ASSASSINATION of PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THE NEWS FROM AMERICA.
On receiving the melancholy intelligence of the lamentable occurrences in the United States, the Members of Parliament assembled, consisting of gentlemen of all parties immediately signed the following address of sympathy to the resident American Minister, and to whom it was presented at 6 o'clock yesterday evening:-
"We, the undersigned, members of the British House of Commons, have learnt with the deepest horror and regret that the President of the United States of America has been deprived of life by an act of violence; and we desire to express our sympathy on the sad event with the American Minister now in London, as well as to declare our hope and confidence in the future of that great country, which we trust will continue to be associated with enlightened freedom and peaceful relations with this and every other country.' "London, April 26."
The intelligence of the assassination of President Lincoln and of the attempt to assassinate Mr. Seward caused a most extraordinary sensation in the city yesterday. Towards noon the news became known, and it spread rapidly from mouth to mouth in all directions. At first many were incredulous as to the truth of the rumour, and some believed it to have been set afloat for purposes in connexion with the Stock-Exchange. The house of Peabody and Co., American bankers, in Broad-street, had received early intelligence of tho assassination, and from there the news was carried to the Bank of England, whence it quickly radiated in a thousand directions. Meanwhile it was being wafted far and wide by the second editions of the morning papers, and was supplemented later in the day by the publication of additional particulars. Shortly after 12 o'clock it was communicated to the Lord Mayor while he was sitting in the Justice-room of the Mansion-house, and about the same time "the star-spangled banner" was hoisted half-mast high over tho American Consulate at the corner of Grace-church-street. The same flag had but a few days before floated in triumph from the same place on the entry of the Federals into Richmond, and still later on the surrender of General Lee. Between 1 and 2 o'clock the third edition of The Times, containing a circumstantial narrative of the affair, made its appearance in the city, and became immediately in extraordinary demand. A newsvendor in the Royal Exchange was selling it at half-a-crown a copy,and by half-past 3 o'clock it could not be had there for money. The excitement caused by the intelligence was manifest in the public streets, and the event was the theme of conversation everywhere. The revival of the affair of the Road-hill murder, which in the earlier part of the day had created a profound sensation, sank into insignificance in comparison with the interest and astonishment excited by the news of the tragedy at Washington. A photographer in Cornhill," taking time by the forelock," exhibited cartes of the deceased President in his window, inscribed "the late Mr. Lincoln," and accompanied by an account of the assasination, cut from the second edition of a contemporary. Throughout the remainder of the day the evening papers were sold in unexampled numbers, and often at double and tretle the ordinary price, all evincing the universal interest flt in the astounding intelligence.
LIVERPOOL, APRIL 26.
The reading of the telegram announcing the assassination of President Lincoln produced a general expression of horror and disgust on the Liverpool Exchange to-day. At first it was alleged that the assassin was a Confederate, but the Southern men indignantly repudiated the imputation, and some of them who had known Booth positively asserted that he was an abolitionist of the Johnston and Butler school, and had been known to be mad for some months. The flags on the Town-hall and Exchange-buildings were hoisted half-mast, and in the course of the day a proposal to hold separate meetings of the Northern and Southern men for the purpose of expressing their abhorrence at the crime met with general acquiescence. The effect of the news on 'Change was a rise in cotton and the Confederate Loan, and a decline in Federal securities.
MANCHESTER, APRIL 26.
Such a state of excitement as was produced by the news of President Lincoln's assassination this morning was never witnessed here before. On the Exchange and everywhere the general expression was one of reprobation and horror that such a crime should have been committed. The news put a stop to all business, and the day has passed away in mere talk and excitement.