When the rebellion occurred in Kagoshima, he wrote a letter to Hirofumi ITO and expressed his opinion that they would be able to easily wipe out the rioters, saying "I think that this rebellion has the aspect of good fortune in an unfortunate event and I am laughing at this rebellion in my sleeves".
鹿児島が暴発したときには、伊藤博文に対して「朝廷不幸の幸と、ひそかに心中には笑いを生じ候ぐらいにこれあり候」と鹿児島の暴徒を一掃できるとした。