" People, it observes, now ask themselves what are likely
to be the political consecjuences of the death of President
Lincoln. We do not thmk that this catastrophe will sen-
sibly modify the situation. Without doubt, we are far from
renaering the Southern cause responsible for the crime of
a few fanatics, but the fact is not the less true that the
horror inspired by an act so atrocious can only have the
effect of diminishing the sympathies which the Separatists
might still meet with in Europe ; already vanquished ma-
terially, or nearly so, they are now undergoing a moral
defeat also. All that is to be feared is that the North in
its exasperation may allow itself to be hurried into taking
reprisals, or at least that the feelings of conciliation towards
the Secessionists, of which it was beginning to afford proofs,
may give place to sentiments of quite a different nature,
and that it may profit by its victory to impose rigorous
conditions on the South. We have, however, too much
confidence in the good sense of the North to conceive
serious apprehensions on that subject. Its legitimate in-
dignation win not make it deviate from the line of modera-
tion and prudence which it has so far followed; it will
understand that the best way of honouring the memory of
Mr. Lincoln is not to depsuii from the political traditions
of that statesman."

The eminent French historian, M. Henri Martin, writes
as follows to the Steele, upon the assassination of Mr.
