DANGER OF OPENING YEDO. Chap. XVII. 
with the greatest danger. I have already shown 
the character of the population that crowds the 
streets of this city, — idle retainers from all parts 
of the country, full of prejudice against foreigners, 
always armed with sharp swords, and ready to use 
them upon the slightest provocation, or with no 
provocation at all. Against these men and their 
masters the Government itself would seem to he 
almost powerless. “Both the American treaties 
were inaugurated by the death of the reigning 
Tycoon who signed or sanctioned them, the first 
by the sword and the second by poison. One of 
the royal brothers was deposed and exiled, and 
the Regent of the kingdom was slain in revenge 
for this act by the Prince of Mito’s followers.” * 
A city like this would, therefore, be a most 
unsafe place for a number of foreigners, full of life 
and high spirits, with customs and manners very 
different from those of the Japanese, and which 
the latter, oftentimes, can neither understand nor 
appreciate. In such a place life and property 
would always be insecure, and it is not unlikely 
that, sooner or later, a general massacre might be 
attempted. With these things before our eyes, — 
believing the Government to be anxious for our 
safety, but to be almost powerless, feeling its 
weakness and dreading the future, are we pre- 
pared to incur the risk of opening Yedo, or to 
punish the Government if it fails to protect us ? 
It seems idle to talk of holding the Government 
* Mr. Alcock’s despatch to Earl Russell. 
