Letters and Journals, with the Narrative of His Escape

Amherst, April 5, 1870. Having found myself quite comfortable I will write you a few lines. Since I wrote you my last letter I have been improving gradually and gaining strength. I began to go out of doors last Friday and walked to and fro in the front yard of Prof. Seelye's house, but to-day is quite cold and stormy, so I am obliged to keep myself quiet in my warm room. Though I feel almost well as usual, yet it does seem me strange that I cannot endure long while in doing anything. Though I get over my cold I have not enjoyed my health ever since; partly I had headache and partly I was nervous. Yet I was so much pressed by my duty, and kept up my study just much as I could. I never liked to complain for it, and kept up cheerfully my studies and my prayers till I was taken down entirely by this rheumatism. I never had such an ill health since I have been in this country. I fear somewhat if I continue my study in the beginning of next term as I did this term I may entirely break down. So I think it well for me to rest for a while and to get a renewed health. But you must not understand that I am getting tired of study. I am longing it and strongly tempted to begin it, like a starving wolf goes after his prey. Though I have been ill more than four weeks, yet I have not entirely wasted my time.

You informed me that you should send me up to Andover next fall to study theology for two years. When I left Andover you told me I should study two years in Amherst and a year in Andover. But I have been in Amherst a year longer than your fixed time, though in my sorrow I have wasted nearly the latter half part of this year by being sick so much. Now you are willing to support me two years more in Andover. It is a great offering to me indeed. I do not know how I could get along without it in my study. I appreciate your kindness very deeply in my heart, and hope indeed that your offering for me would be very productive hereafter.

" Through my sickness and pain I can have more sympathy with the suffering and dying Saviour, and by beholding Him on the cross I can bear all my pains and sufferings most cheerfully, rejoicingly; knowing that my Master has suffered a far greater pain than I do now for the salvation of the lost race. When I profoundly think of the plan of salvation I almost lose myself in its beauty and grandeur. Though I cannot use my body now, I can exercise my mind. I can think, pray, and glorify God through my suffering. Pray for me, not simply for my ill-ness, but that I may be ever submissive to the will of my Heavenly Father."

Andover, January 29, 1871. A letter which you forwarded to me last Friday is from my home. It brought me a sad news, that is, the death of my grandfather. The letter is dated on the 5th of last August, though his death occurred on the 14th of last July.

According to my brother's brief statement of his case I judge he died with cholera, which is a prevailing disease in the country. He was sick only four days, and died without much trouble, owing to his old age. He was then eighty-six years old. My brother says he was not sorry to go, for he lived long enough and has seen his grandsons grow up, and heard of what I am doing in America. But he would have more satisfactorily died if he could have seen me once more on his last day. For he has been talking of me so much in his late years and anticipating to see me with a great pleasure. Oh! he is no more with his friends. He has gone without hope in Christ. I dare say he was a most earnest and trustworthy man I ever saw among our neighbors. I trust God will judge him without law, for he lived without law. My prayers for him, and my translations of a few precious passages in the Scriptures, which I sent to him some time ago, have done some good to his soul. When he heard the news of my running away from Hakodate, he was sore afraid lest I should fall into a trouble, but when he heard that I am studying in one of the best American institutions he was overwhelmed with a great joy, and recognized that the people in the United States are far more liberal than his own people.

This news caused me a great grief. I would have broken down with a grief if I had not had my Saviour to sympathize with me in my affliction and help me to bear this cross. Pray for me that this affliction may be a means to bring me closer to Christ and to calmly repose myself upon his arms. I have a still more sad news to tell you, the death of our dear friend, Dr. Samuel Taylor. He died suddenly in the

Academy Hall when he went up to the morning prayer. May the Lord sanctify all these sad scenes to our souls. I suppose you and Mrs. Hardy will be present at Dr. Taylor's funeral, which will be on next Tuesday. Then let me have a pleasure of seeing both of you.

