Autograph letter signed : London, to Harriet St. Leger, 1865 April 27.

Describing her shock and grief on learning of the murder of Abraham Lincoln; saying she had written "...some very indifferent rhymes about the fall of Richmond [illegible] it occurred to me as I drove by the Spectator Office in Wellington St. would offer them if they liked to put them in their paper with the whole tone of which throughout the whole war I have had such entire sympathy - while waiting for Mr. Hutton who was summoned to speak to me I thought I should like to take the paper & accordingly paid a years' subscription for it - presently the person who took my money & entered my name apologizing for Mr. Hutton's keeping me waiting said 'he - indeed we all are terribly cut up by this dreadful news from America - the murder of Mr. Lincoln!' - Oh Hat dear I gave a loud scream - I could not help it & burst into such passionate outcries and weeping that the poor man before me seemed terrified & shocked beyond power of speaking - he went & fetched Mr. Hutton & for awhile I could really do nothing but sob aloud - he said the news had affected him almost to tears & that my emotion did not surprise him - he was very kind and I was sorry to distract him by my [illegible] but oh dear friend it is too too horrible - that good upright conscientious man who in the midst of all his bitter cares & difficulties said to my friend Horace Gray speaking of the state of the country & referring to his old rail splitting in the west 'I should like to lay this rail straight - & then I don't much care what they do with me' - I fear every thing now for the present for the country with its miserable Vice President as Lincoln's substitute - yet - the people - the northern people are good - and God fearing in the main - english men too with brains & hearts never quite incapable of self government & God above will provide - I cannot write I feel too incoherently all the horror & misery of this abominable crime - it is a Southern deed - it represents the spirit of Slaveholding - it represents the very character of those cruel vindictive cowardly people - what an immense affliction this will cause throughout the north what infinite difficulties beset the land & all who now may seek to steer it thro' them - it was but two days ago that I was saying that Jefferson Davis might walk unharmed thro' every town in New England - now I fear the northern people may be betrayed into some act of fierce retaliation - Harriet dear I am too miserable when I think of all the prolongation of the evil I hoped was over that this barbarous crime may lead to - how difficult it is to trust indeed in God...and yet I do believe in Him - Marion Ellis has just come in - a comfort - and so I bid you farewell - you will know that it is better with me now than when I began this letter."