A PRISONER IN RUSSIAN HANDS 189 
Linnet , Albatross , and Zephyr. As we had not been 
sent away, the doctor brought back my letter. 
The next day I informed Lieutenant Abaza I 
would like to call on the British Admiral, and, no 
objection being made, I went on board, and over a 
glass of sherry and a biscuit told him my tale of woe. 
When I finished, he said : 46 Well, I was expecting 
this visit from you. I have seen the Governor, who 
told me all about the affair, and spoke of you in a 
very kindly manner, and I think, from what he said, 
that when your schooner arrives she will be given 
back to you, and you will all be able to return to 
Japan in her.” 
I told him I was afraid, from what I had privately 
heard, it would not be so, and that Russian official 
machinery worked so slowly that probably months 
would elapse before the affair was settled, in which 
case, as the port would be closed by ice early in 
December, we should not be able to get away until 
the spring. I then asked if he could not use his 
influence in a friendly way to get things put through 
quickly. He replied that he did not see how he 
could do anything ; he merely came there on a visit 
of courtesy, and as the officials and people always 
received him and his ships very cordially, and gave 
them the best of times, it would be very awkward 
for him to attempt to interfere, and so on. With 
this I had to be satisfied, and took my leave. Next 
day I sent my skipper on board to tackle the Admiral, 
but with no better result. 
I then wrote out a vigorous protest, and sent it 
in to the Russian authorities, and a written statement 
of the whole affair was sent to the British Consul at 
Yokohama by the Zephyr , which was about to leave 
