PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim in Japan to William H. Seward, April 14, 1866

Mr. Portman to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, No. 7, copy of a memorandum signed this day, acknowledging the receipt from the Japanese government, of the sum of five hundred thousand (500,000) dollars, the second instalment of the Simonoseki indemnity.

The memorandum is dated the 8th of January last, the day on which this money was received by the Oriental Banking Corporation at Yokohama, as stated in my despatch No. 4, of the 14th of that month; but until now no receipt from the representatives of the four treaty powers who signed the convention of the 22d of October, 1864, had been applied for.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,