Inoweye Kawatsi No Kami, to A. L. C. Portman, June 20, 1866

[Translation.]

We have the honor to inform you that we already desired you that you would give a notice to your people that vessels of your country shall not anchor in the strait of Simonoseki, in Nagato, for we have been told that some vessels, though we know not to what country they belong, have often anchored in the places above mentioned. Now, as two provinces, Nagato and Suwo, have become the seat of war, and as hostilities will soon be commenced, it is not unlikely that some accident will happen during the campaign. We wish, therefore, that you will soon declare that vessels of your country shall not anchor on the coast of these two provinces.

With respect and esteem,