Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I remained in Yedo until the afternoon of the 31st ultimo. I thought it needful to do so, though greatly to the sacrifice of comfort, in maintenance of my right of residence.
Having secured a grant of a temporary residence and a promise that it should be at once fitted up, I had completed my arrangements to leave Yedo, meanwhile, for this place, when at 3 o’clock p. m. of Sunday, the 31st ultimo, I was waited upon by Matsuidara Suani No Kami, governor for foreign affairs, who stated that he had been sent by the ministers to inform me of the discovery of a conspiracy to attack the legation that night; that papers disclosing such intention had fallen into the possession of the government; and that nearly 500 ronins (two-sworded men without means of support) were at that time assembled at a place known to the government for such purpose; that three daimios had been charged with the duty of surrounding them; that it was feared they might take the alarm and disperse, or, if attacked, some might escape, and in either event, the attack on the legation still be made; and that in the confusion consequent thereon, serious injury might be done to myself or some one attached to the legation; that a large additional force had been sent for my protection; but that if I would consent to leave Yedo that afternoon in one of their steamers, the government would be relieved from great anxiety, and would be able to act with more vigor against the ronins.
I did not feel at liberty to insist upon remaining. No useful object could be gained thereby, as I intended, in any event, to leave in the morning, and as this was known to the government, it seemed hardly credible that their alarm was feigned. It appeared to me, therefore, that it would be foolhardy to remain, particularly as my residence at that time was outside the line of guards and incapable of perfect protection, and that in the event of an attack and consequent injury, my doing so would not be justified by the President.
About 5 o’clock p. m., surrounded by a full regiment of guards, I left for the hattoba (wharf,) and embarked for the steamer Tsho-Yo-Maro. On my arrival it was found: that officers and engineers were on shore, and no orders had been given for my reception, thus confirming me in my opinion that it was not a mere contrivance for hastening my departure. Shortly after, these officers began to appear, steam was got up, and the vessel prepared to leave.
At this time the Swiss envoy, who had arrived at Yedo a few days before, made his appearance. When called on and urged to leave Yedo, he had first repaired to the United States legation to learn my intention. Finding that I had already left for the wharf, he had consented to go on board for the night, but had declined to leave, as his furniture, clothing, presents, &c., were all unpacked. When he found the vessel was about starting, he expressed his surprise, and informed me he could not possibly prepare for his departure earlier than in two days.
The captain offered to carry him back to Yedo after I had disembarked at this place. I finally arranged for his transfer to another vessel, where he spent that night, and to which he repaired each night during the remainder of his stay at Yedo. He arrived at Yokohama a few days after my departure.
Before the Swiss envoy had been transferred to the other vessel I received a message from the minister of foreign affairs, asking me to persuade him to leave Yedo, which I declined to do. After my arrival here, I received a formal letter, making the same request; but I declined to influence, in any way, his decision.
About 3 o’clock p. m. of the day before I left Yedo a two-sworded man had been murdered near the legation, and very near the place of Mr. Heusken’s [Page 1101] murder. I have information, on which I think reliance can be placed, that this man was one of the murderers of Mr. Heusken, and that he was well known as such in Yedo, having frequently made boasts to that effect. I have the honor to enclose (No. 1) copy of a paper furnished me by the British minister bearing on that point; it is one of a series of reports he has obtained by means of the secret service fund placed at his disposal. My information was received from an entirely distinct source, a person in government employ, and who, at the time he made his communication, did not appear to comprehend the bearing it might have, showing the falsehood of the repeated declarations of the government of its inability to discover and apprehend the murderers.
I regret to say that though the ronins thus gathered to attack the United States legation have been arrested, they have not been punished, but are actually now in the pay of the government.
I have complained of this, and the answer given is, that the word ronin means a person destitute of the means of support, and that there are many good men among them, and the government must discriminate.
I have also asked for information as to this murdered man, and his connexion with Mr. Heusken’s murder. Of this the governor, with whom I had the conversation, denies all knowledge, saying that it was conjectured he was the chief of the ronins, but not known as such, as his head was cut off and had disappeared, and he could not be identified. This I know to be false, as on the day of the murder some Japanese officers from the legation visited the place of the murder, where the body still laid, awaiting the appearance of an officer similar to our coroner, and they at that time described the head as being only partially severed from the body.
As to his participation in the murder of Mr. Heusken, the same governor denied having heard any such report, and said if such a rumor prevailed it was probably unfounded.
I consider it useless to write to the ministers on the subject, as their answer will doubtless be the same. It is difficult to know what to believe, or even to believe anything.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.