ABSTRACT
Prince Tokugawa Keiki placed his resignation in 1868 in the hands of his imperial master and counselled the adherents of the Tokugawa house to unite with those of the Southern clans in efforts for the well-being of the nation at large. Some idea may be formed of the scale of magnificence on which the feudal system inaugurated during Iyeyasu's tenure of the Shogunal office was based from the subjoined table of the barons' revenues. The Choshiu baron remained obdurate, and in pursuance of his hostile attitude towards foreigners, and presumably with the idea of embroiling the Shogun's government with Western powers, he persevered in the practice of firing on such vessels as attempted to pass the Straits of Shimonoseki. That mission was successful inasmuch as the opening of Kobe-Hiogo was postponed until the 1st of January 1868, and the British Government gave assurances of its unwillingness to take any steps that might embarrass the Government of the Shogun.
