Ernest Satow (now H.E. the Rt. Hon. Sir Ernest Satow, K.C.M.G.), who, after the engagement that followed, and again after the bombardment of Shimonoseki in 1864, was specially mentioned by the Admiral in his dispatches. But, even with the squadron anchored in the bay, written and oral communications failed to exact the required satisfaction. The Prince admitted that it was wrong to murder, but urged that it was equally wrong for the Government to make treaties rendering it possible for foreigners to meet him when on his way to Yeddo. He did not offer to pay the indemnity; and as to the murderers, he pointed out that one and all of the retinue when the murder took place were equally guilty. Blame could not be fixed on individuals, it would be easy to hand over two convicts condemned to death, but that would be deceit The journey to Yeddo was to conciliate the two Courts at Tokio, not for murder!'

The result was that on August 25 a portion of the squadron, under Captain Balare, in H.M.S. Pearl, went to a bay north of Kagoshima and seized three steamers owned by the Prince-namely, the England, 759 tons, the Sir George Grey, 492 tons, and the Contest, 350 tons. The Pearl also seized five Loo-Chu junks. The steamers were lashed alongside H.M.S. Coquette, Argus, and Racehorse. At noon the batteries opened fire, and the squadron, having to form in line for attack, the prizes were burnt. Until fire was opened many batteries were hidden. The Perseus, in which the writer was serving, found herself close to a masked battery from which a heavy raking fire was poured. Her Commander, A. J. Kingston, an officer trusted and beloved by all, was on board the flagship, but the first lieutenant, Clayton, acted with great judgment and promptitude; he slipped the cables and managed to get a broadside to her, thus avoiding what might have been almost a massacre. As the drum beat off for action and the young officers left a midday meal to go to their guns, a round shot passed through the ship, knocking away the table and passing through a midshipman's sea chest. A shot through the foremast soon followed, then one through the waist, and boom boat, knocking off both legs of a little powder boy. Then, the Commander having returned to his ship, the Perseus was directed to engage the batteries, and so was in action before line of battle was formed. Engaging by alternate broadsides she was struck on her quarter, near the screw, by a spent raking shot; this shot was buried in the timbers and afterwards found to weigh eighty-four pounds. Other shots, too, found their

billets. Leading the squadron soon after, the Euryalus was heavily punished, one shot taking off the heads of Captain Josling and Commander Wilmot. These two distinguished officers were on the bridge, and the same shot which killed them narrowly grazed the Admiral and the Master, W. H. Parker. A live shell shortly afterwards burst on the main deck, killing many. But by dark the batteries were practically silenced, and the squadron anchored under Sakura Sima. All, however, was not yet over. A report had reached us that fire junks would be drifted across the bows of the ships, and an attempt made by a number of junks to board. The report may or may not have been true; in any case, a heavy gale-almost a hurricane-blew at night, which alone would have frustrated any attempt at firing or boarding. Still, as it was, the crews slept at their guns, and hoses for discharging boiling water on boarders were in readiness. Meanwhile, the heavy wind having carried the shell from the squadron over the batteries, the town beyond was now an enormous blaze-a sight probably never exceeded in its solemn grandeur.

On August 16 the squadron weighed anchor and passed in line between the batteries of Kagoshima and Sakura Sima, shelling the palace of the Prince and certain batteries which had not been finally silenced. An anchorage was taken up to the southward of the island, and as a result of two days' action the Admiral reported: 'The capital in ashes, foundries destroyed, steamers burnt.' The casualties in the British squadron amounted to 23 killed and 47 wounded. The flagship Euryalus was the greatest sufferer, losing 10 killed and 21 wounded. As regards the enemy's armament, as far as could be ascertained there were 11 Japanese batteries mounting 58 siege guns, 11 field guns, and 12 mortars-total 81. Most persons in those days were of opinion that any attack on Japan would be met by bowmen or spearmen supported by men armed with matchlocks. Many men now will learn with surprise that the Japanese at that time not only possessed quite up-to-date artillery, but handled their guns with skill and bravery.

In December the indemnity demanded was paid by the Prince of Satsuma, who, however, adhered to his former reply as to surrendering the murderers. In the British House of Commons a vote of censure on the British Admiral was defeated. This vote blamed him for the burning of the town and the presumed loss of non-combatant life. As a matter of fact, as has since been admitted by Japanese writers, ample time was given for all women

and children to leave the town. The first shot was fired by the Japanese, and the burning was due to shell being diverted by a hurricane.

