Letters and Journals, with the Narrative of His Escape

This is the very first time here I see the clear blue sky and bright sunshine. I am feeling quite cheerful and stronger than ever before since my arrival here.

I went to the Legation this morning, to attend the meeting of the Japanese students. I stayed there some time to hear them speak, but their view was entirely impracticable, and I was not interested in such child's play at all. I excused myself before the meeting was dismissed and called on Mr. Eaton, the Commissioner of Education, who promised the Japanese commissioner to take him to a private female school only a short distance from his office. Then Mr. Eaton accompanied us, the Japanese commissioner, his two under-officers, and myself, to the school. Mr. Eaton introduced us to the lady teacher and then gave us seats. Very soon the exercises be- gan. One young lady was called up to read poetry, not only for us but as one of the exercises in the examination. She stood very gracefully and read it wonderfully well. Then they were examined on algebra. I do not think they were remarkably bright on algebra. After this was done another young lady was called up and read prose. She read it very well too. After the examination was over Mr. Eaton gave our cards to those young ladies. The names amused them very much.

After I had taken the noon lunch I called on General Babcock. He told me he had an American interpreter, and also finds several English-speaking individuals among the embassy, and as I have a hand full of work for the Japanese Commissioner of Education he would not call upon me for any service. He said also he would be very glad to introduce me to the President, but unfortunately he is out to-day. He asked me to call again, and sent an order to the usher to show me all the rooms and conservatory of the White House. I called on Rev. Mr. Rankin and had very pleasant conversation. He is an old Andover graduate and was glad to see one who came from the same seminary. He invited me to attend his service to-morrow. Thence I went to the Patent Office. I was perfectly bewildered by the grand sight of the collection. I did not take much pains to examine it, but simply went around and got some idea of wonderful Yankee ingenuity. I went to the office and obtained the last report.

I am thinking now to invite the Commissioner of Education to Mr. Rankin's Sunday-school. I suppose he will go there because he is so anxious of seeing the American institutions. The commissioner is very well educated man in our way and well acquainted with my old teacher. He feels very friendly to me and wished me to go to Europe with him to examine their school system. He knows my health is rather poor and advises me to take a short trip to Europe. He says if I should go there with him he would pay all my expenses and give me certain compensation for services. He would treat me as his friend, not as his under-officer, and would give me leave to return to America at any time. He says he would go to Europe as soon as he gets through visiting the schools in the North, and would start before the embassy proper, and take pains to examine the systems of England, France, and Germany. I told him plainly all my history, what poor fellow I was when I arrived at Boston; to what kind hands I have fallen; how I have been supported. I told him especially my great obligation to you, and that I am your minor and cannot decide on the matter without consulting with you. He was much pleased with my narration and wished me to write you soon as possible to get your advice, or rather permission. Mr. Mori told me the same thing some time ago. He says it is my choice; I can either accept or refuse. The embassy will respect me as a free Japanese citizen. He thinks it is a rare opportunity. I spoke it to several individuals here; they say it is my golden opportunity. I am much perplexed with this free and rare offering, and almost inclined to go to spend this spring and summer in Europe for my health, and also for widening my information. As I said before, I am your minor. I would not do anything unless I get your approval or consent. Please make consideration with your wisdom and sagacity and tell me what I shall do.

Sunday. The snowstorm has prevented me to go to Washington to attend Rev. Mr. Rankin's church this morning, so I went a nearest meeting-house I could find here, which was Methodist church. The service was very quiet and impressive. I was much pleased with the sermon. It was an extempore and simple sermon, yet very persuasive. It is very much different from the reading some cold and philosophical discourse which is spun out from some intellectual head, but not from warm pious heart.

Mr. Tanaka, the Commissioner of Education, re-quests me to move to Washington so that he might see me oftener. I think I will do so some time this week.

