Department of State,
Washington, July 2, 1881.

James Russell Lowell,
Minister, etc., London:

The President of the United States was shot this morning by an assassin named Charles Guiteau.  The weapon was a large-sized revolver.  The President had just reached the Baltimore and Potomac station, at about 9.20, intending, with a portion of his Cabinet, to leave on the limited express for New York.  I rode in the carriage with him from the Executive Mansion and was walking by his side when he was shot.  The assassin was immediately arrested, and the President was conveyed to a private room in the station building and surgical aid at once summoned.  He has now, at 10.20, been removed to the Executive Mansion.  The surgeons, on consultation, regard his wounds as very serious, though not necessarily fatal.  His vigorous health gives strong hopes of his recovery.  He has not lost consciousness for a moment.  Inform our ministers in Europe.

James G. Blaine, Secretary of State.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEATH BY THE PHYSICIANS.

[From the New York Herald, September 20, 1881.]

Elberon, N.J., September 19—­11.30 p.m.

The President died at thirty-five minutes past 10 p.m.  After the bulletin was issued at half past 5 this evening the President continued in much the same condition as during the afternoon, the pulse varying from 102 to 106, with rather increased force and volume.  After taking nourishment he fell into a quiet sleep about thirty-five minutes before his death, and while asleep his pulse ran to 120 and was somewhat more feeble.  At ten minutes after 10 o’clock he awoke, complaining of severe pain over the region of the heart, and almost immediately became unconscious, and ceased to breathe at twenty-five minutes to 11.

D.W.  Bliss. 
Frank H. Hamilton. 
D. Hayes Agnew.

ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE VICE-PRESIDENT.

[From the New-York Times, September 20, 1881.]

[Long Branch, N.J., September 19, 1881.]

Hon. Chester A. Arthur,
No. 123 Lexington Avenue, New York:

It becomes our painful duty to inform you of the death of President Garfield and to advise you to take the oath of office as President of the United States without delay.  If it concur with your judgment, we will be very glad if you will come here on the earliest train to-morrow morning.

William Windom,
Secretary of the Treasury.
WILLIAM H. HUNT,
Secretary of the Navy.
THOMAS L. JAMES,
Postmaster-General.
WAYNE MacVEAGH,
Attorney-General.
S.J.  KIRKWOOD,
Secretary of the Interior.

[The Secretaries of State and of War were absent from Long Branch.]