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The Charles P. McIlvaine letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Emancipation has a capital effect on the English mind.
Date
3-27-1862
Keywords
letter, McIlvaine, Lincoln, emancipation
Recommended Citation
McIlvaine, Charles Petit, "Letter to President Abraham Lincoln" (1862). Charles Pettit McIlvaine Letters. 166.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/mcilvaine_letters/166
Rights Statement
Transcript
His Excellency
The President of the U.S.
Washington
London March 27, ‘62
My dear Mr. President,
I beg, from this distance, to express my respectful sympathy in your recent painful affliction. It has come upon you when your mind was burdened with the heavy weight of our dear country’s troubles, but when you were soon to receive the consolation of knowing how wonderfully God was about to favour your measures and lift up the hearts of all loyal people-- May He give you, my dear Sir--to find in Him in His love and the peace which comes to us, [?], through the sacrifice and inter[ven]tion of our Lord Jesus Christ, that consolation, for this and all future [?] which the world and its creatures has to give.
Americans here rejoice in the step you have taken towards Emancipation, as well in the District of C, as in the States. It is having a capital effect on the English mind. Nothing could do so much in that direction.
The return of Mr. Cyrus Field today tempts [me] to write to you. He has been of great service here.
I remain, my dear Sir,
Yours very respectfully,
Charles P. McIlvaine