Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward
Sir: In my No. 29, of the 26th ultimo, I advised you of the destruction by fire on the 24th of the legation buildings at Yedo, together with all my furniture, clothing, books, &c., but that the archives and most of the public property had been saved, though in a damaged condition.
I have abstained from giving any opinion as to the cause of this unfortunate occurrence, and now submit the facts, as far as I am able to do, that the President may form his own judgment.
I have already informed you of the great anxiety of this government to induce me, at least temporarily, to remove my residence to this place; an anxiety shown not only by repeated and persistent attempts to excite alarm, though at times representations were made that I would be less lonely and have more freedom of movement here, but even extending so far as to offer to pay all additional expense of rent, &c., which might be occasioned by such removal. No foreigners whatever would then have been at Yedo, and then, as now, it could be so stated at Kioto, and represented probably without contradiction, as a voluntary and final abandonment of our right to a residence there at all.
The afternoon preceding the fire this same subject had been again discussed. I had announced my purpose to go to Yokohama on a visit for two weeks, a decision I had formed in consequence of the excited state of feeling there, and because the government had represented that my presence with my colleagues might be of service in the interests of peace; but I had again announced my inflexible determination to continue to reside in Yedo.
At 2 o’clock a. m. that night I was aroused from sleep by the information that the house was on fire, and in fifteen minutes I had neither bed, bedding, table, chair, or furniture of any description, and scarcely any clothing save what I had on, or what was in charge of my servants for washing. A message was brought to me shortly after, in the place where I had taken shelter from a heavy rain, with Mr. Portman and my son and Mr. Thompson, his tutor, that our horses were saddled; and I have reason to believe that it was supposed I would at once proceed to Kanagawa.
Before 9 o’clock I had several visits from governors for foreign affairs and other officials, and a small (priest’s) house was assigned for our accommodation; there for two days we were left; two of the rooms being in the occupation of guards, and the only one at my own disposal occupied for all purposes, (except that Mr. Portman slept in his own house nearly opposite.) During that time I abstained from sending any message to the government by the way of complaint or otherwise, though satisfied that it was supposed my speedy removal to this place would follow in view of my narrow quarters and my being deprived of beds and funiture and almost of the means of preparing food. At the close of the second day I sent a message that I wished to see a governor for foreign affairs the next morning, to which a reply was sent, that one would come the next succeeding day: I then sent a message that I could not consent to such delay and the next morning I was visited by Takemoto Hayato No Kami, the governor with whom I had the interview the day preceding the fire.
I then informed him I wished better accommodations provided for me; that it would take more than one fire to drive me from Yedo, and that I would not leave until the arrival of my successor, unless I had some building assigned to me, and a positive pledge that it should be immediately fitted up for my use. The day following another governor brought me a plan for the alteration of the main temple building which had been preserved from the fire, which I agreed to accept temporarily. I was also informed that no decision had been taken as to rebuilding; [Page 1116] that if the government undertook it there would be danger; the buildings would be destroyed, and that it had been proposed to place the necessary funds in the hands of the priests for such purpose, and thus leave it to be supposed that the buildings Were erected for their use, and not my accommodation.
I regret to have to state that thus far the alteration of the temple has not been commenced, though promised the day after I left.
In my conversation with Takemoto Hayato No Kami I told him I proposed frankly to mention the circumstances which would lead to the suspicion that the premises had been purposely fired.
I then reminded him that in February he had called on me, asking me to agree to give up Goten-Yama, that the British legation had been destroyed by fire within ten hours after he had left me, that the destruction by fire of the American legation buildings had followed a similar visit precisely at the same hour.
I also noticed their congratulations that the fire had not spread, which had also given me great satisfaction but it was proper to remark that a better night; in consequence of the heavy rain, could not have been selected for the destruction of my residence without involving a large number of buildings in the same fate.
It was also proper to say that the fire took place four hours after every fire had been put out; and if it commenced in the kitchen, a place where the floor was of earth and stone, it was difficult to imagine how it could possibly have arisen from accident.
I further informed him that I had learned from Mr. Portman that while I was absent from my residence the previous week, the priests of the temple had applied for permission to enter the house; that he had found them there with a plan of the building and grounds unfolded, and that they were engaged in counting the mats in the different rooms. The significance of this consists in the fact that when this house is rebuilt the size and shape of every room will be unchanged this was the case, even when the Tycoon’s palace was rebuilt. It was a perfect duplicate of the one which had been burned. Buildings are not measured by feet but mats, and every hall and room is made so as to receive a certain number of mats, each six feet by three feet.
Nor must it be overlooked that the very hesitation of the government to rebuild, for fear of provoking the destruction of the building, seems to show that if such a fate was apprehended in the future, that which had already taken place might fairly be inferred as other than accidental. I concluded by saying that I feared it would be universally believed that the buildings had been destroyed so as to force me to leave Yedo.
To this the answer was made, “that it was true that the circumstances stated were suspicious, nevertheless the fire was accidental;” that they had examined witnesses, and had arrived at that conclusion. I have not yet been furnished with a copy of the testimony, though I have asked for it, and it has been promised. The governor also said that if I gave it as my opinion that it was accidental, every one would be satisfied it was so, and that I had the day succeeding the fire said I was so satisfied.
I assured the governor if he had so understood me, he had derived a false impression from the interpreter. I then repeated what I had said, “That I wished to regard it as accidental, for my own sake, for the sake of the Japanese government, as well as that of the United States. That in the event of the President being satisfied that the destruction of the premises had been wilful, whether with the connivance of the Japanese government, or not, he would doubtless feel compelled to demand an indemnity, but that so great was his friendship and that of the United States for Japan, I felt sure he would be pleased to have evidence which would relieve the government and people from suspicion, and that my government, if so satisfied, would be more willing to indemnify me for my loss than to accept of an indemnity from the Japanese [Page 1117] government, even if freely offered, and that I should content myself with laying the whole subject before the President for his decision.
My loss will amount to something over $6,000, including articles of Japanese ware and manufacture which I had purchased for use and for ornament. This also includes a private library of over three hundred volumes, and a large store of wines, &c., which are necessarily required in all business interviews.
Mr. Portman’s residence was not destroyed; but as the fire at one time threatened to reach it, his furniture was removed, and his loss by breakage and other injury amounts to about $400.
It is due to this government that I should remark that fires are of daily occurrence in Yedo, owing to the combustible materials of which most of the buildings are constructed in whole or in part, and also to the universal use of tobacco, and of fires which are invariably made of charcoal placed in hibatshi, (a species of pot or vase,) and in rooms, the floors of which are covered with mats and the sides formed of paper sliding doors.
It may not be improper also to call the attention of the President to the peculiar situation in which the representatives of the United States must always be placed at Yedo. No insurance of property can be effected at any premium, as being so greatly exposed, and any loss from fire must always be necessarily almost total.
When the Japanese officers burst into my room they were clothed in uniform worn on occasions of fire, which they generally have with them. But whether this is to be charged as the result of preparation for the event, or as an evidence of praiseworthy vigilance and activity, will depend upon the judgment to be formed of the origin of the fire.
I have given notice to the government that I propose returning to Yedo early in July, and that if the building promised me is not completed, (as now appears probable,) I shall avail myself of the obliging offer made by M. de Bellecourt, the French minister, and occupy for a season Sakaijo, the French legation buildings.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.