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All which, interrupted by frequent marks of approval by the members, was declared by the president to be the unanimous sentiment of the house.

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I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.

H. S. SANFORD.

[Translation.]

GHENT, May 20, 1865.

MR. MINISTER: The Septentrion Masonic Lodge of Ghent could not remain indifferent in presence of the crime which has spread consternation through the civilized world. During the strife, our sympathies and our prayers accompanied the heroic efforts and unshakable perseverance of the defenders of justice and humanity. We are associated with the triumphs of the Americans of the northern States, whose noble persistence has saved the federal Union from a fearful disruption, and caused to issue from the social tempest a new corroboration of the indissoluble power of the United States; and inasmuch as the news of the monstrous crime, which has brought mourning into the midst of joy, has reached us, we feel stricken as yourselves; for Lincoln personified the cause of liberty and human fraternity, and this cause, which unites nations in a common aspiration, honors and mourns in him one of its most illustrious martyrs.

The Septentrion Lodge at its solemn meeting on the 16th of this month unanimously decided to address through you a tribute of regret and of sympathy to the republic of the United States.

Receive, Mr. Minister, the assurance of our sentiments of high consideration. R. MADRENNIGER, President.

ALPH. BUISMAN, Secretary.

BRUNSWICK.

NEW YORK, June 5, 1865.

SIR: The undersigned, consul general of the government of his Serene Highness the Duke of Brunswick, has been specially instructed to convey to you the sentiments aroused in the minds of the authorities, and of all classes of the people of the duchy, by the atrocious murder of your illustrious predecessor, the lamented Abraham Lincoln, and by the deep loss thus entailed upon the United States. The inestimable qualities uniting in the character of the deceased-his pervading humanity and his lofty sense of right-the indomitable energy with which he sustained all the vicissitudes of a sanginuary civil war, outlived all sacrifices, and eventually triumphed over all obstacles in the restoration of the blessings of civil order to his distracted country, as well as the mild and conciliatory disposition so nobly manifested at the approaching close of the struggle, have gained him the warm regard and esteem of the civilized world, and will embalm his memory in the affectionate reverence of coming generations.

May the peace now vouchsafed to your republic be as lasting, and the prosperity which now dawns upon its future as unbroken, as even the great heart of the departed patriot could have desired.

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I have the honor to be, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. J. BECHTEL.

ANDREW JOHNSON, President of the United States.

DUCHY OF BADEN.

[Translation.]

CARLSRUHE, April 30, 1865.

MR. EDITOR: We send you our most hearty thanks for giving us Swiss people the opportunity of expressing our sympathy for the victory of the American Union.

We, the undersigned, Swiss polytechnists, residing in Carlsruhe, have watched the course of American affairs with intense interest, believing that the republic beyond the ocean was undergoing a trial by fire, not only for the principles of civilization, but for the good of the American States, and of the whole world. The news of the late Union victories gave us great pleasure, as that of the death of your first and greatest citizen caused us extreme sorrow.

The address and supplement, in Nos. 115 and 116 of the Bund, expresses our exact sentiments, and we hereby request you to add our names to it, with our most cordial approbation.

Very respectfully, your obedient servants,

J. GLAUSER, of Bern,

H. HANHART, of Winterthur,
E. BRUNNEN, of Küsnach,
CARL MÜLLER, of Zurich,
EUGENE SCHMIDT, of Lausanne.

The EDITOR of the Bund, Berne, Switzerland.

[Translation-in substance.]

To the President of the United States:

KAPPELL RHEIN, May 1, 1865,

The Turners Society, of Kappel Rhein, in the grand duchy of Baden, express their sorrow and horror at the murder of President Lincoln-refer to his exalted character as conservator of the Union, and assertor of the equal rights of man by doing away with slavery.

In the Turners Society:

BERTHOLD RICHTER, Leader.

FRANZ RICHTER.

ADAM LOSSEL.

AUGUST LOSSEL.

SANDELIN ARMBRASTER.

MELCHIOR BAUMANN.

F. HENNISGAR.

BRAZIL.

[Translation.]

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

Rio de Janeiro, May 19, 1865.

