Chip. XV. SUPPOSED REASONS FOR PT. 249 
from the Ministers, gravely to felicitate me on my 
escape and return to Yedo, praying me to accept 
a basket of ducks and a jar of sugar in token of 
amity ! Your Lordship will, I am sure, not blame 
me, that I desired the messenger to take his pre- 
sents back with him, and tell his principal I 
desired justice and redress, not ducks or sugar, at 
the hands of his Government.” 
When the news of this attempted assassination 
reached us at Kanagawa and Yokuhama, the sen- 
sation created, both amongst natives and foreign- 
ers, was very great. Who were the loonins, and 
who or what had induced them to attempt the 
commission of such a fearful crime ? Mr. Alcock 
and M. de Wit had just come overland from Osaca, 
although the Government had begged them not 
to do so, and warned them of the danger of such a 
proceeding at the present time. Great offence 
had been given, it was said, by their visit to one 
of Prince Fizin’s coal-mines, although the road to 
it had been blocked up by a bamboo fence with a 
guard of soldiers behind it. It was also rumoured 
that a dispute for precedence had occurred on the 
road with a Daimio, who happened to be met 
travelling in a contrary direction, although it now 
appears from Mr. Aleock’s despatch that he had 
given way to the great man, and for his politeness 
had been almost pushed into the ditch ! As these 
reports were spread about, it was the opinion of 
many that this overland journey, in some way or 
other, had been the cause of the attack which had 
