394 



JAPAN. 



were only about 1,500 strong. The southern- 

 ers were repulsed. The attack was renewed 

 the next day, and the Takugawas were entirely 

 routed. Half of Yeddo, including two large 

 temples, was burned. 



At Tichino, about 18 miles south of Osaca, 

 a terrible battle was fought between the forces 

 of Aidsin and Satsuma, in which the latter was 

 defeated with heavy loss. Satsuma and^ Cho- 

 sin were deserted by several other Daimios, 

 and subsequently Ohosin himself declared his 

 intention of withdrawing from the contest, 

 and ordered his generals to return home and 

 remain neutral. 



In August, it was reported that the northern 

 party had appointed a new Mikado, Oeenp Mia 

 Sama, uncle of the other Mikado, and chief of 

 the seven Mias or High-Priests of Japan, whose 

 residence on the 5th of July had been attacked 

 and burned, and who after that affair had fled 

 in disguise to Prince Aidsin. A proclamation 

 was issued by several northern princes, stating 

 that they did not desire to supersede the 

 other Mikado, but that the appointment was 

 simply made to have a head for the northern 

 party. 



In September, an outrage was committed 

 against M. von Brandt, the Prussian charge" 

 d'affaires. As M. von Brandt was returning 

 home in his carriage, from the Saibansho (Gov- 

 ernment-House), while passing the escort of 

 Higashi Kusen no Ohiojio, Minister of Foreign 

 Affairs, the leading Yakunins of the escort 

 attacked the carriage suddenly. M. von 

 Brandt, in the most energetic manner, pro- 

 tested against this gross insult, and demanded 

 the most complete reparation. The Govern- 

 ment of the Mikado apologized, and made the 

 demanded reparation. 



On September 14th, the representatives of 

 the foreign powers were officially notified, 

 by a communication from the first minister 

 of the Mikado, that the latter would at 

 once establish his residence at Yeddo, which 

 henceforth would be the second capital of the 

 empire, and be called Tokei (the Eastern cap- 

 ital). At the same time an imperial decree 

 placed in the hands of a new functionary the 

 government of the thirteen provinces, most of 

 which were still at war against the Mikado, 

 and requested the Daimios of these provinces to 

 send delegates to Yeddo, who were to receive 

 th"ere permanent employments. 



The official gazette of Kioto published the 

 draft of a constitution, providing for the con- 

 centration of the executive, legislative, and 

 judiciary power in the hands of a political body 

 to be called Daijokan. 



On November 6th, the Mikado became of 

 age. In honor of the event, the British troops 

 in Yokohama attended a general parade, and a 

 march past took place before two of the Mika- 

 do's representatives, Higashi Kuze and the 

 Sanyo Oudaisho, governor of the northern 

 provinces. Sir Harry Parkes was on the 

 ground, and after the review the Japanese no- 



bles accompanied him to the British legation, 

 where a sword, sent out by the British Gov- 

 ernment, was presented to an officer of the 

 name of Nakai, as a mark of honor and reward 

 for his gallantry on the occasion of Sir Harry 

 Parkes's being attacked, on the 22d of March, 

 at Kioto. On the same day, November 6th, 

 Prince Aidsin concluded a capitulation, which, 

 it was expected, would end the war. The 

 Tycoon had retired to his private possessions 

 with all the people who wished to follow him. 

 Those who were willing to take employment 

 under the new government were retained. In 

 December, Prince Aidsin arrived at Yeddo, and 

 was received by the Mikado and the Daimios 

 with great honors. On the 6th of December 

 Hakodadi was captured by a land force of the 

 northern Daimios, which had not yet laid 

 down their arms, and was cooperating with 

 the fleet under the command of Ennomatto, the 

 admiral of the late Tycoon, Stotsbashi. There 

 seemed, however, to be a general desire to 

 make peace. Stotsbashi himself was invited, 

 by a council of the Daimios, to return to Yeddo, 

 and aid in the reorganization of the Govern- 

 ment. On December 15th, the removal of the 

 people of the Tycoon from Yeddo was com- 

 menced. Some thirteen jthonsand were to be 

 sent to the Tycoon's new province of Shirai- 

 dizu. The ship King Philip was chartered, 

 and made one trip to the province, carrying 

 thirteen hundred and fifty passengers. The 

 Japanese Government sent official notification 

 to the representatives of the foreign powers, 

 that Yeddo and Nagato would be opened to 

 foreign commerce on January 1, 1869. This 

 time the Government kept its word, and the 

 opening took place on the appointed day. The 

 Mikado, in December, issued an edict, ordering 

 the decapitation of all the inmates of a dwell- 

 ing in which a conflagration originates, wheth- 

 er accidentally or otherwise. 



A proclamation from the Mikado announced 

 that peace reigns throughout the empire. 

 Aidsin justified his opposition to Satsuma and 

 the southern princes. All seemed progressing 

 favorably for the southern cause. The north- 

 ern princes openly disavowed the conduct of 

 Admiral Ennomatto in storming Hakodadi and 

 seizing the vessels of the Mikado. No north- 

 ern army was in the field at the close of the 

 year, and the southerners were disbanding 

 their troops. The attack and capture of Hako- 

 dadi was conducted by European officers, the 

 southerners offering little resistance. Admiral 

 Ennomatto had issued stringent orders to seize 

 and confiscate foreign vessels carrying troops 

 or stores. Many breaches of neutrality by for- 

 eign vessels had occurred. 

 . The Tycoon's brother arrived from Paris on 

 the 16th Of December, and soon after had an 

 interview with the Mikado. It was reported 

 he had been intrusted with a mission of peace 

 to his brother. The financial troubles of the 

 Government of Japan were great, and paper 

 currency was freely issued. The foreign mer- 