Andover, March 21, 1871. I saw Mori, Japanese minister sent to Washington from Mikado, at Boston a week ago last Wednesday. He told me if I write a letter to the Japanese government stating briefly who I am, what I have been studying in America, and also my intention for re-turning home, he will forward it to the government and get a passport for me. He told me also the present internal movement among the higher classes concerning Christianity. They begin to see a vast difference between Protestant and Catholic religions. Though the government forbids the people to embrace Christian truth, yet I trust it will open the country to Protestant missionaries within a few years. I am afraid that Mori, the Japanese minister, will pay up to Mrs. Hardy for what she has expended for me so far, because he asked Mr. Hardy to give him a list of all the expenses which have been spent for educating me. I fear Mr. Hardy will give him its list, and if he receives the payment from Mori I shall be bound up to the Japanese government by that sum of money. I would rather remain a free Japanese citizen and consecrate myself wholly to my Master's business. I hope to see Mr. Hardy very soon and talk over the matter with him. I hope the Lord will give us a wise and prudent thought for

Andover, June 7, 1871. Three weeks ago yesterday I was invited to Amherst by the Japanese minister, who brought a young Japanese to Mass. Agricultural College to study the mode of American farming. I spent two days with him at Amherst and had very pleasant time. He treated me very gentlemanly and paid all my traveling expenses. The main idea of his inviting me is that he was intending to establish schools at home after the American system and desired me to take charge of it. I encouraged him to do so, though I did not give him any definite answer for my taking charge of it — for it is woe to me if I do not preach the gospel of my blessed Master.

Amherst, June 13, 1871. Since I returned here I attempted to rewrite my letter to the Japan government for obtaining a passport, for in my first letter I did not say that I have embraced Christian faith, but simply mentioned what I, am studying at Andover. I did not even say that I am studying theology, but mentioned that I am studying the true secret of the progress of civilization. When I saw the Japan minister at Amherst I told him that I would not go home concealing my Christian faith like a trembling thief goes in the dark night under the fear of discovery, but go there as a Christian man walking in a Christian love and doing things according to the light of my conscience. I told him.

furthermore, that if I write to him I would rather make known to government my new and healthier religion. But he said he did not know whether it would be safe for me to do so or not, but I might trythat. But after a still more careful investigation I found it would not be desirable for me to make known my being here openly, for if I do so perhaps I will receive an order to do some service or to study a certain thing. In such a case I cannot conveniently refuse it, for if I do the government will no longer be friendly. While I am, studying I do not wish to be hindered by the government's affairs. As I understand that you are willing to keep me still longer, I would rather receive the Christian's willing and cheerful gift than that of the government, which will bind me as a slave. Yet I will try to keep up a friendly relation to the minister at Washington, so that when I get ready to go home he might be some help to me. So I am decided not to write to the government till I am about ready to go home. I used sometimes to do things without much circumspection, though I was very successful in certain things. But with regard to the above case I shall be pretty careful, for my all future success may depend on this single action. I shall wait entirely on the providential guidance.

When I came out from the prayer -meeting re-cently I saw a grand display of northern lights. While I was watching the change of streams of light, and also gazing upon those innumerable bright stars twinkling in the blue dome, I thought of the hymn, " Nearer, my God, to thee," and thought that if, through the grace of God, I am permitted to fly on joyful wing onward and upward, leaving the sun, moon, and stars behind me, how grand my feeling might be.

The vacation will begin two weeks from next Thursday. I don't know what I should do this summer. I am partly tempted to read or study, and partly to take a trip somewhere to collect the mineralogical and geological specimens.

Andover, June 21, 1871. I received yours of yesterday, and am very thankful for your kindest offering for my wants for the vacation. I am desiring to take a trip to Niagara Falls, Trenton Falls, Utica, and some other places to collect fossils and minerals. I had an invitation from one of my college chums who lives near Utica to come there and spend a few days with him. I feel rather delicate to ask you to furnish my wants for going so far, but I also believe I shall be benefited by it very much, and I also expect to study geology and mineralogy practically. Perhaps I may give lectures on Japan here and there and may get my expenses paid partly.

Evans Mills, N. Y., August 18, 1871. I fear you may think I have forgotten to write to you. But if you read on you will know the reason why I have not written thus far. Since I began my journey I have had no fixed abode, and consequently I have scarcely found time to sit down to write letters or read. When I stopped with my friends I was a kind of novelty to them because they have never seen any Japanese. I was invited out to the dinners and tea, and was asked by them so many questions. At the same time I have kept myself -busy geologizing.

When I went to any friendless places I was obliged to lodge at the hotels. It seemed me so painful to pay so much that it would not do to hang around too long in such places. I hastened myself to see what I could see, and did not stay more than necessary for geologizing. Thus my time has been fully occupied with visiting, tramping, geologizing, and occasionally discussing with spiritualists and infidels. I thank God for giving me strength to meet with all his enemies without surrendering myself to them.

I went through the heart of New York State, crossed over Lake Ontario by a steamer, and am stopping with one of Andover theological students at Evans Mills. Oh, I wish I could have eloquence enough to write out all my happy and rich experiences during my trip. Notwithstanding the broken English and imperfect grammar, I will attempt to write you a brief sketch with this unskillful hand.

