Letters and Journals, with the Narrative of His Escape

Georgetown, D. C, March 22 1872. I am greatly obliged to you for your kind consent to my request for my accompanying the Japanese Embassy to Europe. Since I wrote you on this subject I have been carefully and prayerfully considering on the question, but I could hardly know what should be the guidance of Providence. Your last letter gave me a clear decision, and made me feel and think that it may be a voice, not human, but from on high, to open the way to my active life or Christian labor. Though I do expect only to accompany him for a short time, yet I may possibly do some service for promoting Christ's kingdom in his heart, hence to Japan. So I would no longer doubt or hesitate, but say I will go wherever the Lord will direct me and do what I can for honoring and glorifying Him. When I wrote you my last letter I was almost inclined to refuse the Commissioner's offer and resume my study at Andover. But all my Japanese friends have encouraged me to go; Mr. Mori advised me to go, and Mr. Lanman, his American Secretary, told me not to lose such a golden opportunity. Professor Seelye told me " better go," and lastly you, whom I regard more than my own parents, gave me a consent to go. I will simply say " Thy will be done."

I am sure it will be gratifying to Mr. Tanaka, for he has been anxiously waiting for your reply since I wrote you my first letter on this subject. When I see him I will ask him to give me a note of stipulation to send me back to the United States before nextx September, or whenever I get tired of traveling, and will keep it as the sign of agreement.

I accompanied Mr. Kido, vice-ambassador, Mr. Tanaka, and General Eaton, and four other Japanese, to Columbia College yesterday morning, and had very enjoyable time, though it was busiest day I ever have had since I came here. I kept up talking partly in Japanese, partly in English, from 9 a. m. till 5 p. M. It was long eight hoars' pulling. We returned to Arlington House at half past eight. Mr. Kido invited General Eaton, my fellow - interpreter, and myself to dine with him in the room reserved for the chief ambassadors. I was sorry no blessing was asked when we commenced our dinner.

Mr. Kido is one of the strongest men in Japan, and has taken most prominent part in the last revolution of Japan in overthrowing despotic government of the Shogun, and establishing the new, healthier, and liberal government of the Mikado. His manner is very gentlemanly and agreeable. I had quite a chat with him at the table and behaved myself just as if I was talking with my fellow-students at the club of Andover. I have been resting to-day for preparing myself for the coming Lord's day; for if I overdo to-day I shall not be able to enjoy the service of the Sabbath.

We are going to leave Washington next week to visit the schools of Philadelphia and New York, and we may possibly reach the Hub of the universe within three weeks.

Washington, D. C, March 28, 1872. Since I wrote you my two last letters I have made up my mind to accompany Mr. Tanaka to the Old World. I am so grateful for your kind consent and best wishes for my success. I would not go abroad unless I feel it may be good opportunity to promote Christ's Kingdom to the heart of heathen nobleman and Japan. Mr. Tanaka is trying to finish visiting the schools and institutions so as to leave Washington within five days. He is quite anxious of seeing and knowing the.good American family life and wished me to inquire you whether you could find some private family at Boston where he could see and learn the true American life.

He has thus far stopped at the hotels. He told me also he does not care for seeing the grand style of American living, but the true national character. It is too much to ask you to accommodate Mr. Tanaka and your humble servant during our stay in Boston. If you could do it without causing you much inconvenience I am sure it will do him a great good. I have been telling him what you have done for me these seven years, since I began to room with him at the hotel. He is quite anxious to see you. I will leave the matter in your hands entirely. Please do it as you please and think the best to satisfy his wants. I think Mr. Tanaka is sharp enough to see the true pride and glory of America.

I believe that I have forgotten to inform you that I was requested by Mr. Mori to be present when Mr. Northrop had his first interview with the embassy. Mr. Mori asked many questions to Mr. Northrop concerning the national and universal education, for the embassy, and I took notes of Mr. Northrop' s plain and practical talking. Although I have not had much interview with the whole embassy, yet I am very well acquainted with Mr. Kido, who is the ablest man among them and the great friend of the universal education. I have seen him very often and told him my humble opinion concerning the national education. I told him it ought to be based on virtue. I am now at the hotel with Mr. Tanaka and have splendid opportunity to talk with him on the subject of true edution, i. e., the education of Soul. He was deeply impressed with my humble opinion a few nights ago and told me that all religions should be free, and the Bible should be studied by each student, not as a text-book, but a virtuous food. He could not yet see or say spiritual food.

March 29th. Yesterday Mr. Northrop, his daughter, and her friend Miss Page, accompanied us to Mt. Vernon. The weather was quite smoky in the morning, but the report of the weather said " fair," so we had much courage to start on our pilgrimage to American Mecca. While we were approaching the sacred spot the smoke was getting gradually cleared off and the sky was bluer and fairer. The breeze on the river was quite agreeable and charming. Finally we landed with hundred or more of our fellow-visitors. It was some time after one o'clock, so we sat on the front piazza of the general's home and took our lunches, which Mrs. Dr. Parker furnished for us. It tasted much better than splendid dinner which I had with embassy at Arlington House. After the lunch we went round the house and all the rooms. I saved a few leaves of that famous magnolia tree. Now I can proudly say that I have visited the Capital of the great republic and the tomb of the Father of Liberty.

