The Sun. — 1864-02-06 (London, England)

EARL RUSSELL TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL NEALE. (Extract.)  " Foreign-office, Nov, 10, 1863, "I have received and laid before the Queen your despatches dated Yokohama, Aug. 25 and 26. In my despatch of the 24th of Dec., 1862, I directed you to obtain reparation for the murder of Mr, Richardson, and the murderous assault on a lady and two gentlemen who, with Mr. Richardson, were riding on a public road open by treaty, and who drew up on the one side of the road to allow the relations from retainers of a great Daimio to pass. For this barbarous and unprovocked attack you were directedrequire Tycoon the payment of £lOO,OOO and an ample apology. You were further directed to require from a td o the Pt ince of Satsuma the execution of the actual murderers, and the payment of £25,000 as indemnity to the relatives of the murdered man and to the sufferers from the murderous assault. With respect to the Tycoon's Government, the demands you were instructed to make have been complied with. The sum of £lOO,OOO has been paid, and a satisfactory apology has been made by the Tycoon's Ministers. Her Majesty has been pleased, in testimony of the patience, good temper, and firmness with which you conducted this negotiation, to confer upon you the Companionship of the Order of the Bath. The accomplishment of the remainder of your instructions has been found more difficult. Ten months having elapsed without the trial, or even the arrest, of the murderers, you thought yourself under the necessity to ask the assistance of Admiral Kuper, and to proceed with him to Kagosima, the capital of the Prince of Satsuma. In your letters of August 1 and August 12, both delivered on the 12th, you communicated to the Minister of the Prince of Satsuma the demands you were instructed to make.. In the answer of the Prince of Satsuma, dated the 13th of August, it is stated that it isjust that a man who has killed another should be arrested and punished by death ; that if the murderers in question can be detected they shall be punished ; and that it is not right to impede the passage of a chief with a large body of retainers on a public road. These answers, in reference to a murder committed by the retainers of the Prince in full daylight, ten months before, upon a person who had not in any way impeded the passage of a public road, showed a fixed determination to afford no redress. Vice-Admiral Kuper then directed that three steamers belonging to the Prince should be taken and detained by way of reprisals. But before any further communication could take place, hostilities were commenced by the Japanese, and her Majesty's ships were fired upon from the batteries with shot and shell—an act which it became necessary immediately to resent. The steamers taken  many guns were dismounted exploded. It is much to be were burnt. The batteries were fired upon from: point blank range ; as the batteries were apparently alanmdevnatreidous gazthmata,ines situated in about the town, the consequence of firing with shot and shell upon the batteries and magazines shonld have been to set fire to the town, which Admiral Kuper says has been burnt. Many innocent persons have thus unfortunately been injured. At the same time it is obvious that if Admiral Kuper had not returned the fire of the batteries her Majesty's squadron would have suffered a defeat, and fresh murders of British subjects by the cruel and insolent Daimios would have been perpretrated. Her Majesty will express through the proper department her admiration of the gallantry of her naval forces. It is my duty to request you to express to the civil servants of the Crown who accompanied you her Majesty's approbation of their coolness and courage. Their knowledge of the Japanese language was no doubt of L great TAlue, both to you and to the nasal commander