Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have the honor to call your attention to the remark made by the French minister in his letter to Ogasawara Dsusio No Kami, translation of which forms enclosure No. 1 of despatch No. 43: “Your announcement is not confirmed by the signature of your colleagues of the Gorogio for foreign affairs;” and to say, that I think he misapprehended the true position of Ogasawara, who issued the notification.
The members of the Gorogio now at Yedo only acted as ministers of foreign affairs during the absence of himself and his two colleagues at Kioto. On his return he resumed, I suppose, his post in the department of foreign affairs, and was the sole minister. As he again leaves, the two others again take the post ad interim.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.