Letters and Journals, with the Narrative of His Escape

July 15, 1871. If I stayed on this hilltop several mornings I should be inspired by the revelation of wonderful nature and write at least one or two verses of poetry which might make my name immortal. But, alas, un-genious man! I cannot compose even one verse on this single morning. I have no skill to describe the grand scene with a figurative language. I am like a practical Yankee and my remark is wonderfully plain. I have no inspired mind or pen, as see the following: —

Arise, O sleepy sun. Do not tarry, O lazy sun! For on a top of Berkshire hills I am standing1, Standing alone, and for thee I am waiting.

Andover, September 17, 1871. Since I returned here I was intending to write you again, but I have been unusually busy these past two weeks and unable to describe to you my journey still farther. I had very rich experiences on my journey, and would be glad to narrate to you some of them, but I will not undertake to do it just now. On my return here I found a letter from my old teacher, and was informed by him my brother's death. He did not describe how he died, but simply informed me his death. He advised me to come home, for my father would be very lonely without me. Having been informed by a Japanese student who entered into Phillips Academy this term that there is a Japanese at Boston Highlands who came from Yedo very recently, and was once a pupil of my old teacher, accordingly I went to Boston about two weeks ago to see him, in order to ascertain by what manner or by what disease my brother did die. But he could not give me any information about his death. I stopped with that Japanese friend two days, and had very enjoyable Sabbath with him and Mrs. Captain Taylor. I called on Mr. Hardy, Jr., in State Street on Monday to get a letter from home which he spoke of a few days previously.

The letter was from my father. He informed me more minutely about my brother's death. He was ill about three months and died last March. It is almost too painful to think of, how he died in his early age. It is still more painful to read my father's letter accompanied with his great grief and disappointment. It is a most shocking news to me and caused me great sorrow. Yet I can bear it wonderfully, for I do not bear it alone. I can say cheerfully and willingly, " Let thy will be done." I submit all my affairs to his hand, for He knows best and does all things for my good. But when I sympathize with my disappointed and comfortless parents I could hardly refrain myself from dropping tears. I wrote to him last week and sent him your own likeness. I hope it might be some comfort to him. It would please my father exceedingly if I go home immediately, but I feel I am no longer a property of my father. I have consecrated myself to my Lord, and also give myself up to the service of my country. If the Lord calls me to labor for Him in his vineyard, it is the highest and most honorable calling we could ever obtain on the earth. If the Lord desires to promote his glorious kingdom to Japan through me, a least and weakest vessel in his household, I will most cheerfully and hopefully submit myself to his will. I have a plow on my hands; I must work for my Lord. It is my earnest prayer for my parents that God should spare their lives until the light of truth and life will be preached to them. I thank God for what He has done for me always. Though I heard a sad news from home, yet He never does leave me comfortless.

I received a passport from the Japanese government, together with a letter from my old teacher. I hope you will rejoice with me, because it does seem me that the Lord is going to make my path plain.

I brought back quite a number of geological specimens from New York and Canada. They are my property. I feel quite rich now,

Andover, September 27, 1871. You have asked me to give you a translation of the passport sent from the Japanese government. I think I will take the passport with me to Salem next week where I may expect to see you. I have several other papers sent to me with the passport; I will explain them all to you when I see you. I heard from my father again this morning. His letters have been sent to me by a private conveyance thus far, but his last letter came to me through the hands of the Japanese minister of foreign affairs. He says in his letter that, in the first part of last May, the government did send an officer to his prince to inquire whether there was such a man by the name of Neesima in his home who disappeared in such a time. He went away having ascertained everything. A few days after that a paper was sent to him and its contents was as follows: " It is permitted by the government to Neesima Shimeta to remain and study in the United States of America.' ' I am sure it must have given my poor father a great gratification. He did not know thus far how I should get home safely, knowing that I broke the law of the country by running away, and was expecting me to come home secretly as I did run away. Now he knows that I can go home safely and at any time, and desires me to come as soon as I can. He thinks I am ordered by the Japanese government to stay in America several years longer, and says it is to his highest honor that his son's name was made known to the court. But, says he: " Come home as soon as you can, and let me look at your facf, once more, and then I shall be satisfied. For I am getting old and my stay on the earth may not be many years. If 1 can see you once more it is enough. I shall let you go back to America hence to stay as long as you might. If your stay in America can be of some benefit to my country, I am willing to let you stay there until you can complete your study; but please remember your poor father } and let him look at your face once more before he dies." Dear sir, it is pretty hard plead to me. But as you know I have a plow on my hands; I cannot look back just yet. I think I will let my poor father wait till I will finish my study here. I will send to Mrs. Hardy one of my father's letters in which he expresses his greatest obligations to both of you. He says: " My language utterly fails to express my grateful feeling towards you. I have told my friends, neighbors, and even strangers, that how you " (myself) " have fallen into the good hands in America, and how you are supported and educated by your American friends these long years. Every one of them who heard of your fortune, and the kindness of your friends, says there is no such thing in their own country." Although I know that Mrs. Hardy has shown her kindness to me for her highest motive and worthiness, yet I hope that she will feel that she is somewhat rewarded by seeing my father's letter and receiving his greatest obligations expressed in it.

