Tom Taylor to Benjamin Moran, July 7, 1868

Mr. Taylor to Mr. Moran

Sir: I have much pride and pleasure in receiving at your hands the volume containing expressions of condolence and sympathy inspired by the assassination of the late lamented President of the United States, which has been forwarded to me by direction of Mr. Secretary Seward.

The ode, reprinted from Punch of May 6, 1865, and written by me, has at least the merit of expressing the sincere feelings of the author on the character of Lincoln, the nobleness with which he rose to the height of a great position, the grand self-forgetfulness of his life, and the sadness of the catastrophe which struck him down at the moment he was achieving the work to which he had devoted himself.

Knowing no nobler character since Washington, and being unable to conceive a worthier successor of that pure statesman, I feel proud and grateful that my poor lines should be connected with so venerable a memory.

I have to request that you will convey to Mr. Secretary Seward my deep sense of the honor he has done me in printing my tribute in this volume, and of his courtesy in sending it to me. I have to thank you personally also for the kindness of your own letter, transmitting Mr. Secretary Seward’s letter and the volume to which it refers, and I have the honor to be your obedient and obliged servant,