Mr. Seward to Mr. Van Valkenburgh.

No. 45.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 13th of December, No. 74, together with its accompaniment. The latter consists of, first, a note without date, which was addressed to you by the Gorogio, by way of explaining the political crisis which has occurred in Japan; second, a copy of a note which was written by one of the ministers for foreign affairs, Ogassawan Iki No Kami, to Sir Harry Parkes, her Majesty’s minister at Yedo, and which explains the present position of the Tycoon in regard to foreign intercourse.

Mr. Dix, United States minister at Paris, has recently transmitted to this department a copy of two notes which were addressed to him by the Japanese chargé d’affaires in France, the purport of which notes, differing only in the language of translation, is the same with that of the notes which accompany your dispatch.

We sincerely sympathize with the government and people of Japan; we hold in high consideration the efforts of the Tycoon and his government to maintain public order and to fulfill the national treaties. We shall await with no little solicitude the progress of the measures of restoration and reformation which have been inaugurated. You will assure the government of the continued good-will and esteem of the United States.

Your proceedings in going to Osaka and Hiogo, to be present at the opening of those ports, are approved.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

R. B. Van Valkenburgh, Esq., &c., &c., &c.