Mr. Seward to Mr. Pruyn
Sir: Your despatch of July 8 (No. 37) has been submitted to the President.
He has derived much satisfaction from the reply of the ministers for foreign affairs to the letters which you had addressed to them concerning assassinations at the British embassy. Entertaining no doubt of the sincerity of the explanations contained in that reply, he earnestly hopes that the government of the Tycoon may practice such diligence, in bringing all persons connected with the transaction to condign punishment, as will give assurance to the British government, and to the other treaty powers, that the rights and safety of foreigners in Japan will hereafter be inviolably protected.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Robert H. Pruyn, Esq., &c., &c., Yedo.