Dispatch: Charles Francis Adams to Seward

Full Title

Embassy Despatch 936: Charles Francis Adams to William H. Seward

Description

Official dispatch from Charles Francis Adams, U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom, to William H. Seward, Secretary of State, acknowledging receipt of the news of the attacks upon Seward and President Abraham Lincoln, and discussing reaction in London.

Transcription

Aug 13, my [[Lincoln]]
[[tchfy1408]] [[Abe]]
No. 936.

Legation of the United States
London, 28 April, 1865

Sir:
I had the grief to receive the
day before yesterday the telegraphic
Despatches from Mr. Stanton, the
Secretary of War, and from Mr.
Hunter, the Chief Clerk of your
Department, announcing the af-
flicting event of the 14th, Instant
which has thrown our whole
people into such deep distress.
They also give a narrative of the
simultaneously savage onslaught
upon yourself in your sick room
and upon your son, the assistant
Secretary, which had not at the
latest date, and which I yet
permit myself to hope, will not
prove
The Hon: William H. Seward
Secretary of State.
Washington, D.C.

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prove fatal to either you.

I immediately took the
requisite measures to communicate
the intelligence to the different
legislators on the Continent.

It is but consistency that
a rebellion began in
perjury, treachery and fraud
should close with private
assassination.

The whole of the day was
one of the greatest excitements.
Few events of the present century
have created such general
consternation and indignation.
Many people called personally
at the legation to express their
deep sympathy and many more
sent me notes of the same tenor.

The notice taken by the
press are almost all of them
of a most honorable character.

(A. Hancock)

I transmit copies of the
leading newspapers. There
seems at last to be a general
testimony borne to the north noble
qualities

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qualities of the president and
the friendly disposition of the
Secretary of State.

Of all this eulogy he found
mingled with the alloy of
unworthy aspersions of the vice
President who succeeds, he has
abundant consolation in the
reflection that, when his predecessor
began, he was not a whit better
treated. It is a weakness of the
press and the people of this country
not to value some men properly
until they are lost. The cause of
the late Prince Consort is a
unremarkable instance.

The proceedings in the two
Houses of Parliament last evening
mark out the line proposed to
be adopted by the government
on this occasion.

I have the honor to be Sir,
your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams

[Transcription Team: Carli G., Summer D., Joslyn P., Tyler R.]
[New Hampton Middle School, New Hampton, Iowa]

Source

Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State and National Archives, Record Group 84

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

Tags

• transcribed

• government: foreign

• government: U.S.

• man

• diplomatic

• first news

• first reaction

Cite this Item

Charles Francis Adams. "Embassy Despatch 936: Charles Francis Adams to William H. Seward". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/745

Item Type

Letter

Creator

Charles Francis Adams

Date

April 28, 1865

Region

Europe