Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I received a letter from Higashi Kuze Chinjio, announcing that the (Kioto) Mikado had been crowned in that city. No date nor particulars of this coronation festival or ceremony have been furnished.
The acting Mikado of the north is now seldom mentioned, probably because he strictly confines himself to his spiritual functions.
The Kioto Mikado’s visit to Yedo appears to have been postponed, though it is quite possible it may soon take place, as a strong pressure to bring it about is evidently being brought to bear upon those who have charge of him.
Tranquillity prevails in Yedo. A few days ago a small fight took place in a Daimio’s residence in the rear of our legation buildings, on which occasion between twenty and thirty men were killed.
They are said to have been robbers. Small fights of that sort are now of frequent occurrence.
With the withdrawal of the Tycoon’s government the police arrangements became disorganized and the force disbanded. Numbers of vagrants and vagabonds, taking advantage of this state of things, prey upon the industrious citizens, and perpetrate those murders and [Page 833] robberies; and this is likely to continue until a government strong enough to check their depredations shall make its reappearance.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.