Chap. XV. 
241 
CHAPTER XV. 
assassinations — Supposed causes — The innocent suffer for 
— Japanese desire for revenge — Midnight attack on 
Legation — The scene next morning — Supposed 
attack — Document 
Opinions of Japanese 
Instigators known — 
Its translatioi 
True reasons for the attad 
f government — Causes of 
On our arrival at Kanagawa we were startled by 
the intelligence that H. B. M. Legation at Yedo 
had been attacked the night before by a band 
of loonins,* and that the lives of Her Majesty’s 
Minister and his staff of assistants had been in the 
greatest danger. From the assassinations which 
had taken place on several occasions, both at Yedo 
and at Yokuhama, since these places had become the 
residences of foreigners, human life was generally 
regarded as being somewhat insecure. And what 
made matters worse was the fact that no one could 
give any satisfactory reason for these murders. 
True, it was reported that Mr. Alcock’s servant, 
who was one of the first victims, had given offence, 
by his arrogance and overbearing manner; the 
murder of two Russians was attributed to a Ja- 
panese official, who, with his family, was degraded 
• Outlaws, or disgraced retainers. 
