Mr. Seward to Mr. Pruyn
Sir: Your despatches Nos. 49, 50, and 51, 53, dated August 10, and No. 54, dated August 13, have been received, and have been read with much interest. The proceedings referred to in your latest communication were important, as well as apparently necessary, and it is earnestly hoped that your predictions may be verified by the result of the expedition sent to punish Choshu, and to open the straits of Simonoseki.
The disposition you propose to make of the sum paid to you as indemnity for losses occasioned by the firing of the legation building at Yedo is approved, and the department sees no objection to your defraying out of the interest money received by you in payment of the Pembroke claim the expenses incident to the presence of the Jamestown at Yedo, &c., provided the consent of the owners of the Pembroke be previously obtained. This would appear to be a necessary precaution to guard against any future reclamation which might be made by the parties interested in this case.
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I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Robert H. Pruyn, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Kanagawa.