PRUYN, Minister Resident in Japan to William H. Seward, July 15, 1862

Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward

Sir: I regret to be obliged to inform you that Colonel Neale, her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’affaires, has withdrawn from Yedo to reside at Yokohama.

The British guard from the military train had been strengthened by a large force of marines and sailors from the Reynard.

On the arrival of the steam sloop Pearl, Captain Bortall, of the latter vessel, then the senior officer, declined landing an additional force, or to leave more than twenty men when those vessels left, which was the order of the admiral before the late attack. Under these circumstances, Colonel Neale informs me he considered it his duty to leave, as the guard was insufficient.

As soon as Mr. de Wit, the consul-general of the Netherlands, returns to Nagasaki, I will be again the only minister resident in Yedo.

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