After I bid a farewell to my dearest Boston friends, I set my face towards the west. My first stopping - place was Leominster, where I spent five days with the brother of Captain Taylor, including a Sabbath. I spoke for him in the afternoon service. It was my first attempt to address before a large audience in a regular service. I spoke on the history of Japan, and recent changes and progress of the people, and addressed to the Sabbath-school in the evening, showing a few articles of Japan. It pleased the children very much. I think I got through it better than I expected to. My second stopping-place was my beloved Amherst, where I spent only two days and a half with Professor Seelye. I attended the commencement exercises and enjoyed them very much. My third stopping-place was Hoosac Tunnel. I went in from east side. The inside of it was very dark, damp, and chilly. I wore a woolen coat, and an oilcoat, in order to keep myself comfortable. I did not make any long stay in the tunnel lest I might be injured by the dampness and low temperature. I met the instructor of schoolship in Boston harbor at the tunnel, and accompanied him to central shaft. The men could not work at all in the shaft on account of much water, and were simply dipping out water by the means of steam-engine. It will be 1,030 feet deep when it is completed. I suppose you know all about the tunnel, but please let me draw for you a section of the mountain to illustrate the tunnel. I passed the night on that wild romantic mountain. I rose very early the next morning, breakfasted hastily, and left at half past four o'clock. The morning air was so cool and the mountain breath so very gentle, yet invigorating, I might take a double quick to go over the mountain. But the scenery was so grand, splendid, and beautiful, it made me to stop my feet every five or ten minutes. The morning dawn awoke up those sleepy birds on the mountain tops to sing melody for a lonely traveler. The white and silvery fog arising from every valley appeared like the Mer de Glace on the Alps. Although I was alone I found many companions round about me, on my right, left, above, and beneath. Everything in nature seemed to welcome me, and joined me in praising the Maker of all things. I was alone, yet not alone.

I reached North Adams some time before six o'clock. I felt somewhat afraid to go to the place so early in the morning lest I might be taken for a " heathen Chinee." But I went in and came out from the place without any difficulty. I paid a visit to those

Chinese in the shoe-factory. They could not speak English at all, except their leader Ah Sing. When I went in there they took me for a Chinaman, but I could not understand them at all. So I took out a piece of paper and asked them to write down their questions. The first question was: What part of China did I come from? My reply on the paper was: " I am not from China, but from Japan. I came from Yedo, the capital of Japan, and am studying now the words of God, intending to preach the crucified Saviour to my countrymen." This reply surprised them in no less degree. I wrote down still further about the love of Christ. They seemed quite intelligent, and one of them said Jesus Christ was the Son of God. I wished to converse with them still longer, but they could not stop their work very conveniently. I went through their working shop, dining-room, and sleeping-room. They still keep up their own way of living and use the chopstick to eat rice with. They are very economical. They wash and mend their own clothes and cultivate the vegetables for their own use. I think they shall not be able to make money so fast as some Yankees can, but will accumulate it by steady and gradual process. They have neither so much aspiration or patriotic feeling as some of our young Japanese have, but they are simply contented with a few accumulations of the almighty dollar. On the other hand, the Japanese are not very anxious of making money, but are always craving after the knowledge and ideas of the western civilization. They don't do it simply for themselves, but it is their intention to elevate and enlighten their native friends. They love their own country and are willing even to give up their own lives for her. So if they love truth they would stand up for it as they would for their country. O, may our merciful Father give us power and grace to bear the blessed standard of Christ on that benighted shore, and proclaim the glad news of salvation to their despondent souls.

My fourth stopping-place was Troy, N. Y. I found there three Japanese students, and spent two days with them, including one Sabbath. They are not yet Christians, though they study the Bible and respect it as the word of God. I hope the free grace will cause them to be born in Christ. I had quite a talk with them and enjoyed it exceedingly. I stopped at Albany only four hours, visiting State Street, the Medical College, State Geological Room, State House, etc.

My fifth stopping-place was Kirkland, where I spent two weeks with my college chum, Mr. George Sutherland. Kirkland is a great centre of geological formation, and I made it a headquarters, spending many days in Clinton, Dansville, Oriskany Falls, Waterville, New Hartford, and Trenton Falls. Trenton Falls is a grand place to visit. Some people say it is not so sublime as Niagara Falls, but it is far prettier. The second fall is the best one. When I was ready to leave it began to rain quite hard. I stood in the rain and sketched the falls hastily.

I am requested to speak to-morrow evening, so I must stop my writing and plan out what I shall speak.