翻刻
初春中旬本月三日両度之
御懇牘捧領辱奉拝閲候如
尊命逐日和光御座候処倍
御堅勝被成御動履奉拝賀候
然は震災之末御取締就中
后庭向抔は容易ニ転換難相成
御坐候色々
御倡率ゟして綿衣麁服と相変し
右畢竟万事御復古之次第誠ニ
難有御国元ニも御厳粛之条々
追々拝承如尊諭御転福不遠
御事歟唯或説ニ余りニ瑣砕過き
又酷薄ニ近く候得は爾後窒礙【碍】
被行兼候のミならす却而ゆり戻し
崩れ候様之患ひ等は無御坐哉と申
評も御座候得共夫は兎も角も
第一着惟【帷か】邪之御美意モ知り乍恐
感喜之至奉存候扨都下大勢震災
之天戒ゟして転禍為福旨趣之
上書 列侯ニは越前侯御目附ニは大久保
右近将監等数人小役迄
之向抔も
御坐候由ニ候得共差立候御更張之詮は
相見へ不申瑣々たる衣服之制式位ニ而
万般は依然たる御模様ニ而殊更海防
向等之処も一向為差義も無御座折々世
評ニ候得は何事も御勘定奉行等中段
之筋ゟ相興り上段之国老辺りハ強而
建議等無之哉ニ承り兎角何も不足観ニ
様ニ御座候き惣而尤可寒心ハ紀州
一橋西城御養続一条時論紛々列侯以
下諸御役人ニ至迄二ツニ割レいまた扇
現代語訳
初春中旬、本月三日に二度にわたるご懇切なお手紙をお受け取りし、恐縮しながら拝読いたしました。お言葉の通り、日々穏やかでいらっしゃる中、ますますご健勝でお過ごしのこと、お慶び申し上げます。
さて、震災の後のお取り締まりについて、特に奥方様方面などは容易に変更することが難しい状況でございますが、様々なご提案により綿の衣服や粗末な服装に変更され、これは結局のところ万事復古の次第で、誠にありがたいことです。お国元でも厳粛な条々があり、次々と拝承しており、お言葉の通り転福も遠くないことでしょうか。
ただ、ある説では、あまりに細かすぎ、また厳しすぎるきらいがあるので、今後支障をきたすおそれがあるのみならず、かえって元に戻って崩れるような心配などはございませんでしょうかという評判もございますが、それはともかくとして、第一に帷幄の邪心のないご美意を知り、恐れながら感喜の至りに存じます。
さて、都下の大勢が震災の天戒から転禍為福の趣旨で上書しており、列侯では越前侯、御目付では大久保右近将監等数人、小役に至るまでの向きなどもございますが、際立った改革の効果は見えず、些細な衣服の制式程度で、万般は依然たる様子で、特に海防方面などの処も一向に差し支えもない状況です。時々世評では、何事も勘定奉行等中段の筋から起こり、上段の国老辺りは強いて建議等もないように承り、とかく何も物足りない観があるようでございます。
総じて最も寒心すべきは、紀州・一橋・西城の御養続一条で、時論紛々、列侯以下諸御役人に至るまで二つに割れ、いまだ扇
英語訳
In mid-early spring, on the 3rd of this month, I received your kind letter twice and humbly read it with gratitude. As you mentioned, while you are spending your days peacefully, I congratulate you on your increasingly good health and activities.
Now, regarding the administrative measures after the earthquake, particularly matters concerning the women's quarters and such are difficult to change easily. However, through various initiatives, there have been changes to cotton clothing and plain garments, which ultimately represents a return to ancient ways in all matters - truly a commendable development. In your domain as well, there are strict regulations, which I have been learning about one after another, and as you suggest, good fortune may not be far off.
However, according to one theory, there are concerns that being overly detailed and perhaps too harsh may not only cause future obstacles but might actually lead to a reversal and collapse. But regardless of that, knowing your pure intentions without ulterior motives fills me with humble joy and gratitude.
Now, many people in the capital have submitted petitions based on the principle of "turning disaster into fortune" following the divine warning of the earthquake. Among the feudal lords, the Lord of Echizen, and among the inspectors, Okubo Ukon Shogen and several others, extending even to minor officials, have been involved. However, no remarkable reforms are visible - only trivial clothing regulations, while everything else remains as before. Particularly regarding coastal defense matters, there seem to be no significant changes. According to occasional public opinion, all initiatives seem to originate from mid-level officials like the accounting magistrates, while the senior councillors apparently make no strong proposals, leaving everything seeming inadequate.
Most concerning of all is the matter of succession for Kishu, Hitotsubashi, and Nishinomaru domains. Public opinion is in turmoil, with feudal lords and officials at all levels split into two factions, and the situation remains unresolved like a fan...