Van Valkenburgh to William H. Seward, August 17, 1867

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward

Sir : I send enclosed (No. 1) copy of a communication received from D. L. Moore, esq., vice-consul at Nagasaki, announcing the murder at that place, on the morning of the 14th of June, of George Bunker, an American sailor from the bark Valetta. While at Nagasaki I took occasion to make further personal examination into the circumstances attending the murder, but was unable to learn more than is set out in the enclosed papers.

The governor of Nagasaki promised me to use every exertion to discover the assassin and bring him to punishment. I fear, however, their efforts will be in vain.

While I was at Nagasaki two English sailors, from the Icarus, were cruelly murdered in the native town by Japanese officers. They seem to have been sleeping in the street, near the entrance of a tea-house, and were killed about midnight, each with one cut of a sword across the throat and chest. Their bodies were not discovered until morning. Every effort is being made by the English and Japanese authorities to discover the assassins.

My opinion is that all these murders are committed, not by residents of Nagasaki, but by the retainers of Daimios residing in other provinces of Japan, who frequently visit Nagasaki, commit their depredations, and then return by water to their homes.

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