The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-04 00:00:00

" To which the President replied as follows :

" Sir Frederick A. W. Bruce,—The cordial and
friendly sentiments which you have expressed on the
part of her Britannic Majesty give me great plea-
sure. Great Britain and the United States by the
extended and varied forms of commerce between
them, the contiguityof portions of their possessions,
and the similarity of their language and laws, are
drawn into contrast and intimate intercourse at the
same time. They are from the same causes exposed
to frequent occasions of misunderstandinn, only to
be averted by mutual forbearance. So eagerly are
the people of the two countries engaged throughout
almost thewhole world in the pursuit of similar com-
mercial enterprises, accompaniedby natural rivalries
and jealousies, that at first sight it would almost seem
that the two Governments must be enemies, or, at
best, cold and cal culating friends. So devoted are the
two nations throughout all their domain, and even
in their most remote territorial and colonial posses-
sions, to the principles of civil rights and constitu-
tional liberty, that, on the other hand, the superficial
observer might erroneously count upon a continual
concert of action and sympathy, amounting to an al-
liance between them. Each is charged with the de-
velopment of the progress and liberty of a consider-
able portion of the American race. Each, in its sphere,
is subject to difficulties and trials not participated in
by the other. The interests of civilisation and of hu-
manity require that the two should be friends. I
have always known and accepted it as a fact hon-
ourable to both countries that the Queen of Eng-
land is a sincere and honest wellwisher to the United
States. I have been equally frank and explicit in
the opinion that the friendship of the United States
towards Great Britain is enjoined by all the con-
siderations of interest and of sentiment affecting the
character of both. You will, therefore, be accepted
as a Minister friendly and well disposed to the main-
tenance of peace and the honour of both countries.
You will find myself and my associates acting in ac-
cordance with the same enlightened policy and con-
sistent sentiments ; and so I am sure that it will not
occur in your case that either yourself or this Go-
vernment will ever have cause to regret that such an
important relationship existed at such a crisis.
Both President Johnson and Sir Frederick Bruce
expressed themselves well pleased with the consulta-
tion. Soon after the other representatives of the
foreign nations made their appearance, and marched
through the long halls leading from the State De-
partment, thence across the building through the
hall leading from the middle entrance on the east
side of the building to the Secretary of the Treasury's
room, now occupied by the President. They were
escorted by Mr. Hunter, Acting Secretary of State,
he walking arm-in-arm with Baron von Gerolt,
Minister from Prussia. The following Ambassadors
were also present :—M. Edward de Stoeckl, Minister
from Russia ; Senor Don Tassara, Minister from
Spain ; Senor Luis Molina, Minister from Costa
Rica ; Colonel W. R. Raaslft, Minister from
Denmark ; Colonel Bertinatti, of Italy ; Senor
Matias Romero, of Mexico ; General Eustorgio Sul-
gar, of Columbia; Baron de IV ittersedt, of Sweden;
Baron Wyddenbruek, of Austria ; T. G. Asta
Burnaga, of Chile ; M. L. de Geofroy, Charge
d'Affaires, from France ; Senhor Barboyada,
Charge d'Affaires from Brazil ; Mr. Rosing, Charge
d'Affaires, from the Hanseatic Republic ; M. Alfred
Berghmans, of Belgium ; and M. Sarcio, of Peru.
They were mostly attended by their secretaries and
other Attaches, all arrayed in full Court dress, most
of them wearing the badge of mourning on their
left arm. The Minister from Portugal and M. von
Limburg, of the Netherlands, were not present.
Probably they did not receive notice of the intended
visit."

" President Johnson was called upon yesterday,"
says the New York Herald of the 21st,
" By many delegations of citizens., -representing
various States and associations, for the p se of
pledging to him the support: of themselves and those
on whose behalf they appeared. A large number
of naval officers a
~so called in a body, as likewise
did the DiPl.C)matic Corps, and paid their respects to
the new Ter.esident. To each delegation Mr. John-
son made a suitable address, and all were pleased
with their visits and the cordial reception they met.
Additional indication of what will be the policy of
rresidMt Johnson in his treatment of the leading
rebels may be gathered fr6m some of his remarks
nwle yesterday. ' If, he says, the murderer of a
single individual must suffer_the penalty of death,
what should be inflicted upon him who tries to as-
aaasiests a nation?" The time has come for us to
understand that all crimes are submerged in treason,
and that he who has committed treason has com-
mitted all crimes; 11
On the 21st several additional bodies of citizens,
including delegations from the States of Maine,
Ohio, and Indiana, waited upon President Johnson,
addresses and replies being made in each case.
A despatch of the 21st, from Washington, gives
some particulars relative to the new President and
his Cabinet :
‘• It is now considered that, as uncertainty exists
as to when Secretary Seward will be able to resume
the duties of the State Department, it will become
necessary for President Johnson to appoint a
Secretary of State, either temporary or otherwise.
The public need, therefore, not be surprised to
hear of the appointment of Preston King either
as Acting-Secretary of State or Secretary de
facto within a few days. An effort is made to get
up considerable gossip in regard to changes by the
retirement of other members, but of that there is no
prospect for some time to come. It is hardly pro-
bable that Senator Harlan will assume the duties of
the Interior Department now that Mr. Lincoln is
dead. He having two years left of his term in the

