Before reaching the bay of Yedo, sounding-spars had been rigged out from the end of the bowsprit of each steamer, from which depended sounding-leads, that were kept constantly going as well as the leadsmen in the “chains.” As previous knowledge of the water was rather defective, the ships proceeded in with caution. The sweep of the bay is a noble one, as you approach, and the morning being a clear and lovely one, every object, from the strange-looking crafts coming continually in sight, to the summits of the high shores, and bold bluffs, were sharply defined. Then too, simultaneously with our first sight of the nolli me tangere, we got our first sight of the mountain of Japan—Foogee Yama. Perhaps the incidents which transpired during our first short visit to Japan, can be better conveyed by giving them as jotted down at the time. July 8.—Ship cleared for action; fore and bow-rails and iron stancheons taken down and stowed away; ports let down, guns run out into position and shotted. Flag-ship made signal, July 9.—Still at anchor off the harbor and town of Uraga, each ship with springs on her cable. July 10—Sunday.—A number of boats came off and rowed around the ship; troops, apparently, collecting on shore. Japanese at work on a fort just opposite to us. Weather clear. The steep shores, well-wooded, looking fine as they are brightened by the sun-light. Evening—A whale blowed not far from the ship. Foogee Yama obscured by cloud. During the day, the capstan having been dressed as usual, and books distributed, the chaplain gave out the hymn, commencing commencing— “Before Jehovah’s awful throne, Ye nations, bow with sacred joy,” and with the aid of many of the fine voices of the crew, and the assistance of the bass instruments of the band, in sight of heathen temples, and, perhaps, in the hearing of their worshippers, swelled up “Old Hundred” like a deep diapason of old ocean. July 11.—By order of the commodore, the Mississippi was ordered to get under way, and stood up the straits, following slowly after our boats sent to sound the inner bay, to ascertain the practicability of reaching the capital, our present anchorage being twenty-five miles from the city of Yedo. Passed close in under the chief fort, on the point beyond which no “barbarian” ship had ever been permitted to go. Fort did not fire. On debouching we entered a magnificent bay, of great extent, bounded on its western side by picturesque slopes, bold bluffs, with here and there a village between them, deeply indented coves, and a well-wooded island, crowned with a three-gun battery, which on our survey chart was called “Perry island.” Our boats continued to sound ahead during the day, the Japanese guard-boats enveloping them and attempting to impede their progress by getting across their track, but attempted nothing further. Two little brass howitzers, on each of our forward guards, loaded with grape and cannister, would probably have caused some dancing among them if they had. On the east of us, on a long low sand beach, through a spy-glass could be seen an encampment of Japanese troops, near a breast July 12.—Governor of Uraga came aboard and urged Nangasaki as the proper place at which Japan could receive foreign communications. Commodore Perry replied that his government had sent him to Yedo, and that he would go nowhere else to deliver his letter. The Japanese officials then pretended to hold a conference ashore, and afterward brought off word that they would receive the letter at a point which they would make known. It was afterward arranged that the reception of the letter was to be by a high officer, sent from the capital for the especial purpose; the place, a bay below the town of Uraga, and that it would take two days for them to get up a building for the ceremony. They said they had selected this spot for its privacy, that their rabble population might not be present; and as the whole thing was without precedent with them, and against their laws;—also, probably, because they did not wish us to get a sight of their towns, or a nearer view of their forts. The governor and his two interpreters at this interview remained aboard some time, and were very observant of everything, and evinced more information than could have been expected. The engine-room astonished them, though with Japanese self-possession they concealed much. They laughed, and were untiring in their attention to cherry brandy. On being shown a daguerreotype, they immediately called its name. On a globe they pointed out Boston, New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, &c.; gave July 13.—Some little suspicion of treachery ashore; much conference going on among chief mandarins. Boats were sent from the ships to go and sound off the mouth of the appointed place, to see whether any of the ships could get in sufficiently near to cover and protect the landing of the boats; orders issued prescribing who were to compose the landing party; some will have to stay on board the ships; poor fellows! Bad day for Japanese to-morrow, if they attempt with us the treacherous game that they played upon Golownin:— “The Americans must not quit their wooden walls.”