Andover, November 7, 1871. I believe I have not written to you since I saw you at Salem. I suppose you know what some old-school men say in regard to their trying to be perfect. They say we shall be perfect to-morrow or some future time. When to-morrow comes they will say the same and will never be perfect. So I have been deferring my writing to you thus far, saying, " I will do it tomorrow." When the next day comes I said, " I must read up Edwards on the Will, and also write an essay for our discussion," and deferred my writing to some future time. I have been attending Professor Park's lectures, and have got theory enough to be a new-school man, and have made up my mind to do or to be as I believe, that is to say: " I will do it now, this moment; I will no longer defer it till tomorrow." Though I have nothing particular to say, yet I should like to inform you something about my study. I am attending Professor Park's lectures and reading along with them. It may be the hardest year in the seminary, because it requires so much close attention and thinking. My study reminds me my trip to White Mountains. It was rather hard for me to climb up the mountains, but the grandeur of surrounding scene excited my ambition and aspiration to go up still higher so that I might get better view of wondrous nature. So I have just begun to take my most delightful trip in the intellectual and spiritual fields. It is not my question how far my destiny may be, but simply go as far as I can and do as much my strength permits, leaving all my future in the hand of Him who sees all the affairs of the universe from the endless to the endless.

Boston, February 16, 1872. I am requested by the Japanese minister to come to Washington to inform the Japanese Embassy about the system of American education. So I have been studying it since last week. It gives me plenty to do. I will go to Washington as soon as the apanese Embassy arrive there. I expect to stand up for Christ before the heathen embassy; I think it is a good opportunity for me to speak Christ. I wish you would make special prayer for me, and also for the embassy.

Georgetown, D. C, March 8, 1872. I arrived at the capital safely yesterday morning and was cordially received by Mr. Mori. I found myself very tired when I arrived, therefore I did not go to the hotel where the embassy are, but went directly to the Japanese Legation and asked the minister to put me in some quiet private family. He was very kind to me and told me to lie down in his house, but I could not sleep at all for there was so much confusion. In the afternoon the American private secretary of the minister secured a good place for me in Georgetown only two miles from the capital, not far from his own house. Mr. Mori requested me to come to Arlington House this morning. I went there at the set- tied time and saw the Minister of Educational Bureau of Japan. Twelve Japanese students in the States were summoned to meet him to give him some advice. The power was granted them to make any motions or give any advice to him, and the motions would be carried by the vote of the majority. When they went in the parlor to meet him, they made the Japanese bow to him; but I was behind them, standing erect at a corner of the room. Some time before this meeting I handed a brief note to Mr. Mori stating my present relation to you, and asking him to distinguish me from the rest. Mr. Mori stood for me very favorably, and told the Commissioner that he must not rank me among the other Japanese; for I have been supported and educated by my Boston friends and have not yet received a single cent from the Japanese government. So he had no right to treat me as a slave of the Japanese government. " At my request," Mr. Mori said, "Mr. Neesima came here, not as a bondman, but with his kindness to give you some advice concerning education. So you must appreciate his kindness and willingness to do such a favor for you. As Mr. Neesima has such a relation to his Boston friends, he cannot commit himself to the Japanese government without their consent, neither has the government any right to lay claim on him, or to command to do this or that, but the things ought to be done by a contract between him and you. Fortunately he has three weeks' vacation, and will do some good service to you if you treat him as a friend. He is a lover of Japan, but not a slave." This speech pleased the commissioner exceedingly and made every one in the room to look at me. When he noticed me standing erect he asked Mr. Mori whether the corner- stander was Mr. Neesima. When he ascertained that it was he stepped forward from his seat, shook my hand, and made a most graceful yet most dignified bow to me, asking me to be a kind friend to him. He bowed himself 60° from the perpendicular. So I made like bow in return. 1 could not help laughing within my heart that a behind or corner-stander was so honored by him in the room. He gave me an order to be an interpreter to him when he goes around the country to examine the schools, and to tell him all about your school system. I told him if I am ordered to do this I would rather refuse it, because he should distinguish me from the others who received aid from the government; but if I am requested to do this for a certain compensation, I would gladly do any favor for him. The commissioner told Mr. Mori to treat and receive me exactly as I requested of him.

