Midluno Idlumi No Kami to Robert H. Pruyn, November 23, 1864

No. 2.

“We have the honor to inform you that the intelligence of the murder of two Britsh officers in the vicinity of the town of Pruatshee, in Soshu, (Sagami,) has filled us with pain and horror. Since the opening of the ports many deplorable events occurred, and we always did all in our power to arrest the culprits, but without success.

This makes us despair, and grieves us exceedingly. We must say, however, that although the troubled state of part of our country favors the rising of such banditti, we have better means than formerly of discovering them. We are aware that, should we fail to apprehend the murderers, our friendly relations might be jeoparded. This is a matter of the greatest importance. We have, therefore, sent the vice-minister of foreign affairs to your place to make an investigation, and direct the measures to be taken to insure a successful result.

We had a conference to-day with Mr. Cachou, who fully explained to us the impressions and observations of the ministers in regard to this murder, and feel convinced of the accuracy and great weight of his communication, which will stimulate our exertions to arrest the culprits. We have made it a point of absolute duty to come to a satisfactory conclusion before the departure of SIR Rutherford Alcock, the minister of Great Britain, which we state to your excellency with respect and esteem.