At the conference I had yesterday with J. Watson Webb, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America, I manifested to him the great sorrow caused by the information of the dreadful crime perpetrated in Washington, on the 14th of last month, on the person of his Excellency the Honorable Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States.

It is my painful duty now to tender to General Webb, in the name of the government of his Imperial Majesty, the expressions of the feelings with which it finds itself overwhelmed. The imperial government, with the highest severity, condemns an act so criminal as the one which has for its victim the Chief Magistrate of the Union; and it comprehends the infinite pain thus inflicted upon American citizens, with whom ours so sincerely sympathize, in consequence of the close relations of the two countries.

With the hope that General Webb will be pleased to convey this sincere manifestation to the knowledge of his government, I have the honor to reiterate the assurances of my perfect esteem and distinct consideration.

JOSE ANTONIO SARAIVA.

J. WATSON WEBB, Esq., Minister of the United States.

[Translation.]

IMPERIAL LEGATION OF BRAZIL,
Washington, July 19, 1865.

The undersigned, chargé d'affaires ad interim of his Majesty the Emperor, has the honor to communicate to the Honorable William H. Seward, the Secretary of State of the United States, that the chambers of senators and deputies of Brazil, uniting in the manifestation of sympathy which has been caused in the empire, by the loss which the American Union has suffered in the person of the illustrious President, Abraham Lincoln-above all, for the atrocious manner in which his existence was terminated, have resolved to cause the unanimous expression of their sorrow to be presented to the Congress of the United States, and have recurred for that purpose to the government of his Majesty the Emperor.

The imperial government, in obedience to the commission thus received from both of the branches of the legislative power, has ordered the undersigned to transmit to the Honorable William H. Seward that manifestation of sympathy, requesting him to be pleased to bring it to the knowledge of the Congress.

While complying with the orders of the imperial government, the undersigned avails himself of the occasion to reiterate to the Honorable William H. Seward, the assurances of his highest esteem and consideration.

IGNACIO DE AVELLAR BARLOZA DA SILVA.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c.

The Marquis d'Abrantes to General Webb.

[Translation.]

BOTAFOGA, May 21, 1865.

MY DEAR GENERAL: Allow me to fulfil the painful duty to manifest to you my deep personal sorrow on the deplorable event which has deprived your country of her so highly distinguished President, Mr. Lincoln.

But it may be said that the horrible act which has brought to a close his existence has heightened him still more in the thankful citizens of the United States, and insures him a still more renowned name in history.

In wishing to your great and fair country every prosperity, I remain, with the most perfect esteem and consideration, my dear general, your friend,

J. WATSON WEBB, Esq., Minister of the United States.

ABRANTES.

Mr. Webb to Mr. Seward.

[Extract.]

No. 118.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Rio de Janeiro, May 23, 1865.

SIR: I have no heart to dwell upon the horrible and distressing news brought by an arrival from the West Indies and confirmed on the following day by telegraphic despatches received at Lisbon on the 29th of April, and which were brought to this city by the French steamer from Bordeaux on the 24th.

I was at Petropolis. The Emperor kindly telegraphed the distressing intelligence to the Duke of Saxe, who at once sent his secretary and principal chamberlain to impart it to me, and on the following morning I came to town.

I will not attempt any description of the universal horror, and dismay which this melancholy news caused among all classes in this city.

Every member of the diplomatic corps has made a visit of condolence, and the ministers of Peru and the Argentine republic have addressed to me letters expressive of their sorrow and sympathy.

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I have received a very friendly letter from the government, to which I shall reply to-day, and forward by the next steamer. Also a letter of a similar character from the Marquis d'Abrantes, late minister of foreign affairs, whose friendship for our country and personal feelings towards myself are known to the department.

The Rev. Mr. Simonton, a missionary of the Presbyterian church in the United States, preached, at my request, on Sunday, the 21st, an appropriate sermon, and nearly every United States citizen resident in Rio, except a few well-known traitors, were present. At the close of the services, Mr. Simonton announced that the government officials would wear crape on the left arm for the space of thirty days, and that all our citizens were requested to do the same. Also, that the legation and consulate flags would be at half-mast during the same period; and that American vessels in port during the next thirty days would be expected to exhibit the same manifestation of mourning..

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. WATSON WEBB.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State.

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