Mr. De Long to Mr. Fish
Sir: I have the honor to advise you of the safe arrival in this empire, by the last steamer, of General Capron, with his staff, composing the scientific commission; also, by the same steamer. Lieutenants Wasson, Dunwoodie, Jones, Hoag, and Poillon, all in good health.
General Capron, Lieutenants Dunwoodie, Wasson, and others produced to me your letters, as also those of Messrs. Davis and other officers, and I did all in my flower, and will continue to to do all I can conveniently for all of these gentlemen.
I trust, however, you will bear in mind that one clause contained in the printed instructions furnished me, when I was appointed to this position, provides, “that I shall recommend no citizen of the United States for any position under the government to which I am accredited.”
This clause of my instructions I have always respected as strictly as all others; but in the matter of these gentlemen, I have accepted the letters received as a special license, and I have gone far enough, at least, to aid them somewhat.
General Capron and staff have been most cordially and honorably received. They have already been called upon by most of the government [Page 605] authorities, and from those officers highest in power, and whose opinion I most value. I learn that all are favorably impressed with the general and assistants.
I have been active in my operations to influence the government to give to this commission the widest possible range for its labors, and I feel sure that, in the highest degree, the commission will prove a success so complete that it will most materially aid in stimulating the tide of good feeling now setting in so strongly in Japan for our country and its people.
Mr. Ewackura, the new minister for foreign affairs, in our interview yesterday, spoke of the commission with great pride and pleasure as having been sent by the United States Government to Japan; that is, that the United States Government, out of kindness for Japan, had spared and sent out of its high offices this commission, for which they felt greatly obliged, and wished me so to assure you.
The commissioners are now temporarily quartered in the “Siba Temples,” those temples so noted as being the finest in Japan, and also as being the burial-place of the tycoons.
I called on the general there yesterday, and found him surrounded with all comforts and convenience, in high spirits, and looking hopefully forward.
I rejoice in the arrival of this commission; it will greatly aid my efforts here, I am sure; but what is still more desirable, it will cause our people to study more closely this country and its people, and the more quickly arouse them to the realization of the fact that Japan is a great nation, well deserving the most earnest efforts to be assisted in its march from the barbarism of the past centuries to the high civilization to which it is now in some degree tending, and to achieve which seems now to be the controlling passion of its statesmen,
I have the honor, &c.,