The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-02 00:00:00

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

The orders of the day having been postponed, v -
Sir G. GREY rose to move an address to the Crown to
express the sorrow and indignation of the House at the
assassination of the President of the United States, and to
pray her Majesty to communicate those sentiments,
on the part of the House of Commons, to the Go-
vernment of the United States of America. He said he
much regretted the unavoidable absence of his noble friend
the head of the Government; but ho felt it comparatively
unimportant by whom the motion was made, because he
felt confident that it would meet with a unanimous assent.
When the news first arrived but one feeling of horror ran
through the land, and a general hope was expressed
that it might not be true. Unfortunately, such was
not the case ; but he hoped that the attempt
made on the life of Mr. Seward would not prove fatal.
(Hear.) Ho felt that the sympathies of the majority of the
people of this country were with the people of the North.
(No, no, and hear.) Ho begged to say he had the greatest
desire to avoid saying anything that could tend to raise the
slightest difference of opinion. (Hear, hear.) Whatever
difference, therefore, might have ousted, and still
did exist, he was sure they would all agree
that there was but ono feeling of horror at
the crime, and an unusual wish of condoling with a
people whose chosen and trusted chief had been struck
down by the hand of an assassin. Whatever difference
of opinion there might be between them, he was sure none
would withhold their admiration at tho gallant deeds
and struggles that had been achieved by both sides in
the struggle, and it would be but with feelings of the
deepestdeepest regret that the struggle should have been stained
by such a crime. (Hear.) Just as a new era was opening
—just as victory was crowning tho arms of the Federals,
Mr. Lincoln was struck down—(hear)—and thus thatpolicy,
the great object of which was to restore tranquillity to
his country, was imperilled. The people of America were

now deeply mourning the loss of Mr. Lincoln, but he hoped
that the good sense and right feeling of those upon whom
the direction of affairs had devolved would imitate the
example of Mr. Lincoln. (Hear, hear.) He wished it was
possible to convey to the people of America the depth
and universality of the feeling that this terrible crime
evoked—from the highest to the lowest but one feeling was
entertained. (Hear, hear.) Her Majesty's Minister at
Washington would convey to the Government of America
her Majesty's feeling' on the matter (hear, hear), but her
Majesty had written with her own hand a letter of condo-
lence to Mrs. Lincoln (loud cheers, and hear, hear), a letter
from a widow to a widow, which he felt would be a comfort
and a support to her under her severe and lamentable be-
reavement. He begged, in conclusion, to move the address
which he had alluded to in his opening observations.
Mr. DISRAELI, in seconding the 'notion, said there was
no one but must feel the greatest sorrow at the terrible
assassination of Mr. Lincoln, because throughout the whole
of the struggle he had exhibited the greatest courage, com-
bined with the greatest magnanimity. Ho sprang from filo
same fatherland and spoke the same mother tongue as
Englishmen, and the feeling of horror at the crime
was universal. (Hear, hear.) He could not speak
how profound was the feeling of the people
of this country for the people of America, whose elected
chief had been struck down by the hand of an assassin.
He could only express his hope that the same elevated
sentiments and humane feeling that guided the late Presi-
dent Lincoln would be observed by those to whose guidance
the affairs of America would devolve, and that the great
struggle would result in America once more becoming a
great and prosperous country. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was then put from the chair, and carried
unanimously.