M. Rogier informed me he had sent a despatch to the Belgian chargé d'affaires at Washington, to offer directly to the government the expression of their sympathy at the sad event.

Immediately on receipt of Mr. Adams's telegram, I addressed a circular to our

consuls.

The shock caused by this news is too great to permit me to appreciate calmly its influence on public sentiment touching our affairs abroad. It cannot fail, I think, to cause a far-reaching reaction in the sympathies heretofore entertained by the so-called "better classes" in Europe for the rebels and their cause, and to stimulate, on the other hand, a more friendly feeling toward us and the cause of the Union.

The fact that the confederate loan at the London exchange yesterday rose 3 per cent. upon the news, is a significant indication of the effect which the instigators of this dreadful crime imagined it would have upon their cause.

The calm transition of the executive power to other hands, at Washington, contrasted with what would be likely to occur on a similar occasion in most European states, cannot but help to strengthen the conviction already becoming general by the influence of the success which has crowned this trial, under the strain of the rebellion, of the power, fitness, and durability of our system of gov

ernment.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
H. S. SANFORD.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State.

No. 261.]

Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.

[Extract.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Brussels, April 30, 1865.

SIR His royal highness the Count de Flanders, sent to me yesterday one of his officers of "ordnance" to express in his name his condolence on the untimely death of the President.

I also received in the afternoon a private note from M. Rogier, expressive of his sentiments, of which, as he refers to it in public debate, I venture to enclose a copy, "A." I replied to it by a few lines of thanks.

In the house of representatives this afternoon, M. Hardy De Beaulieu, a member of the extreme left, moved, in accordance with previous notice, for an expression of feeling at the late tragic events at Washington. He was followed and warmly seconded by the late Canon De Hearne of the "conservative" party, who is the author of a widely disseminated pamphlet on our war, and is an ardent friend of the cause of the Union, and by M. Rogier, who announced that he adopted on the part of the government the views just expressed, and that he hoped the house would join in the expression of his desire for the recovery of the eminent statesman, Mr. Seward, to whose existence was attached, in so great a degree, the definitive pacification of the country, for too long a time desolated by war; and after rendering homage to the moderation which he had displayed, the minister expressed the hope that they might one day rejoice over the restoration of his health, at the same time with the re-establishment of peace between the factions of a great people whom they admired, and which had always had their sympathies, and which he hoped would take again in the world the great part which is assigned to it."

2-A

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

*

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

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

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

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 Excelleney the Honorable Abraham Lincolr, 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.