Inoweye Kawatsi No Kami, to A. L. C. Portman, June 23, 1866

[Translation.]

We have the honor to make the following communication: We believe that you have already executed our wishes to give a notice to your people that vessels of your country shall not anchor in the harbors of the provinces of Nagato and Suwo, because these two provinces have become the seat of war. Now we desire you will again declare that vessels of your country shall not pass those coasts, as the troops of both sides are marching to those provinces and there is great confusion there, and if any accident should happen to the foreign vessels it might cause bad feeling between them and us. Though we are sorry to give you the trouble twice, we are obliged to write this, as we are very uneasy on the subject.

With respect and reverence,