—London Press. July 14.—Bright and beautiful day. Much activity and preparation for the landing; boats being lowered away, percussion-caps distributed, and twenty rounds of ball-cartridges delivered to each man; of The place selected by the Japanese for the delivery of the letter, was a bay of some mile and a quarter in depth, surrounded by an amphitheatre of bold hills, its entrance being narrow, and defended by forts on either side. At the head of this bay, following the line of a crescent beach of black and white sand, ankle-deep, is the town of Gorihama. In the distance, with its veil of blue, and patches of snow, towering up fifteen thousand feet, shone the extinct volcano of Foogee. The boats, as they pulled in, presented a fine sight; the “flower-flag,” as the Chinese call it, waving gracefully from the stern of each boat; the bright muskets shining in the sun, and the epaulettes glistening. The landing was done in fine order, and with great promptitude, under the command of Major Zeilen, of the marine corps. Each man, as the boat touched the beach, jumped ashore, and took his proper place in line, which, when formed, presented a bold front, notwithstanding officers and men all told, it scarcely exceeded four hundred men; and A salute of thirteen guns from the flag-ship, which caused some little stir among the Japanese troops, who did not seem exactly to understand it, announced that the commodore and his immediate suite had left, in his Dr. Williams, of Canton, was present as interpreter of the Japanese language; although his services were not called into requisition. Mr. A.L.C. Portman, the commodore’s clerk, as it was most agreeable to the Japanese, acted as interpreter in the Dutch language. The floor of the chamber was covered with Everything being announced ready, and obeisance interchanged between the prince and commodore, beautiful rosewood-boxes, hinged, clamped, and clasped with gold, having inscriptions with German-text letters, let in with gold on their tops, which had been carried by side-boys, were then brought in, and displayed upon the chest. Mr. Portman opened them to assure the Japanese of the presence of the letters; and the interpreter was directed to inform the prince, which was done, one interpreter whispering to the other, that in the boxes were also translations of our president’s letter, in Dutch and Chinese. The credentials from the emperor empowering the prince of Idzoo to receive the letter, were then handed over by the prince, and taken charge of by the flag-lieutenant, MILLARD FILLMORE, President of the United States of America, To his Imperial Majesty, THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN. Great and Good Friend! I send you this public letter by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, and officer of highest rank in the Navy of the United States, and commander of the squadron now visiting your Imperial Majesty’s dominions. I have directed Commodore Perry to assure your Imperial Majesty that I entertain the kindest feelings toward your Majesty’s person and government; and that I have no other object in sending him to Japan, but to propose to your Imperial Majesty that the United States and Japan should live in friendship, and have commercial intercourse with each other. The constitution and laws of the United States forbid all interference with the religious or political concerns of other nations. I have particularly charged Commodore Perry to abstain from every act which could possibly disturb the tranquillity of your Imperial Majesty’s dominions. The United States of America reach from ocean to ocean, and our territory of Oregon and state of California lie directly opposite to the dominions of your Imperial Majesty. Our steamships can go from California to Japan in eighteen days. Our great state of California produces about sixty millions of dollars in gold, every year, besides silver, quicksilver, precious stones, and many other valuable articles. Japan is also a rich and fertile country, and produces many very valuable articles. Your Imperial Majesty’s subjects are skilled in many of the arts. I am desirous that our two countries should trade with each other, for the benefit both of Japan and the United States. We know that the ancient laws of your Imperial Majesty’s government do not allow of foreign trade except with the Dutch. But as About the same time, America, which is sometimes called the New World, was first discovered and settled by the Europeans. For a long time there were but a few people, and they were poor. They have now become quite numerous; their commerce is very extensive; and they think that if your Imperial Majesty were so far to change the ancient laws as to allow a free trade between the two countries, it would be extremely beneficial to both. If your Imperial Majesty is not satisfied that it would be safe, altogether, to abrogate the ancient laws which forbid foreign trade, they might be suspended for five or ten years, so as to try the experiment. If it does not prove as beneficial as was hoped, the ancient laws can be restored. The United States often limit their treaties