Despatches were published on Saturday containing Earl Rus- sell's 'instructions
to the Charge d'Affaires in Japan, Colonel Neale's report of the proceedings against the Prince of Satsuma, and Admiral Kuper's account of the destruction of Kagosima. They are most unpleasant reading. They prove that Earl Russell ordered Colonel Neale to demand from the Daimio the " capital execution" of his own father, the murderer of Mr. Richardson ; to shell the Prince's palace " if advisable," and to seize the Prince's steamers ; that the Admiral threatened the Japanese envoys with the destruction of their town ; that on the 14th of August he ordered the steamers to be taken away ; that the Japanese opened fire ; that after shelling the batteries and the town, the fleet went out of fire for the night; that at dusk the factories, junks, and storehouses, were set on fire by the Havoc ; that the next day the Admiral withdrew his squadron, shelling as he retreated the palace and the town, which had been burning for hours. Those are the blank facts taken from the despatches, and their meaning can scarcely be misapprehended. The officials in Japan though right as regards the batteries, and justified by orders as to the palace, have as regards the city exceeded their instructions, and inflicted on the reputation of Great Britain a heavy wrong.
