ABSTRACT
IN THE LATE AUTUMN of 1868 political events in Japan were no longer focused exclusively on Edo, saka and the lands of the south-western han; all of which could be easily visited by British sailors and diplomats. The Imperial armies had won important victories at Fushimi and Ueno but they had still not gained control of the whole of Japan. The last Sh gun had retired from the conflict but his supporters still mounted stubborn military resistance in Northern Honsh. 2 At this stage it was important for Britain to know the state of this civil war and its likely outcome.
