MOORE, United States Consul to R. B. Van Vankenburgh , United States, February 11, 1868

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Sir: By her Britanic Majesty’s ship Adventure, which leaves here very shortly for Hiogo, I hasten to give you some information concerning the situation of affairs at this port.

Considerable excitement has existed here during the last week, in consequence of the news received from Osaka of the defeat of the forces of the Tycoon by those of Satsuma and other princes.

The governor of the port, Kawaza Izu No Kami, finding he had not a sufficient force at his command to hold the place in the event of an attack being made by the men of Satsuma, Tosa, and other Daimios hostile to the Tycoon’s government, considered it prudent to resign his authority here, and on the eighth instant left for Yokohama in the steamer Courier, accompanied by all the Yedo officials who had been connected with him in the management of aifairs at this port. When on the point of leaving he addressed a letter to each of the consuls of the treaty powers, stating that he had left the city of Nagasaki under the protection of the Princes Hiziu and Chickuzen, according to previous instructions from his government. His hurried departure was doubtless owing to his having received information the night before that his house would be attacked and burnt during the night by a number of Rouins, about eighty, said to be in town. It was also reported that the foreign settlement would probably be attacked and the custom-house and bonded warehouse fired; consequently an armed force from the Shenandoah and two English naval vessels in port was landed for their protection. No attack, however, was made, though we learned on the following day that Tosa’s men took possession of the governor’s house during the night, but found the governor had already left. The agents here of different Daimois, fourteen in number, the most prominent ones being Hiziu, Chickuzen, Satsuma, and Tosa, on the day of the governor’s departure notified the foreign consuls that pending the appointment of a governor for this port by the Mikado they had assumed control of affairs here, and all business would be transacted by themselves in conjunction with the local officers; and at an interview just had with them they assured us that no action would be taken on their part to endanger the lives and property of foreigners, but that their interests would be properly cared for. I have therefore adopted the course pursued by my colleagues, with the exception of the French consul, who refuses to recognize any one but the Princes of Hiziu and Chickuzen, and recognized these agents as constituting the government de facto at this port, and trust that by doing so my action will meet with your approval.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,