146 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



Captain J. Abbot to the Governor General of the Philippine islands. 



United States Ship Macedonian, August 12, 1854. 



Sir: I am instructed by Commodore M. C. Perry, commanding the United States squadron 

 in the East Indies, to seek information from your excellency relative to the murder of two 

 American citizens, in the month of March, 1853, at the rope-factory at Santa Mesa. 



The fact of the murder is undoubted, and the friends of the deceased are naturally anxious 

 to know if the exertions of the police or other agents of the government under the dignified 

 command of your excellency have been able to identify the persons of the murderers, or to get 

 any clue which may throw light upon the dark tragedy. 



The United States consul tells me that many persons were arrested on suspicion of being 

 concerned in the murder, but that, according to his information, they have been liberated 

 without having disclosed anything which would point out the actual perpetrators of the deed. 

 He also informs me that it was proposed to your excellency's predecessor, General Urbistondo, 

 at the time of the occurrence, by the Americans resident here, to offer a reward of such sums 

 of money as might be thought adequate for such information as might lead to the discovery of 

 the assassins. His excellency declined to entertain the proposition ; but it is still the opinion 

 of the consul, and of the Americans generally liere, among whom is a brother of one of the 

 murdered men, that the truth may be discovered by offering a reward which will induce some 

 of those persons who have the information to betray their comrades. 



I have to beg that your excellency will give me such information as you may be possessed of 

 with regard to this subject, and inform me if it may be in accordance with your excellency's 

 ideas of expediency to permit the offer of a reward, as proposed by the consul, through the agency 

 of the alcalde or some other officer ; or if it would be more expedient that such reward be 

 offered directly by those more immediately concerned, the owners of the factory. 



Another object Commodore Perry had in view in ordering the ship under my command to 

 Manila, is to present to your excellency six natives who are believed to belong to some island 

 of the group under your excellency's government, they having been picked up by the United 

 States storeship Southampton, in the Pacific ocean, about one hundred miles from Point Engano, 

 the northeast point of Luzon. 



Enclosed I have the honor to present to your excellency a copy of the report of the com- 

 mander of the Southampton, addressed to Commodore Perry ; and I hold myself ready to 

 deliver the men to your excellency's order. 



As I am instructed to make my stay in Manila as short as possible, being in fact ordered to 

 meet the commodore at Hong Kong in the present month, I hope to receive your excellency's 

 reply at an early day, in order that I may have it in my power to report to my commanding 

 officer, Commodore Perry, the result of my mission. 



I propose to sail on the evening of the 16th for Hong Kong, and I hope to arrive in time to 

 place letters in the mail which will go out on the 22d. And I take this opportunity to offer 

 my services to your excellency, with the assurance that any mails or despatches which may be 

 confided to my charge shall be carefully delivered. 



I have the honor to be your excellency's most obedient servant, 



JOEL ABBOT, 

 Captain United States Navy. 



His Excellency the Governor General of the Philippine Islands. 



