Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part III

Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward

No. 35.]

Legation of the United States, Kanagawa, May 16, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 57, of the 13th of January last, and received with profound satisfaction the information that my course in reference to the proposition to close this port has been “unreservedly approved.”

I enclose, No. 1, copy of a letter addressed by me to the Gorogio, pursuant to your instructions.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident in Japan.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.

No. 1.

Mr. Pruyn to the Gorogio

No. 49.]

Legation of the United States in Japan, Kanagawa, May 16, 1864.

I have to state that I have been instructed by the President of the United States to inform your excellencies that he has been pleased to approve of my resistance to the extraordinary request made by you at the interview at the naval school for the closing of this port, and of the fidelity and frankness with which I explained my proceedings in that respect to the representatives of the other treaty powers.

With respect and esteem,

ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident of the United States in Japan.

Their Excellencies Itakura Suwo-no-kami, Inowuye Kawatsi-no-Kami, Makino Redzen-no-kami, Ministers for Foreign Affairs, &c., &c., &c., Yedo.