The distinguished diplomat Sir Ernest Satow's retirement began in 1906 and continued until his death in August 1929. From 1907 he settled in the small town of Ottery St. Mary in rural East Devon, England. He was very active, serving as a British delegate at the Second Hague Peace Conference in 1907 and on various committees related to church, missionary and other more local affairs: he was a magistrate and chairman of the Urban District Council. He had a very wide social circle of family, friends and former colleagues, with frequent distinguished visitors. He produced two seminal books: A Guide to Diplomatic Practice (1917, now in its seventh revised edition and referred to as 'Satow') and A Diplomat in Japan (1921). The latter is highly evaluated as a rare foreigner's view of the years leading to the Meiji Restoration of 1868. This book in two volumes is the last in a series of Satow's diaries edited by Ian Ruxton. This is the first-ever publication.

The distinguished diplomat Sir Ernest Satow's retirement began in 1906 and continued until his death in August 1929. From 1907 he settled in the small town of Ottery St. Mary in rural East Devon, England. He was very active, serving as a British delegate at the Second Hague Peace Conference in 1907 and on various committees related to church, missionary and other more local affairs: he was a magistrate and chairman of the Urban District Council. He had a very wide social circle of family, friends and former colleagues, with frequent distinguished visitors. He produced two seminal books: A Guide to Diplomatic Practice (1917, now in its seventh revised edition and referred to as 'Satow') and A Diplomat in Japan (1921). The latter is highly evaluated as a rare foreigner's view of the years leading to the Meiji Restoration of 1868. This book in two volumes is the last in a series of Satow's diaries edited by Ian Ruxton. This is the first-ever publication.

This volume consists mainly of letters exchanged between Sir Ernest Satow (1843-1929) and his former subordinate John Harington Gubbins (1852-1929) in their retirement, from 1906 to 1927. There are also some letters from Satow to the Japanese art collector and businessman the Hon. Henry Marsham (1845-1908) in the period 1894-1907. An expert foreword by Dr. J.E. Hoare, formerly of HM Diplomatic Service and a teaching fellow at SOAS, is included. Volume I consists of Satow's correspondence with William George Aston and Frederick Victor Dickins, and is mainly on Japanology. Volume III consists of Satow's correspondence with Lord Reay, on international law and the social, political and economic situation in Europe and the UK before, during and after World War One.

The scholar and diplomat Sir Ernest Satow was the best-known Westerner who lived in Meiji Japan. Although he rose to become British Minister to Japan, the most interesting part of his career was the start of it, when he witnessed, and in a small way influenced, the fall of the Bakufu and the Meiji Restoration. He wrote an account of this in a memoir called A Diplomat in Japan, published in 1921. Satow was, however, both Japanophile and Sinophile. In 1906 at the age of 63 he was ready to retire, although he would have accepted a return to Tokyo if it had been offered. The Peking post had been a demanding job with long and arduous hours. He chose to reside at Beaumont House, Ottery St. Mary, near Exeter partly because it reminded him of family holidays in nearby Sidmouth, and partly to distance himself from London and the Foreign Office. Though he was not offered another post, the Foreign Office appointed him one of Britain's representatives at the Second Hague Peace Conference in 1907. He was careful not to discuss his service with journalists, and gave the Rede lecture at Cambridge in 1908 on an historical subject, the career of the Austrian diplomat Hübner. Satow's participation at the Hague helped to launch his second career in retirement as a specialist in international law, which was very much tempered with history in his case. Satow found time post-retirement to join in local activities such as magistrate, at both local and county levels. He put down deep roots in the Ottery community and was buried in the churchyard. He often saw old Japan friends and his English family came to stay frequently. He was careful of his health, and went for frequent walks with his dog, and took holidays when he could. The editor has added extensive annotations and explanations to these diaries, making this book an indispensable reference work for students of Satow's life and times, as well as a snapshot album of rural England just after the turn of the century.

The diaries begin with Satow's journey home from his last diplomatic post in China. He travels via Japan, Hawaii, mainland United States and the Atlantic to Liverpool. In 1907 he attends the Second Hague Peace Conference as Britain's second delegate. He settles with some ease into rural life in Devon, keeping busy with local commitments as a magistrate, supporter of missionaries etc. and launching a major new career as a scholar of international law. The Foreword is by Professor Ian Nish of the LSE.

Nos. 1- include section "Books on Japan."