翻刻
島玉の浦肥前蠣ケ浦へ漂着し其他近日其藩近
海に於て五六隻の難破に遭ひ貴重の人畜産物
を海底に沈没せしむるも皆是堅牢の船無きか
致す所す所なれは
上にも深く憫然に 思食され蒸気船一隻下賜
せられ彼の受害難民の家には撫卹米をも賜興
せらるへけれは
朝旨の程厚く心得あるへし尚ほ他に内達の件
あれとも後日に付すへしとありけれは琉官は
篤と評議の上伺奉へしとて退散せり四月八日
琉官三名内務省に出頭し内務卿に面謁し前日
の内諭に対し奉答して曰琉球の国たる南海に
僻在し僅かに周廻百余里の小島にて従来寸兵
を備へす専ら礼儀を以て維持の道を立て外国
船来航の節も偏へに言辞の応接のみにて今日
まて無異に治り来りし事なれは今新に兵営を
設けられは随て外国も強迫し却て困難を生せ
ん蒸気船下賜の事誠に恩恵の厚き謝する所を
知らす但近年来他の事項に対し已に至渥の愛
顧を賜り官費の夥しき小国実に報ゆるに道な
現代語訳
島玉の浦や肥前蠣ケ浦へ漂着し、その他近日その藩の近海において五、六隻の難破に遭い、貴重な人畜や産物を海底に沈没させてしまったのも、皆これは堅牢な船がないことが原因である。
上（天皇）におかれても深く憐れに思し召され、蒸気船一隻を下賜され、かの被害を受けた難民の家には撫恤米をも賜り与えられるであろうから、
朝廷の御旨の程を厚く心得ておくべきである。なお他に内密に伝達する件があるが、後日に譲るべしとのことであったので、琉球の官吏は十分に評議の上で伺い奉るべしとして退散した。四月八日、琉球の官吏三名が内務省に出頭し、内務卿に面謁し、前日の内諭に対して奉答して言った。「琉球の国は南海に僻在し、わずかに周囲百余里の小島であって、従来寸兵も備えず、専ら礼儀をもって維持の道を立て、外国船来航の節も偏えに言辞の応接のみで今日まで無事に治まって来た事情であるから、今新たに兵営を設けられれば、随って外国も強迫し、かえって困難を生ずるであろう。蒸気船下賜の件は誠に恩恵の厚きもので、謝する所を知らない。ただし近年来、他の事項に対してすでに至渥の愛顧を賜り、官費が夥しく、小国として実に報いるに道がない。
英語訳
They drifted to Shimatama-no-ura and Karakigaura in Hizen, and recently in the nearby seas of that domain, five or six vessels met with shipwreck, causing precious people, livestock, and products to sink to the ocean floor—all of this was caused by the lack of sturdy ships.
His Majesty above also deeply feels pity for this situation, and will bestow one steam ship, and will also grant relief rice to the families of those disaster victims who suffered harm.
Therefore, you should deeply understand the profound intentions of the Imperial Court. There are other matters to be communicated privately, but these will be deferred to a later date." Having heard this, the Ryukyu officials said they would deliberate thoroughly and then respond, and withdrew. On April 8th, three Ryukyu officials appeared at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, had an audience with the Minister of Internal Affairs, and responded to the previous day's private instruction, saying: "The country of Ryukyu is located remotely in the southern seas, being merely a small island with a circumference of just over one hundred ri. We have traditionally maintained no military forces whatsoever, establishing our way of governance solely through courtesy and protocol. Even when foreign ships have called at our ports, we have managed peacefully until today through verbal negotiations alone. Therefore, if military camps were now to be newly established, foreign countries would correspondingly apply pressure, which would rather create difficulties. Regarding the bestowal of the steam ship, this is truly a profound act of benevolence for which we cannot adequately express our gratitude. However, in recent years, we have already received extremely generous favor and care regarding other matters, and with the enormous government expenses involved, our small country truly has no means to repay such kindness.