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NEW YORK, May 18. — The World is the only paper in which the following appears:

EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, May 17, 1864.

Fellow Citizens of the United States! In all great exigencies it becomes a nation carefully to scrutinize its line of conduct, humbly to approach the throne of grace, and meekly implore forgiveness, wisdom and guidance. For reasons known only to Him it has been decreed that this country should be the scene of unparalleled outrage, and this nation a monument of suffering of the nineteenth century. With a heavy heart, but undiminished confidence in our cause, I approach the performance of a duty before the Almighty, and of justice to the people. It is not necessary that I should tell you that the first Virginia campaign, under Lieut. Gen. Grant, in whom I have every confidence, and whose courage and fidelity the people do well to honor, is virtually closed. He has conducted his great enterprise with marked ability, and has inflicted great loss upon the enemy; he has crippled their strength and defeated their plans. In view, however, of the situation in Virginia, and the disaster at Red river, delay at Charleston, and the general state of the country, I, Abraham Lincoln, do hereby reccommend that Thursday, the 26th day of May, 1864, be solemnly set apart throughout the United States, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer. Deeming, furthermore, that the present condition of public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, and in view of the power vested in me, by the constitution, and laws, I have thought fit to call forth the citizens of the United States, between the age of 18 and 45, to the aggregate number of 400,000, in order to suppress existing rebellious combinations and cause due execution of the laws.

And furthermore, in case any state shall fail to furnish, by the 15th of June next, their assigned quotas, it is hereby ordered that the same be raised by immediate and peremptory draft. The details of this object will be communicated to the state authorities through the war department. I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor and facilitate and aid this effort to maintain the honor and integrity and the existence of our national Union and the perpetuity of popular government.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at Washington, this 17th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1864, and of the independence of the United States the 88th. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

By the president:
WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.