Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.

No. 54.]

Sir: I am informed by the governors of foreign affairs that during the fifty days of mourning prescribed for the late Tycoon there is a cessation of hostilities between the government forces and those of the rebels. That this cessation was proclaimed by the Mikado, and that Choshiu, the leader of the rebel forces, acquiesced in it. As soon, however, as these days have passed active operations will again be resumed. This proclamation of the Mikado Was issued about four weeks ago, so that more than half of the time has already elapsed.

The body of the late Tycoon was brought from Osacca and has since been lying in state in the temple of the Tycoons in this city, until the burial, which took place on the last day of October.

In consequence of this war, and perhaps of a small decrease in the quantity of rice raised, the poor people are suffering for the want of provisions, and rice riots, like the flour and bread riots of more civilized countries, are frequent. Mobs at times have paraded the streets breaking into rice warehouses, and committing other crimes attendant upon such emeutes of the people. I had, on the 26th ultimo, a slight experience in this way. Some guests and myself rode out to Ogee, a distance of twelve miles, in the morning, and, on our return in the afternoon, by another route, near the temple of Osaxa, rode into a crowd of these poor rice rioters. We were not aware that riots were then raging in the city. It was impossible to retreat, but we were compelled to go forward, and, for two miles or more, we found the narrow streets thronged with dense crowds, sometimes in procession with banners, and again entirely unorganized. At two points they threw some stones at us, but our Japanese guard behaved bravely, charging in upon the crowd and driving them back until we came through safely.

I am sorry to say three of the guard were slightly hurt with stones and clubs, and that probably two of the rioters were killed by the swords of our escort.

At daylight next morning two of the governors of foreign affairs called upon me to explain and apologize, and to express the regrets of the government.

They told me the government was building houses and purchasing rice for the purpose of relieving as much as possible the necessities of the poor, and they hoped in a few days that all would be quiet. I took the occasion to urge upon them the importance of permitting their people to purchase of foreign merchants [Page 227] rice and provisions, and to sanction it by proclamation. Foreign rice can be imported from China and sold at one-half the cost of Japanese rice as it now sells in market.

Their own rice has raised in price from one cent per pound to about five and a half cents per pound.

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

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.