EIO DE JANEIRO AND ITS ENVIRONS. 



79 



the day was full of an interest which touched us more 

 nearly. At Posse, where we had breakfasted on our way 

 up, Mr. Taylor welcomed us with a Portuguese paper 

 containing a bulletin announcing the great victories of 

 the North. Petersburg and Richmond taken, — Lee in 

 full retreat, — the war virtually over. This was the sub- 

 stance of the news received with delight and acclamation, 

 not without tears of gratitude also, and we went on our 

 way rejoicing. As we drove up to the Hotel Inglez after 

 dark that evening, hoping to get a glimpse of an American 

 paper, or at least to have the good news confirmed through 

 the American Minister, General Webb, whose residence is 

 at Petropolis, we were greeted by the announcement of the 

 assassination of Lincoln and Seward, both believed at 

 this time to be dead. At first it seemed absolutely in- 

 credible, and the more sanguine among us persisted in 

 regarding it as a gigantic street rumor, invented perhaps 

 by Secession sympathizers, till on our return to town the 

 next morning our worst fears were confirmed by the French 

 steamer just arrived. The days seemed very long till the 

 next mail, which reassured us somewhat, as it brought 

 the news of Mr. Seward's probable recovery and strength- 

 ened our faith in the stability of the national character. 

 All the accounts, public and private, assure us that, though 

 there is mourning throughout the land, there is no dis- 

 turbance of the general regularity and order. 