with foreign states to a few years, and then renew them or not, as they please. I have directed Commodore Perry to mention another thing to your Imperial Majesty. Many of our ships pass every year from California to China; and great numbers of our people pursue the whale fishery near the shores of Japan. It sometimes happens in stormy weather that one of our ships is wrecked on your Imperial Majesty’s shores. In all such cases we ask and expect, that our unfortunate people should be treated with kindness, and that their property should be protected, till we can send a vessel and bring them away. We are very much in earnest in this. Commodore Perry is also directed by me to represent to your Imperial Majesty that we understand there is a great abundance of coal and provisions in the empire of Japan. Our steamships, in crossing the great ocean, burn a great deal of coal, and it is not convenient to bring it all the way from America. We wish that our steamships and other vessels should be allowed to stop in Japan and supply themselves with coal, provisions, and water. They will pay for them, in money, or anything else your Imperial Majesty’s subjects may prefer; and we request your Imperial Majesty to appoint a convenient port in the southern part of the empire, where our vessels may stop for this purpose. We are very desirous of this. These are the only objects for which I have sent Commodore Perry with a powerful squadron to pay a visit to your Imperial Majesty’s renowned city of Yedo: friendship, commerce, a supply of coal, and provisions and protection for our shipwrecked people. We have directed Commodore Perry to beg your Imperial Majesty’s acceptance of a few presents. They are of no great value in themselves, but some of them may serve as specimens of the articles manufactured in the United States, and they are intended as tokens of our sincere and respectful friendship. May the Almighty have your Imperial Majesty in his great and holy keeping! In witness whereof I have caused the great seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed, and have subscribed the same with my name, at the city of Washington in America, the seat of my government, on the thirteenth day of the month of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. Your Good Friend, By the President. Accompanying this letter was one from Commodore Perry, merely repeating the language embraced in the instructions from the secretary of state:— To His Imperial Majesty, THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN. The undersigned, Commander-in-chief of all the naval forces of the United States of North America, stationed in the East India, China, and Japan seas, has been sent by his government to this country on a friendly mission, with ample powers to negotiate with the government of Japan, touching certain matters which have been fully set forth in the letter of the President of the United States; copies of which, together with copies of the letter of credence of the undersigned, in the English, Dutch, and Chinese languages, are herewith transmitted. The original of the President’s letter, and of the letter of credence, prepared in a manner suited to the exalted station of your Imperial Majesty, will be presented by the undersigned, in person, when it may please your Majesty to appoint a day for his reception. The undersigned has been commanded to state that the President entertains the most friendly feelings toward Japan, but has been surprised and grieved to learn that when any of the people of the United States go of their own accord, or are thrown by the perils of the sea, within the dominions of your Imperial Majesty, they are treated as if they were your worst enemies. The undersigned refers to the cases of the American ships ‘Morrison,’‘Ladoga,’ and ‘Lawrence.’ With the Americans, as indeed with all Christian people, it is considered a sacred duty to receive with kindness, and to succor and protect all, of whatever nation, who may be cast upon their shores; and such has been the course of the Americans, with respect to all Japanese subjects who have fallen under their protection. The government of the United States desires to obtain from that of Japan, some positive assurance that persons who may be hereafter shipwrecked on the coast of Japan, or driven by stress of weather into her ports, shall be treated with humanity. The undersigned is commanded to explain to the Japanese that the United States are connected with no government in Europe, and that their laws do not interfere with the religion of their own citizens, much less with that of other nations. That they inhabit a great country which lies directly between Japan and Europe, and which was discovered by the nations of Europe about the same time that Japan herself was first visited by Europeans; that the portion of the American continent lying nearest to Europe, was first settled by emigrants from that part of the world; that its population has rapidly spread through the country until it has reached the shores of the Pacific ocean; that we have now large cities, from which, with the aid of steam-vessels, we can reach Japan in