Joseph Heco

“ News comes from Yedo to the effect that yesterday the Shōgun's Government ordered Sakai Saemon-no-jo to summon the Chōshiu samurai to surrender and deliver up their yashiki and their persons to him. The demand was peacefully complied with. The late Governor of Kanagawa, Gohara Isaburo, and another officer have been appointed Ometsuke, and ordered to Europe to settle about the Convention with France, signed by the late ambassadors, Ikeda and Kawadzu-Izu-no-kami.
The green-coated soldiers have arrested an outlaw who was testing dynamite in the neighbourhood of Kanagawa. ”

“ We have it from an authentic source that all the Western Powers have come to a full understanding, and will henceforward insist upon the most complete execution of the Treaties. For too long have their most important provisions been evaded, infringed, set at naught by the native authorities of this country, to the serious inconvenience and loss of the foreign as well as of the native traders. ”

“ If any person should go abroad without a proper permit from the Government he shall be punished severely. Let everybody understand this order and observe the regulations issued and circulated to those whom it may concern, even to the commonest subjects, in order that any person who wishes to go abroad may make proper application. ”

“ The two Japanese returned on Sunday to the island, saying as they left, that the Prince of Nagato would probably open the Straits in a little time. The people with whom intercourse was had are said to have been unusually uncivil; saying that they wished our ships would go away; they did not want us at all.
“They report that Nagato has some sixteen
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thousand Rōnin in his employ, independent of his regular army of 26,000 men.” ”

“ Abe Bungo-no-kami, late Governor of Foreign Affairs and of Kanagawa, has been made a member of the Gorōjiu. Since Prince Hitotsubashi has been appointed keeper of ōsaka castle by the Mikado, he has been mustering a large force for some purpose or other.
August 10th. This morning's paper says; “H. B. M.'s Barrosa and Cormorant have just returned from the cruise on which they started hence on the 21st ult. “The great curiosity which has for many days agitated this community as to the reception they would meet with, can be only very partially satisfied by any intelligence we can afford. ”

“ Yet after all this he finds that the Shōgun is giving aid and succour to those very foreigners he had charged him (Chōshiu) to drive from the country! Accordingly he is said to have sent a messenger to the Shōgun to demand an explanation of this behaviour. But the messenger was stopped by the guard, whereupon the Chōshiu men at once attacked the guard, and opened fire upon the Mikado's palace, which was burned to the ground. ”

“ Leopard --
“The heavy squadron was to take up a position on the south side at 1,600 yards in front of the Maita-mura and Saho batteries. The Light Squadron close in shore on the north side to take the Chofu point batteries, and to flank the Maita-mura and Saho ones, and also to keep under way.
“At 4 p.m., the ships being in position and the Japanese not having fired, the flagship signalled “engage the enemy,” at the same time sending a splendid shot from her bow-guns right into the Maita-mura battery, a distance of 4,300 yards. ”

“ The former ship bore the brunt of the action on shore, the latter afloat, having no less than twenty-four shots in her.
September 20th. We have just heard from Yedo that after a long discussion the Council of State has issued the following instructions regarding raw silk:--“Hitherto raw silk, like any other article, has been allowed to find its way to Yokohama direct from the locality where it has been produced. But this direct conveyance has so enhanced the price of the article in question that the poorer classes (of Japanese) can no longer afford to purchase it for their use. ”

“ All retainers of Daimio and Hatamoto should make their application through their respective masters. Citizens and peasants shall make their application through their respective local Governors, and tax collectors, or through their landlords. ”

“ They are to sail on the 28th, and are to be followed by the English, Dutch, and American men-of-war.
In the evening it was reported that Prince Hitotsubashi has joined the Chōshiu faction, while Mito was said to be lending succour to the Yashu Rōnin. The Governor of Kanagawa has called upon the people to suspend all amusements for seven days on account of the troubles at Kiōto. ”