It was voted to meet to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock. During the meeting the students made several motions,«but I did not vote or say anything, in order not to place myself on the same platform of the rest. When the meeting was dismissed the others made 30° bow from the perpendicular to the commissioner, without shaking his hand. But he came to me and asked where I reside and requested me to call on him privately. He then shook my hand and made 70° bow to me, wishing me for the improvement of my health. I could not help laughing at my being distinguished so much among the Japanese, for I have never thought myself that I was something, and have always desired to keep myself unknown from the public. So when I went to the parlor I stood at a corner keeping myself behind the rest, standing erect and not bowing, desiring to keep my right. I am glad to say I kept my right and my right was granted to me. I wish you would rejoice with me at this triumphant hour, for I am a free man, a free man in Christ. I could not help thanking you through whose aid and means I have attained this liberty. I know your prayers have been answered now, but pray on still. I do not care for the esteem of men, but only wish to remain a humble child of God.

I suppose you would not object of my spending this vacation with the embassy, if I take a good care for my health. I have not seen Iwakura, the chief ambassador, but had a pleasant interview with his secretary, who was a friend of two of my best Japanese friends at home, and found out all about them.

My boarding-house is very near where some Japanese girls are staying for the present. I saw two of them yesterday. One of them is about fifteen years of age, and another is only eight years old, the second daughter of my old schoolmate, who is now a prominent officer in the country. She is a little cunning and acute thing I ever saw. I had very pleasant conversation with them and dined with them too. They don't understand what the ladies in the families speak to them; so when I go there to see them they are delighted to see me, and ask me ever so many questions. They feel so friendly to me, and are not afraid to ask me questions, for I told them I shall be very sorry if they do hesitate to ask me anything. Though I do not preach to them, yet I am teaching them some moral principle in a pleasant way. So I think they would not take me as a lover of girls, though I call on them so often, but a kind instructor, because they make such graceful Japanese bow each time when I speak to them. I am so thankful that I can do some service to them.

Georgetown, March 10, 1872. Yesterday morning I went to the legation to attend the meeting of the Japanese students. I found there the twelve who were summoned to Washington. They are divided into two parties. One half of them is called the upper party, and another half the lower party. As I had obtained, or rather kept up my right, to remain a free Japanese citizen, the Commissioner of Education and Mr. Mori agreed to hire me during my vacation and pay me so much for my service to them. I at once accepted it, because I thought you would not find any objection to my doing so. The object of our meeting is to make statutes for the Japanese students who are supported by the government in the foreign countries. I am a member of the upper party. You must know I am a free member, and can withdraw myself from it at any time. Several topics for discussion were given out by Mr. Mori. The parties divided the topics and met in different rooms to discuss their own topics. This morning we met together and brought our separately discussed topics into the general assembly. The commissioner was appointed our chairman, but he did not appear this morning. I rather suspect that he is somewhat afraid of us, because we, the students in this country, are the true democratic. We do not hesitate to say anything. Last Saturday we made a petition to the chief ambassador to grant us a power to make a statute by the vote of majority, and when it is passed we may order it even to the Commissioner of the Educational Department. So we have more power of making statutes pertaining to students in the foreign countries than the minister himself. The topics discussed to-day may not interest you much, therefore I will not write you about them. My principal mission is to write an essay on " The Universal Education of Japan." I think it is a most important mission. It will be handed to the embassy and probably may be some service for opening the country to the light of truth and life. Pray for this untiring soldier of the blessed cross, for I feel my active battlefield has come within my sight. I am ready to march forward, not asking whether my powder is dried or not, but trusting simply and believing only that the Lord of Hosts will help me to do my duty.

Mr. Mori is ever friendly to me.