, 1865-04-26
PRESENTATION OF The BRIT.
lSH MINISTER.
His address to the President and
the Reply.
Reception Of the Representatives Of
ether Naticns.

WASHINGTON, April 70.
TIE BRITISH MINISTER PRESENTED TO MTs.
JOHNSON.
Sir Frederick ". a. Bruce was to-day in
troduced to the President By the Acting Sec
rotary Of Stote. md presented his credentials
as envoy extraordinary and minister plcnipo-
tentiary Of her Britanic- majesty to this Gov
ernment. Sir Frederick made the following
remarks upon the occasion
MR. PRESIDENT: It Is with deep and sincere
concern that l Lave to accompany my first
official act with expressions ofcondolenee. On
Saturday last the ceremony that takes place
today was to have been performed, but the
gracious Intentions Of the Into lamcnted Pres
ident wero frustrated by events which have
plunged this country into Consideration and
af11iction, and which will call forth in Great
Britain feelings Of horror as we'll Us profound
sympathy for the victims. It becomes, there
fore, my painful duty, Git, to present the letter
Gom my sovereign which I am bearer to you
President Of the United States and It Is with
pleasure that convey the assurances OF re-
gard and good will which Her Majesty enter
.tafns toward you, sir, Us President Of the
press Her Majesty's friendly disposition to-
ward the great nation Of which Fou are the
Chief Msgistrate, her hearty good wishes
for Its peace. prosperity. and welfn,e. Her
majesty has nothing more at heart than to
cultivate those relations Of amity and good
unde. standing which hare so long and SO
happily existed between the two kindred na.
items Of the United States and Great Britain,
and 1t is In this spirit that am directed to
perform the duties Of the lmp portaut and hon
cradle post co1l1ded to me. Permit M, sir,
to eay that it shall be the object of ms earnest
eLdeayors to carry out my instructions faith
fully in that respect, and express the hope,
SIR, that Jon will fAvorably consider M At.
temps to meet your appreciation, and to
give eject to the friendly intentions Of the
Queen aud her majcsty's government. Aafe
the honor, sir, to place in your hands the let
ter OF credepce con1ded to me by her majesty.
To which the President replied as follows:
Sir Frederick r, 4 Bruce:
SIR: The cordial and fticndly sentiments
El!ich you have expressed on the part OF her
Brisanic majesty give me great p:elsue,
Great Britain and the United States, By the
extended and varied forms OF commerce be-
tween them, the contigutty Of positions Of
their possessions, and the similarity Of their
language and laws, are drawn into contrast
and intimate intercourse at tho same time.
They are from the game causes exposed to
to be aycrted by 'mutu2 forb .arance. So
eagerly are the people Of the two countries
engaged throughout almost the whole world
in the pursuit of similar commercial enter
prizes, accompanied by natural rivalries and
jealousies, that at FIRST sight it would aim ost
seem LQa% Luc lHO governments Luu-t ue eL~
emies, or cold and calculating friends. So
devoted are the two nations throughout all
their domain. and even In their most remote
territorial and colonial possessions, TO the
p inciples OF civil rights and constitutional
liberty, that, on the othez hard, the super
ticial observer might enormously count
psi6 s an o aanss @Ie Sstsseh
tht1p. Each is charged with the develop
mcnt of the progress aud liberty ofa c0us}d-
cradle portion Of the human race. Each, In
it, sphere, is subject to difficulties and trials
not participated IN By the other. The interests
Of civilization and Of bHpanlty require. that
known, and accepted 1t as fact honorable to
both countries, that the Queen Of England is
u sincere and honest we'll -Wisher to the United
States. I have been equally frank aud ex-
plicit In tho opinion that the friendship Of
the United ssta'es toward Great Britain,
is enijoined By oil the consldera-
tiors Ct iptcrE,** and Of sentiment Affect
ing The character of both. You will, .as: s:fore
be aecepttd as minister, fdend1y and well
disposed to the maintenance Of peace aud the
honor Of both countries. You will find my
se1fand all my associates acting Ia accord
aDce with the same enlightened policy and
consistent sentiments !; and so am sure that
1t will not occur in your case that either
yourself or this Government will ever have
tionship existed at such crisis.d
OTHER MINISTERS OF TIE DIPLOMATIC coRrs
Shortly after the reception Of Sit Frederick
Bruce, the yarfous members of the diplomat
ic corps were presented to the President by
the acting Secretary Of State. As dean Of
the body, Baron Won Gerolt, the minister
from Prussia, addressed the President as fol-
lows: ;.
Mr.. PREs1DEsT: The representatives of for
a nm hoY nd A-~1 %nn
to your exccllency their feelings at the de-
p1ofable events Of which they have been wit
ness, to tay how sincerely they share the na.
ticnal mourning tor the cruel fate Of the late
President, Abraham Lincoln, ard how deeply
they sympathIze with the government, and
people Of the United States IN their great at-
Fiction. With equal sincerity we tender to
you, Mr. President, our best wishes for the
welfare and prosperity Of the United States,
NJ for your pers?ra health and happiness.
May We be allowed, also, Mr. President, to
give utterance on this occasion t. our sim
ceFest hopes fer an early re-establishment Of
pence in tlis great country, and for tha main
Government OF the United States and tbs
governments which we represent.
To which the President replied:
GenticUen Of the diplomatic body, l
heartily thank you on behalf Of the govern
ment and people of the United States for
the sympathy which you have SO feelingly
expressed upon the mournful events to which
Jou refer. The good wishes also which you
SO Kindly offer for the welfare aud p :osperity
Of the United States, and for m3 personal
health and happiness, arc gratefully received.
fenr hopes for the early restoration Of peace
in this country are cordially reciprocated by
me; You may be assured that shall lcaTe
nothing undonc toward preserving those re-
latfons Of friendship which now fortunately
exist between the United States and all Enr.