s. You monopolize the import and export duties
completely, and we had a right to suppose that those duties which,
according to your statement and those of your financier Harisoo,
would enrich the Japanese nation, ought to cover expenses such as
building fortifications and buying men-of-war, which you say must
inspire the barbarians with the respect due to our country. But
what have you done for the last three years? What has been the
tenor of all your despatches? Japan must be fortified,
fortifications must be built, the artillery and navy increased.
Money is required. If we could only see those fortifications,
those men-of-war, we would complain less about expenses; but
everything is proposed and nothing executed. You think that
drawings and plans will scare foreigners, and cause them to flee
from our country; but we doubt it, for they really equal us in this
art. You sometimes talk to us about political economy; we candidly
own you give us excellent advice; unfortunately we have numerous
proofs that you do not follow the precepts that you give us. Why
was such an incredible sum of money spent for all the vain and
useless pomp which accompanied the sister of the mikado on her
journey to Yedo, preparatory to her marriage with the tycoon? Why
was so much money wasted in rebuilding the palace of the tycoon? We
shall not mention the various ways in which the public money is
wasted, as this would cause the nation to blush, and the mikado to
mourn. As you always remind us of the great principles of political
economy when you demand pecuniary supplies, pardon us for making
the following remarks. Owing to the troubled state of the country,
the presence of the daimios at Yedo was formerly very necessary.
Now, this is not the case at present, and still our lords are
always travelling to and from the capital. The personal fatigue,
the vexation, the expense of the immense retinue which always
accompanies them, can no longer be supported.

'The time has come that these ruinous journeys should cease, and
the lords of Japan declare themselves unable to defray the expense
which you impose upon them. As foreign trade has nearly ruined us,
and as fortifications and numerous other unforeseen expenses are
deemed necessary in all the parts which have been opened to