PRUYN, Minister Resident of the United States in Japan to Duchesne de Bellecourt , His Imperial Majesty’s, December 2, 1862

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Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, this hour, of your excellency’s despatch of this day, in which you offer to send his Imperial Majesty’s steamer Duplex to the province of Hitals, where an American ship has been wrecked, for the protection of American interests, in the absence of an American ship-of-war, and to render assistance to the American consul at Kanagawa, who has gone to the scene of this disaster in a Japanese government steamer, most kindly despatched for that purpose by the government of Japan.

Since I have had the honor to represent the United States in this empire your excellency has embraced every opportunity which has offered to manifest your friendly feeling to myself personally, and to prove, by deeds as well as words, that the hereditary friendship of France and the United States continues sincere and strong.

This fresh proof of friendship moves me deeply, and I should at once most thankfully accept your offer were I not assured that the mission of mercy on which our consul has gone will terminate peacefully. I have no reason to doubt either the willingness or ability of this government to render all needful assistance and protection.

I have for greater certainty, however, instituted futher inquiries, and shall have the honor, early to-morrow, to give you their result.

Meanwhile I avail myself, &c.,