Georgetown, D. C, March 19, 1872. I visited the Patent Office and Smithsonian Institution with the Japanese Commissioner of Education to-day. Very kind attention was given us by the officers of the buildings, so we had better opportunity to see them than common visitors. After we got through visiting those places the under-officers returned to their boarding-places, but Mr. Tanaka invited me to dine with him. It was some time beyond my lunch hour, so I gladly accepted his invitation and dined with him at Arlington House. After the dinner I went to his room and spent nearly three hours in conversation on the subject of national education. I did not speak to him on the subject of religion thus far, but I could no longer keep down my burning zeal. I gradually poured out my humble opinion on the national education. It is impossible to write and give you all the idea that I spoke to him, but only in a condensed form. A nation or an individual shall need to be intelligent in order to be a good citizen. An intelligent citizen can be governed much better than an ignorant. But his intellect is not sufficient to control himself morally. If he has intellect only, and has not the moral principles, he will do more harm to his neighbor and society, than do them good. His sharpened intellect will be very much like a sharp knife. He may ruin his fellow creatures and also destroy himself. If such a ruinous person exert such a bad influence among his society, the hundreds and thousands of such will surely cause the ruin of a nation. Therefore there must be a moral principle to keep down such a ruinous intellect, for if a person has moral principle he can make right use of his intellect. Therefore the Japanese government must provide some means, or allow some person, to teach moral principles to the people. Education only is not sufficient to make men virtuous; neither intellectual nor moral philosophy is enough for it. I never knew any persons become virtuous by studying the philosophy of Plato or books of Confucius. But ' on the other hand there is a power in the Christian religion to make men free, vigorous, and virtuous. If a man loves virtue he indeed is a true man and does know how to take care of himself. If each Japanese knows how to take care of himself, the government shall not need setting detectives here and there throughout the country. If the whole nation love truth and virtue they will govern themselves, nor give or cause much trouble to the government. The strength of a nation is the strength of their virtue and piety. Some people make use of the Christian religion as a mere instrumentality, but if so his religion is not a true one.

There is truth in the Christian religion. We ought to take truth because it is truth, and not as a mere instrumentality.

Then the commissioner told me that what I said concerning the education and religion agrees with his view very much except one point. He said he knew something of Christianity, and has begun to appreciate its goodness and value more and more since he came to this country, seeing so plainly what the Christian people are doing here. He is almost awe-struck witn the schools, churches, and some charitable institutions supported by the Christian people or societies. Then he thought Christianity one of the best instrumentalities to govern a people or elevate a nation; but he said, " I do not know enough to say that we ought to love truth because it is truth, and not use it as a mere instrumentality."

As he said, he does not know truth enough. He is anxious to know of it to a fuller extent. He says the government has no right to interfere in any form of religion, for belief in any religion is in the heart and not in outward deeds. The duty of the government is to keep the people in good order, and it ought to let the religion be free to the people. Let them worship true God or heathen gods according to their consciences. If there is truth or goodness in one religion more than the others it will prevail after all.

I was exceedingly pleased with broad view on this subject, and felt so thankful for this new opening way to speak so freely. The commissioner is going to visit a deaf and dumb school to-morrow, but he gave me leave to rest myself, because he has one more Japanese interpreter beside me. He is very anxious to know whether you will permit me to go to Europe with him or not. I did not say much on the matter, only that I must depend on the decision of my patrons in Boston. If this is only opportunity for me to go I would rather do so and with Mr. Tanaka, for he is such a man of broad view. I may possibly do him some good, especially for promoting Christ's kingdom in Japan. If I do show him some favor, he might become a great help for my further labor. Please let me hear from you as soon as you can.

Georgetown, D. C, March 20, 1872. I wrote you this evening asking for your decision on my visiting Europe with the Commissioner of Education of Japan. Some time after mailing it I was carefully thinking of the subject, looking not simply on one side, but the other. I may be of some use to Mr. Tanaka, but if I become useful to him he may possibly lay a snare to catch and take me back to Japan, and make use of me for the educational purposes. If I once connect myself with the government I shall be its slave. Though I may do some good in doing so, yet it is not my predominant choice to commit myself to the hand of the government. I have already recognized the Sovereign King, the Saviour, as my lord and government, and shall not need any other government. Therefore it would be my best policy to keep myself free from the snares of the Japanese government. They may keep good terms with me; they may invite me with a word like honey, and treat me as a hired servant at first, and then they may gradually lay hold of me. I believe the commissioner is a perfect gentleman and would not treat me treacherously. Yet what I have said above is my Yankee speculation. There is some clanger and tendency of my trusting in other persons too soon, not thinking deep enough. But in regard to my future steps I must be pretty cautious. I must do what is noble, right, and true. As I have consecrated myself to the work of my Master, I must try to seek opportunity to discharge my duty to Him and my benighted fellow-creatures. I would rather preach or teach truth which is in Christ Jesus with the bread of affliction than to do any other things with the earthly luxuries, pleasures, and honors. Then the question is, What would be most advisable for me to do? It is a grand opportunity for me to visit Europe now. It is rather a sacrifice for me not to go. But though I may not go there yet I shall not lose very much, because I shall study theology at Andover. It is very hard matter to decide. Please give me your advice and guidance. If you say no, I will cheerfully obey your advice; and if you say go, I shall not decide it at once.

The Commissioner of Education of Japan will be in Boston within two or three weeks to visit the famous schools in the city. "Will you be kind enough to notify his coming to the city, and to those schools which you may think worth while for him to visit. If you do me this favor it will also be much gratifying to Mr. Tanaka.