PRUYN, Minister Resident of the United States of America in Japan to Duchesne de Bellecourt, September 16, 1862

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Sir: I have the honor to convey to your excellency my profound thanks for the very friendly and prompt manner in which you proceeded with your guard to the American consulate at Kanagawa on the 15th instant for its protection, while it had the good fortune to afford a refuge to Messrs. Clarke and Marshall, two subjects of her Britannic Majesty, who were desperately wounded by Japanese assassins on that day; also, for your offer to furnish the American consul with a guard to remain at his residence, and for the excellent arrangements you caused to be made for the landing of marines from the French men-of-war in that port for his protection in case of necessity, and to beg you will also convey my thanks to the naval officers of his Imperial Majesty for their courtesies on that occasion.

It will be my duty, as well as a great pleasure, to make known your friendly action to the President of the United States.

Such courtesies cannot fail to cement more closely the friendship which has so uninterruptedly marked the relations of France and the United States, and which have never been more warmly reciprocated than during the reign of his Imperial Majesty.

I avail myself of this occasion to renew to you the assurance of my distinguished consideration.

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