eighteen or twenty days; that our commerce with all this region of the globe is rapidly increasing, and the Japanese seas will soon be covered with our vessels. Therefore as the United States and Japan are becoming every day However wise this policy may originally have been, it is unwise and impracticable, now that the intercourse between the two countries is so much more easy and rapid than it formerly was. The undersigned holds out all these arguments, in the hope that the Japanese government will see the necessity of averting unfriendly collision between the two nations, by responding favorably to the propositions of amity, which are now made in all sincerity. Many of the large ships-of-war destined to visit Japan, have not yet arrived in these seas, though they are hourly expected; and the undersigned, as an evidence of his friendly intentions, has brought but four of the smaller ones, designing, should it become necessary, to return to Yedo in the ensuing spring, with a much larger force. But it is expected that the government of your Imperial Majesty will render such return unnecessary by acceding at once to the very reasonable and pacific overtures contained in the President’s letter, and which will be further explained by the undersigned on the first fitting occasion. With the most profound respect for your Imperial Majesty, and entertaining a sincere hope that you may long live to enjoy health and happiness, the undersigned subscribes himself, (Signed)M. C. Perry, U. S. Steam-Frigate Susquehanna, A brief pause followed the delivery of the letters, the Japanese appearing dispirited, and their prince as if the day’s doings might result to him in being compelled to perform the “Happy Despatch” of his country; the commodore directed the interpreter to say, that The column of escort then reformed, and returned to the beach where we landed, in the same order in which we had come, passing down the front of the line of Japanese soldiers, many a scowling fellow meanwhile looking daggers at us; and their officers, I said to Major Zeilen, of the marine corps (a fine old soldier), the day before we landed, “Well, major, they have our cages ashore?” “No, sir; no caging to-morrow,” said he, “it will be fight to the death!” Our men marched past the Japanese troops with the greatest indifference, making such remarks as, “Jack, give us a chaw of tobacco.” “Robinson,” said the officer of the deck to a six-foot quartermaster who was to carry an American ensign, “don’t you let them take that away from you, to-day.” Robinson said, “Well, sir, they may do it, but the man who takes it won’t be able to carry it after he gets it.” In the afternoon, of the day of the landing, the steamers got underway, passed the point or “Rubicon Fort,” as it was named, and went into anchorage in the inner bay, which had been sounded out by boats under cover of the Mississippi, three days before. In doing so we got the best view of the line of fortifications, which extend from a point on the western side, marking the narrowest part of the outer, or entrance to the inner bay, down to the city of Uraga. The As soon as the tide served, after our anchoring in the inner bay, the Saratoga and Plymouth got underway, stood up and joined us. The next day the commodore came aboard of the Mississippi, when his broad-pennant was hoisted, the anchor hove up, and with boats ahead to make soundings, we stood up the bay, running nearer to the great capital of the empire than ship of any foreigner had gone before. The Japanese troops on shore kept watch on our movements, and their guard-boats rowed up in company with ours, but did not attempt to impede or molest them. Having gone up and made soundings, and a reconnoissance, until the water began to shoal, we put the ship about and returned to where we had left the Susquehanna. In the evening a Japanese functionary who had been looking with much solicitude upon our movements, went on board of the flag-ship, and said, “He hoped we would not attempt to go up their bay any farther, if we did there would be trouble.” He was told that if it became necessary to bring our whole squadron into their waters, that it was necessary that the ships should have a less exposed anchorage than the one we had occupied off On the 16th boats were sent down to survey and ascertain the depth of water in the cove which opens on the left hand just after entering the inner bay in which is situated the Saru-Sima, by some called “Perry island.” The steamers followed during the day down to this anchorage, but the wind proving light and baffling, the sailing ships did not get there until evening, one of them meanwhile having drifted afoul of the other, on having to come suddenly to anchor, and carrying away a flying-jib boom. Here, before dusk, a Japanese official, who spoke Dutch, brought off as presents game-fowls which had beautiful plumage, lacquered-ware, some of their small pipes and mild tobacco, and brocade interwoven with gold thread. These were refused until they consented to receive presents in return. They would not give one of their blades nor receive one of our swords; such an exchange did not