Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part IV, Appendix to diplomatic correspondence of 1865; the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, late president of the United States of America, and the attempted assassination of William H. Seward, Secretary of State, and Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary, on the evening of the 14th of April, 1865; expressions of condolence and sympathy inspired by these events

Colored People of Bermuda

Saint George’s, Bermuda, April 28, 1865.

Address of the colored people of Bermuda.

Sir: We, the undersigned, beg leave to submit to you, the lawful representative of the United States of America for Bermuda, our expressions of sympathy on our part, and in behalf of the colored people of this community, on the melancholy intelligence which has reached us of the death of the good Abraham Lincoln, at Washington, on the 15th instant, by assassination. Knowing his many virtues as a man, while in office as Chief Magistrate of America, we consider his untimely removal a loss of no common degree, not only to the people of his country, but to many foreign to his domains.

We do not make these expressions as a mere formal observance, but are prompted by purer motives. We feel that a great and good man has passed from us.

We therefore most respectfully tender to you, and through you to his bereaved family across the “ocean’s foam,” our heartfelt sympathy and condolence in this hour of trial and affliction, when, by the hand of a ruthless assassin, a wise and patriotic ruler has been stricken down, at a time when his work was near its consummation.

We remain, dear sir, with profound respect, your very obedient servants,

• J. T. RICHARDSON,
• E. B. M. FRITH,
• J. H. RAINEY,
• JOSEPH H. THOMAS,
• BENJAMIN BURCHALL,
  Committee.

C. M. Allen, Esq.,
United States Consul.