Senate, he will prefer to remain there. This will
make it necessary for a new appointment for that
position on May 1. As to Secretary Stanton, he
can undoubtedly remain as long as he desires to. It
is understood, however, that soon after thesurrender
of General Lee, considering that the rebellion was
in effect over, he sent in his resignation ; but Mr.
Lincoln requested him to withdraw it, which he did
for the present. Now that Lee and Johnston have
both surrendered, and the real work of the War
Department is over, he may, as soon as the country
recovers from the severe blow in the loss of Mr.
Lincoln, renew his resignation ; but not for some
time yet. Mrs. Lincoln continues quite feeble.
She has been confined to her bed ever since Satur-
day morning, the shock having completely prostrated
her. President Johnson has kindly requested that
she will remain at the White House until she has
sufficiently recovered to decide as to her future
movements."

The Montreal Witness says :
" Our danger will be imminent if any of the
scoundrels implicated in this assassination (of Pre-
sident Lincoln) make their escape to Lower Canada.
They would undoubtedly meet with plenty of in-
fluential friends. There would be found here judges
and juries to decide that they had used only a belli-
gerent right. Indeed, it will argue a strange incon-
sistency if those papers which have been foremost in
screening the raiders, and have excused as a belli-
gerent right the assassination of an innocent civilian
at St. Albans, find fault now with those concerned
in the murder of the Commander-in-Chief of the
Federal armies."

The following despatch supplies some interesting
particulars relative to the late army of General Lee :
" Head-quarters, sth Army Corps, near Appo-
mattox Court house, April 14.

"The last of the surrendered army left yesterday.
Most of them went away in straggling squads.
General Anderson's brigade, however, remained till
the last, and went away in a body. And thus has
disappeared the proud army of Northern Virginia.
The official report of the number of men paroled,
and cannon, &c., surrendered, has just been made
out, and is as follows :—The Paroled prisoners,
26,115 ; small arms, 15,918 ; cannon, 159 ; colours,
71; waggons, caissons, &c., about 1,100 ; horses
and mules, 4,000. No official report of the two
latter items has yet been made, but I give the figures
they are most generally placed at. As to the paroled
prisoners, from first to last, there have been most
astonishing variances as to the number. At first it
was reported we got but 12,000 prisoners. This
report was given me by the commissioners ap-
pointed to carry out the stipulations of the surren-
der. Then the number hopped up to 35,000. As the
case stands, several thousand have gone away with-
out being paroled. It was starvation with many to
remain, and they were accordingly allowed to go.
Our army was short of rations, and although all
the rations that could be spared were given them
there was not enough for all.

LETTER OP J. WILKES BOOTH,

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)

If any evidence were wanting that J. Wilkes
Booth had long contemplated the foul deedfor com-
mitting which his name has been made infamous, the
following letter furnishes indisputable proof.

It was doubtless written some time in the month
of January last, and carefully sealed up in an en-
velope, directed thus—" J. Wilkes Booth." This
package Booth left with his brother-in-law, Mr. J.
S. Clarke, a resident of Philadelphia, asking Mr.
Clarke to take good care of it, as it contained valu-
able oil stocks and bonds. The envelope has remained
since January with Mr. Clarke, unopened until the
fearful tragedy had occurred in Washington. The
brother-in-law of Booth then opened the package,
in which he found some United States bonds, oil
stocks, and this letter. Mr. Clarke gave the letter to
United States Marshal I%lillward, who furnished a
copy to the Philadelphia press. It is as follows:

"1864.

"My dear Sir, -You may use this as you think best.
But as some may wish to know when, who, and why, and
RBI know not how to direct, I give it (in the words of your
3laster)--