We shall leave Washington next Monday. Will you be kind enough to drop a line to Professor Taylor to inform him what I am doing here and get excuse from him for my not coming back to the Seminary. May the Lord help me to keep myself very humble.

Boston and Albany Train, April 10, 1872. Since we left Washington I am rooming with Mr. Tanaka. I have kept up my morning and evening devotions in his presence. I become Sunday-school teacher to him. Of course he cannot read English Scriptures, but he has a copy of Chinese New Testament; he reads it in Chinese and I read it in English, and explain to him what he could not understand.

Though he is not a professor of religion, yet he is almost Christian in his heart. I trust God will bless my humble labor in a near while. Grace of God may save him from heathen darkness and make him a great instrumentality to promote his kingdom to Japan.

New Haven, April 30, 1872. Since we left Boston we have been just busy as we were in Boston. When we reached Amherst we tried to stay in Amherst Hotel, but Professor Seelye came after us and would not suffer us to stay there. He welcomed us to his home and gave us very kind attentions. Professor Seelye and President Clark took us to Holyoke Seminary in his carriage last Wednesday, and Mr. Tanaka enjoyed our visit there exceedingly. President Clark also took us to the Agricultural College and showed us what he has there. On Thursday we spent most t>f our time in Amherst College. On Friday we attended experiments on optical instruments, and on the same afternoon we were invited by Professor Seelye and Dr. Hitchcock to visit the Northampton Institute. The new method of teaching deaf and dumb was most marvelous thing I ever saw. The dumb can speak. We bid farewell to Amherst last Saturday and arrived in the City of Elms on the same afternoon. We went to the New Haven House and had a long rest until the evening. I called on Mr. Northrop, but he removed somewhere, and his new house could not easily be found. So I gave it up and thought I should wait until next morning. But he came after us with carriage the same evening and took us to PresideiVt Porter's house. We did not expect to find such kind hospitable friends everywhere. Mr. Tanaka sends his kindest regards to all, and also much thanks for your hospitality.

May 2d. I am in a great hurry and can scarcely think of what I am writing you, being so tired of visiting so many schools, and also horrified with the idea of my going to visit so many more places. Mr. Northrop is a most hasty gentlemen I very seldom meet. He crowd up a great deal within a short space of time. You may be interested to know how much we have seen during our brief stay in New Haven. Monday we visited Yale College, Cabinets, History and Art Gallery, and Sheffield Scientific School. Tuesday we visited Deaf and Dumb Asylum, one high school, Brown School, Insane Asylum in Hartford, one normal school in New Britain and State Reform Scho6l, and silver and gold plating factory in Meriden. Wednesday we were guests to the inauguration ceremony of the new governor of the State, riding in an open carriage nearly four hours. To-day we visited three public schools in this city. It has been pretty hard pull since we came here. Mr. Northrop is such a busy man and would not give us time to think. Though we have planned to leave New Haven for New York this afternoon, we are still detained by Mrs. Porter. She has been so anxious that we should take some rest before we go, and has persuaded us to remain here one day more. So I can have this afternoon for myself quietly and feel thankful to her for detaining us one day longer. President Porter is making a list of books for me which may be useful for my future labor, and has given us letters of introduction on prominent English gentlemen.

Since we were invited to your house we have found friends here and there, and feel so thankful to you for your first opening the pleasant home for us. It is so pleasant for me to be in such a Christian family as President Porter's. I am glad Mr. Tanaka had a good opportunity to see so many Christian families, and the ways and modes of Christian living.

When I left your home I was thinking to speak to you a great many things, and to express my innumerable thanks for your parental care and unceasing love to this poor and helpless runaway boy. After I was sitting at the dinner-table that afternoon, all my past life, my leaving home, my works during the voyage, my finding Mr. Hardy, and your unceasing kindness ever since, was reviewed in my mind just as the dishes and plates on the table were set before me. I felt so thankful for the kind providence of God as to lead me to you, the spiritual mother, and also I was so affected by the sense of gratitude I became entirely speechless. It may be the unfailing decrees of the Infinite Father that I should be sent to you, be cared for and educated by you for a special purpose, though I shrink with the idea of my littleness and un worthiness. So it is my constant cry to Him to guide, guard, and strengthen this untiring soldier.

New York, May 6th. Through Professor Seelye's effort we are received at Mr. William Booth's house. His father, Mr. W. A. Booth, took us yesterday morning to Mr. Stewart's store, Bible House, and Cooper Institute, and in the afternoon to Five Points, Newsboys' Lodging House, and the Times Office.

Dr. Booth, a brother of W. A. Booth, dined with £js last evening, and we had a very interesting conversation with him«

I ant- &lad to say that Mr. Tanaka is impressed with the result of Christian education by his visiting so many charitable institutions since we were in Boston. He does kneel now at the morning prayer with Mr. Booth's family, though I said nothing to him about his position of worship. I think he has an instinctive reverence to the Infinite Father. He is always re-membering your kindness and wishes me to send you his kindest regards. Please let me hear from you before you sail for Europe, and I will try to write you once more before next Saturday.

I have been working just hard as my strength permits, for I dislike to leave things in a half way. I have written many letters for Mr. Tanaka.

Good-by and also good-night to you all.