William Hunter to Charles Francis Adams, May 22, 1865

Mr. Hunter to Mr. Adams

Sir: The honorable Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce has recently left with me a copy of a despatch of the 6th instant, addressed to him by Earl Russell, transmitting a copy of an address adopted in the House of Lords and in the House of Commons, conveying to her Majesty the Queen the expression of the deep sorrow and indignation with which those houses had learned the assassination of the late President of the United States, and praying that her Majesty, in communicating her own sentiments on this deplorable event to the government of the United States, would also be graciously pleased to express on their part their abhorrence of the crime, and their sympathy with the government and people of the United States. The despatch is also accompanied by a copy of the Queen’s answer to the address, in which her Majesty expresses her entire concurrence in the spirit thereof.

Sir Frederick Bruce, in giving me a copy of the communication, has informed me that those addresses of the two houses of Parliament express the sentiments of the whole British nation on the deplorable event.

This communication, conveying to the government and people of the United States such emphatic and earnest manifestations of friendship and sympathy from a great and kindred nation, is received with deep sensibility and grateful appreciation.

You will be so good as to make this known to the British government, by leaving with Earl Russell a copy of this despatch.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,