A happy year for the squadron followed the events recorded, the ships spending most of their time at Yokohama, Nagasaki, and Hakodadi. A line regiment, some marines, and an Indian regiment of Baluchis had been quartered in Yokohama for the protection of foreigners. Nevertheless, and in spite of precautions taken by the Japanese Government, from time to time Europeans were murdered outside the settlement. Reports of intended attacks on the settlement by Daimios were frequent, but the attacks did not come. Trouble, however, was fast brewing. The Straits of Shimonoseki, the entrance to the inland sea of Japan, form a narrow deep-water passage, by using which the distance to Northern Japan from China and the South is materially lessened. The sides of the channel were heavily fortified. One day there was great excitement in Yokohama caused by the arrival of a Dutch corvette (either the Medusa or Djambi) bearing outward signs in the shape of shot-holes and marks on her side of what on inquiry proved to be a gallant and successful passage through the straits under fire from the shore batteries, acting on orders from the Prince of Choshiou. In consequence of this, ships of different nationalities were sent to show their flag at Shimonoseki, not to attack, but to report if the various flags were fired upon. An international attack was planned against the Prince. The following overwhelming force assembled at Hima Sima in the inland sea:

British H.M.S. Euryalus, 35 guns; Tartar, 20 guns; Conqueror, 78 guns; Barrosa, 21 guns; Leopard, 18 guns; Argus, 6 guns; Perseus, 17 guns; Coquette, 4 guns; Bremen, 2 guns. The Euryalus flew the flag of Admiral Keyser, who was in supreme command; and on board the Conqueror was a battalion of Marines intended for the landing-party.

French: Semiramis, 35 guns; Dupleix, 10 guns; Tancrede, 4 guns. The Semiramis flew the flag of Admiral Jaurez.

Dutch: Metalen Kruis, 16 guns (carrying senior officer in command); Djambi, 16 guns; Amsterdam, 18 guns; Medusa, 18 guns.

American: The United States chartered the s.s. Takiang, and put on board an officer, a party of men, and a gun from the corvette Jamistoun. This in order that the American flag should be represented.

With a force of this magnitude success was a foregone conclusion: there was not, nor should there have been, much exultation on the part of the victors; but a brief account will bring out the Japanese courage in facing such odds, and individual acts of bravery on the part of the allies. The strength of the Japanese in artillery may be estimated by the following table of captured ordnance, but there appears to be no record available showing the strength in men, more especially the numbers that faced the landing-parties after the batteries were silenced.

In several narrow passes through wood or rocks were found a novel form of ordnance-namely, wide-mouthed wooden guns, the wood strengthened by woven or laced bamboo bands. These guns were charged with bags filled with small stones, and were placed in positions covering the passes, making very efficient weapons for the purposes intended.

On September 5 the squadrons took up position. The advanced squadron consisted of H.M.S. Tartar (Capt. Hayes); Dupleix (French); Metalen Kruis (Dutch); H.M.S. Barrosa; Djambi (Dutch); and H.M.S. Leopard. This squadron engaged from the Bay of Tanoma. The light squadrons, composed of H.M.S. Perseus (Commander Kingston); Medusa (Dutch); Tancrede (French); H.M.S. Coquette, and H.M.S. Bremen, took the batteries in the flank. The firing began at about 2 P.M. By 5.30 it was supposed that the shore batteries were silenced. At dusk a gallant landing

was made by Captain Kingston and Lieut. Pitt, with men from the Perseus, followed by Captain de Casembrook and Lieut. de Hart of the Medusa. This party spiked nearly all the guns, rendering them useless should the enemy return during the night; and for this exploit the officers who led the party were mentioned in dispatches, Lieut. Pitt as having rendered 'gallant and valuable services.' The value of the work done by the landing-party became apparent on the next day, when the Perseus, covering the landingparty, and driven by a strong eddy current, took the ground under the batteries and lay at times almost out of the water till midnight of the 7th. Had the guns not been spiked this brave little ship might never again have floated.

On September 6 some of the batteries again opened fire, but were silenced. In the afternoon a large force of seamen and marines landed with a view to driving back the Japanese forces prior to dismantling the batteries. The Japanese stood well, but not for long, as might have been expected, seeing that they were facing highly trained men armed with the latest rifles. Midshipman Duncan Boyes carried the colours far in advance, the coloursergeants having fallen and the colours having been many times pierced by bullets. For this service he was awarded the Victoria Cross, a similar decoration being conferred on two of his supporters -Thomas Pride, Captain of the Afterguard' (a seaman's rating then existing), and William Seeley, a seaman. In the two days' fighting there were 12 killed and 60 wounded.

On September 8 an envoy from the Prince of Choshiou sued for peace, and terms were arranged. The guns were taken away by the allied fleet, and found various destinations. One heavy gun and one mortar may still be seen on Southsea beach near the Clarence Pier. On the carriages are inscriptions placed by the Portsmouth Corporation, stating that the guns were captured at Yokohama-where not a single shot was ever fired, and which was never even seen by the guns! This error, often pointed out, has apparently seemed too insignificant for correction.

To sum up, these bombardments produced far greater results than could have been anticipated. They marked a complete turning-point in the history of Japan. They tended, in the words of Count Ōkuma, from whose work, Fifty Years of New Japan,' the extract standing at the beginning of this article has been quoted, 'more than anything else to disillusionise the misguided seclusionists of their fatal errors.'