The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-28 00:00:00

THE OUTRAGE IN JAPAN.

(From Me Friend af China.)

A good deal of indifferent logic has been ex-
pended lately in an endeavour to prove that Mr.
Alcock was wrong in leaving an d Mr. Harris right
in staying at Jeddo after the assassination of Mr.
Housken, the interpreter. Our opinion always
ran that Mr. Alcock was right and Mr, Harris
decidedly wrong, and events are showing that this
is the correct view of the case. It may be, indeed,
that had Mr. Harris made common cause with the
foreign Ministers who joined Mr. Alcock, we should
not now have to tell of the attempt to massacre the
British Legation at Japan on the night of the sth
ultimo.

Fortunately a body of soldiers arrived in time to
drive the would-be assassins away, but not before
Mr. Oliphant, Secretary of the Legation. had re-
ceived some severe wounds, and Mr. Consul G. S.
Morrison was cut in the head. By whom the gang
was raised for effecting these murderous deeds has
yet to be discovered. No doubt but they will be
traced, and on the discovery we may feel sure that
the ramifications of the anti-foreign party at Court
will be laid bare, and great good result. Indeed, it
wanted something of this kind to enable Mr. Alcock
to carry the matter home, and bring a permanent
and beneficial change in our relations with the
Japanese empire.
The story of the assault is briefly as follows :
A band of about twenty spent the day at a tea-
house in the vicinity of the British Minister's
quarters, and between nine and ten o'clock, when
" all hands" were in the arms of Morpheus, they
drove in the door of the grounds and entered the
house. Two of them, one in armour, then ap-
proached the quarters of Mr. Consul G. S. Morrison,
but being seen by his servant he was warned in
time to get a sword and pistol before the assassins
came up. Mr. Oliphant having heard the noise,
rushed out of his room with a hunting-whip only,
and was immediately assailed by one of the two
spoken of, who gave him a severe gash on the
right shoulder. Hearing Mr. Oliphant cry out, '
Mr. Morrison drew aside the screen of his
room, and found himself face to face with
the miscreants, one of whom he shot dead;
the other he fired at, bat the ball glanced off
the armour; the Japanese, in return, cutting Mor-
rison across the head, and again wounding Mr.
Oliphant in the wrist. At this juncture Mr. Wirg-
man and Mr. Reginald Russell approached, and,
though they were unarmed, their appearance had
the effect, it would seem, of inducing the band to
retreat, bearing with them the body of the Japa-
nese shot by Mr. Morrison, which, however, they
only took into the garden, where they were met by
Japanese soldiers and driven away, five being killed
in the affray, and seven of the Japanese soldiers
wounded.

The day after the affair Mr. Alcock addressed
the following circular letter to the other resident
Ministers :

"Her Majesty's Legation, Yedo, July 6.
" Sir,—Last night, between 11 and 12 o'clock,
the British Legation was suddenly attacked, and an
entrance effected at several points simultaneously,
by armed bands of Japanese, said by some to be
Loonins, and by others the Prince of Mito's men.
Two of the members of the establishment, Mr.
Oliphant and Mr. Morrison, were met in a passage
and both wounded, the first I am sorry to say very
severely, when a momentary diversion was effected
by a shot from Mr. Morrison's revolver, which ap-
pears to have taken effect. A few minutes later
the same or another division of the assassins sought
to effect an entrance to the apartments occupied by
myself, by breaking through and hacking in pieces
some glass doors opening on to another suite, having
mistaken their way. To this alone, under Provi-
dence, we probably owe our lives, for several
minutes was thus lost to them, at the end of which
some of the Yaconins or Damio's guard appear to
have come to the spot, and the assailants were
finally driven out of the house, after having pene-
trated into nearly every room except my own,
leaving traces of their presence by slashing at all
the beds and furniture. Marks of blood were found
in various directions, and a prolonged conflict took
place outside in the avenue and approaches to the
Legation with the officers and men on service.

Such a deed of atrocity, perpetrated in the capital
of a Government to which foreign representatives are
accredited by the Western Powers needs no comment.
I only feel it a duty to communicate to my col-
leagues the facts for their guidance and informa-
tion, and to acquaint them that, as a temporary
measure, I have ordered up her Majesty's ship
Ringdove, and caused a guard of men to be I&nded.
What measures it may be expedient to adopt for
the further security of this and the other Legations
in Yedo, and the maintenance of those international
rights and immunities so grievously attached,
becomes a serious consideration, and one the press-
ing importance of which cannot well be overlooked ;
but on this part of the subject I shall be glad to
enter into further communication with you and the
rest of my colleagues, should you feel disposed to
favour me with your views.—l have, &c.,
" RUTHERFORD ALCOCK."