Sir Harry Parkes’s address to the Tycoon, May 2, 1867

Sir Harry Parkes’s address to the Tycoon

I have responded with feelings of profound respect and admiration to the invitation of your Highness to visit you in your castle of Osacca. I see in this invitation, combined with the assurances I have already had the happiness to receive from your Highness and the marked kindness of my reception, unmistakable evidences of a firm resolve on the part of your Highness and the government you conduct to cultivate the most friendly relations with Great Britain, and to insure the faithful performance by Japan of the treaties upon which these relations are based. In my own case I should respectfully inform your Highness that I am charged by my most gracious sovereign to spare no effort that may lie in my power to strengthen the exciting friendship between our two nations and to promote an intercourse, which when allowed to expand to its natural channel, cannot fail to be highly conducive to the prosperity of both.

As long as these feelings continue to be mutually entertained and acted on, no doubt can arise as to the cordiality and advantage of our future relations.

It only remains for me to congratulate your Highness on your accession to the exalted office to which you have recently been called, and to express my sincere wish that long, life may be spared you to carry out the liberal measures in respect to the internal as well as the external policy of your great country to which I believe your Highness to be earnestly devoted.