The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-07-09 00:00:00

the Queen all the information then to hand. The following
telegram was subsequently despatched from Windsor Castle
to the Hon. Mr. Lowell :
"Sir Henry Ponsonby, Windsor Castle, 10.5 p.m., July 3rd.
The Queen would he gl td to know Ow 1 f test intelligence as
to the condition of President Garfield."

Before the last telegram could be answered the following
was received:—
- - -

" Windsor Castle, 11.30 am. The Queen to Mr. Lowell,
United States Minister. I am most anxious to hear the
latest accounts of the President, and wish my horror and
deep sympathy to be conveyed to him and Mrs. Garfield."
••

,
To this Mr. Lowell replied at length, giving . all the news
he then had, and expressing his deep sense of gratitude at
the interest taken by her Majesty in the President's condi-
tion.
Among the communications from Marlborough House the
following was also received :

"Marlborough House, Pall-mall, S.W. Lieut.-General
Sir Dighton Probyn presents his compliments to his Excel-
cellency the United Slates Minister, and is desired by the
Prince and Princess of Wales to express their Royal
Highnesses' most extreme regret at the dastardly attempt
made on President Gartleld's life. Their Royal 114,Ynesses
beg that his Excellency will kindly at once let Sir Dighton
Probyn know for their information what the latest accounts
are of the President's state; also that his Excellency will
kindly telegraph to Mrs. Garfield their Royal Highnesses'
deep concern at this cruel outrage. Sunday, July 3."
To this a reply was also sent, giving the latest par-
ticulars.

On Sunday, at many of the London chapels and churches,
the attempted assassination of President Garfield was
alluded to in feeling terms.

At the Tabernacle Mr. Spurgeon offered a special supplica-
tion for the recovery of Mr. Garfield. The prayer alluded
to the people of the States as our own kindred, deserv-
ing our good wishes and sympathy, and calling for our
utmost regard in respect to the melancholy event which had
recently happened, and which left in a precarious con-
dition the head of the Government of this great land
beyond the sea. Were the wounded President still
alive—and this hope was entertained wherever the English
language was spoken—it was their most earnest prayer that
he should go on improving, and be soon restored in perfect
health to the great people to whom he belonged, and over
whom he had been called to govern. As a sister country we
gave our sympathies across the Atlantic to the people of that
land where so many of our kith and kin dwell, and between
which and us the bonds of everlasting union existed.
At the close of his sermon at the City Temple, Dr. Parker
read the following declaration :—'This congregation, assem-
bled in the City of London, representing every shade of reli-
gious and political opinion, has heard with inexpressible
horror of the attempted assassination of the President of
the United States of America, and most profoundly sympa-
thises with the people in this hour of national consternation
and distress." Dr. Parker said he thought they were bound
to make some such declaration of feeling at so critical a
Juncture. He asked the congregation if they approved of
this resolution to at once signify the same by rising to their
feet. The congregation immediately rose en incise.

The Times, in a leader, remarks :—" General Garfield, as
President of the United States, has had but a short tenure of
office. It was in the summer of last year that he wag nomi-
nated as the Republican candidate for the Presidency. The
victory of the Republican party was secured by the elections
of November, and in the March of the present year
President Garfield came in in due course as successor
to President Hayes. He was no unknown or untried
man. His selection for the highest dignity his country
could offer him was due to the respect he had in-
spired during a long and consistent career passed under the
public eye. His nomination as President was not sought by
himself. His name was put forward only when other names
had failed to command the necessary amount of confidence;
but, once put forward, it became immediately the party
choice. President Garfield, like most of his predecessors in
office, has been the workman of his own fortunes. He has
had his way to make in the world, and he has made it by
Just those mixed intellectual and moral qualities which the
people of the United States are most forward in recognizing,
and which they look upon with most favour. President Lincoln
began life as a rail splitter ; President Garfield as the driver of
a boat on the Ohio and Pennsylvania Canal. From this humble
occupation he turned next to literature, and made his mark
as a student, then as a teacher, then as the Principal of his
college. His career from that point forward alternated
between political and military life. He gained some suc-
cesses as a General of the United States Army during the
great civil war, but soon returned to politics, partly from
his own choice, partly at the pressing request of President
Lincoln, who found it more easy to supply his place in the
field than in Congress. His elevation to the Presidency has
been the well-deserved crown of his political career. . . .