United States.

I inclose two copies of the resolution of Congress, which you will please forward with the volumes in question.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Benjamin Moran, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

[Untitled]

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in addition to the number of copies of papers relating to foreign affairs now authorized by law, there shall be printed for distribution by the Department of State, on fine paper, with wide margin, a sufficient number of copies of the appendix to the diplomatic correspondence of 1865 to supply one copy to each senator and each representative of the thirty-ninth Congress, and to each foreign government, and one copy to each corporation, association, or public body, whose expressions of condolence or sympathy are published in said volume. One hundred of these copies to be bound in full Turkey morocco, full gilt, and the remaining copies to be bound in half Turkey morocco, marble edged.

Approved March 2, 1867.