The Doshisha

A Letter to Mrs. Flint

The following letter was written to Mrs. Orilla Flint, a neighbor of Neesima's when he lived in Andover and attended Phillips Academy. In it, Neesima discusses his concerns about his relationship with the Japanese government.

                                                                 Andover 
                                                              March 21, 1871

I saw Mori [Arinori], Japanese minister sent to Washington from Mikado, at Boston a week ago last Wednesday. He told me if I write a letter to the Japanese government stating briefly who I am, what I have been studying in America, and also my intention for returning home, he will forward it to the government and get a passport for me. He told me also the present internal movement among the higher classes concerning Christianity. They begin to see a vast difference between Protestant and Catholic religions. Though the government forbids the people to embrace Christian truth, yet I trust it will open the country to Protestant missionaries within a few years. I am afraid that Mori, the Japanese minister, will pay up to Mrs. Hardy for what she has expended for me so far, because he asked Mr. Hardy to give him a list of all the expenses which have been spent for educating me. I fear Mr. Hardy will give him its list, and if he receives the payment from Mori I shall be bound up to the Japanese government by that sum of money. I would rather remain a free Japanese citizen and consecrate myself wholly to my Master's business. I hope to see Mr. Hardy very soon and talk over the matter with him. I hope the Lord will give us a wise and prudent thought for deciding this matter.