ロシア使節プチャーチン来日
ペリー来航の翌月、嘉永六年(1853)七月、ロシアの使節プチャーチンが、軍艦四隻を率いて長崎に来航。通商和親条約を結ぶよう、幕府に迫った。外国に対する備えは、日本の武器、兵力ではとても太刀打ちできないことは明らかである。アメリカの次はロシアや、イギリス・フランスも迫っているという。これら欧米諸国の事情も知らずに、戦うわけにはいかない。海外に行かずして解る訳はない。幕府があくまで、国法をたてに渡航を許さないならば、自ら行くまでのことである。ロシアの船に密航しようと松陰の腹は決まり、急ぎ長崎に向かった。長崎に到着したとき、既にロシア艦隊は出航した後で、失敗に終わった。
The arrival of Russian envoy Yevfimy Putyatin in Japan
In the following month of Commodore Perry's arrival in Japan, on July 1853 (the 6th year of Kaei era), the Russian envoy, Yevfimy Putyatin, arrived in Nagasaki with four warships in tow. He approached the Shogunate with the intention of negotiating a Treaty of Amity and Commerce.
It was clear that Japan's preparedness against foreign nations is far from sufficient in terms of weaponry and military strength. After the United States, it is said that Russia, as well as Britain and France, are about to come by.
Without understanding the circumstances of these western countries, it is impossible to engage in a battle. It is necessary to go abroad to gain such knowledge. If the Shogunate remains adamant and does not permit overseas travel based on national law, then I must go on my own. Shoin Yoshida decided to attempt stowing away on a Russian ship and hastily headed towards Nagasaki. When he arrived in Nagasaki, the Russian fleet had already departed, so his attempt ended in failure.