indicate friendship according to their ideas, nor was the parting with any Japanese arms allowed by their laws. They expressed great desire to know when we should leave, and manifested much solicitude and anxiety about our remaining. This curiosity was not gratified. We had now been in their waters about eight days, during which we had only one opportunity of noticing things and people, near by on shore, and then for not a very long time. But what we had been able to Their boats were sharp, and by the continued action of the sculls—instead of rowing on their sides—were impelled with greater speed than the boats of the celestials; while the nice bows to their junks indicated great superiority, and the single white canvass sail, stretched by a yard from their enormous mast, was far more pleasant to the eye and sensible than the dingy mat-sail of the Chinaman. Their plan On Sunday morning, July 17, at daybreak, we lifted anchor, and the Susquehanna with the Saratoga in tow, and the Mississippi towing the Plymouth, we proceeded down the outer bay, and left for a time the waters of Japan, numbers on shore and the troops on the parapets of the forts of Kami Saki looking at us, and apparently much pleased with the movement. This time we kept down the opposite side of the bay On the 18th a man fell overboard from the Plymouth, but by cutting away, promptly, a life-buoy which he struck out for and reached, and promptly lowering away a boat, he was saved. I could not but recollect that there was a man overboard from the same ship the day before, but under different circumstances, as was told by the half-raised ensigns at the peaks of the four ships. Poor Jack had died after we had gotten to sea, and the ocean which had been his home during life, before nightfall was to cover him with its waves. The boatswain’s call was not “Heave-to,” as to-day, but piped, which was echoed through the ship by each of his mates, “All hands bury the dead” and as the sun went down, with two of the iron messengers, which he had been proud to have hurled at the enemies of the star-flag, The next day we encountered a heavy swell and a stiff breeze, it then became squally, and there was every indication about the horizon of bad weather approaching. As it was getting quite rough, and there being danger of parting the towing-hawsers, the sloops-of-war were cast off from the steamers, the Saratoga being signaled to make the best of her way to Shanghae, and the Plymouth to proceed to our next place of rendezvous—Loo-Choo. By meridian of the 20th we had a strong gale of wind on us; top-gallant masts were sent down, top-masts housed, and storm-sails bent. At three o’clock the ship pitched away her head-sounding spars, springing the bowsprit in the cap; but the wreck of the spars was gotten on board, so as to give us no trouble by becoming entangled in our wheels. The Susquehanna lost her sounding-spars also, or cut them away. At night the sea having increased, both steamers having burnt out a considerable portion of their coal, rolled deeply and heavily. We lost, by being filled with the sea, the captain’s gig from our stern-davits,—one of the prettiest and fastest boats in the squadron. The next morning, from the port wheel-house a handsome whale-boat was washed away with oars, sails, We reached the south end of Loo-Choo, on the evening of the 24th, but the weather being thick and foggy, could not run into the roads, so stood off during the night. This day we recorded the occurrence of the first death—one of the men, who contracted a fever on board of the Chinese junk lost at the mouth On running into Napa-roads the next day, we had some hopes of finding there the steam-frigate, Powhatan, of whose sailing from the United States we had intelligence, but were disappointed. The Supply lay there alone. From her officers we learned, that the cyclone, that we were in, had been felt with great force at Loo-Choo. They had not only to let go all their anchors, but had also slung some of their carronades to prevent the ship’s dragging on the reefs. We found that there had been no increase in sociability, and no improvement in the manners of our friends, the Loo-Chooans; and probably with the view to reduce the length of our stay, they had diminished the supply of provisions to the ships—although well paid for them. They plead scarcity, even to sweet potatoes and watermelons, though they might easily be seen growing in their fields. They preferred our loving and leaving them, but the commodore had another interview with his coy-friend, the regent, in which he desired to know, why they wished to cut off supplies; also that their officers must cease to dog our steps on shore, and that they must open their stores. As a mouse in the talons of the eagle, they promised everything, and promised a bazar on a subsequent day, at which the Americans might purchase whatever they had to sell. While this forcible At daybreak, on the 1st of August, in a public hall in Napa—the mayor’s office, I believe—the Loo-Chooan bazar (!) was open. The articles exposed for sale, were some Japanese fabrics, brought there by the junks, some domestic cotton-cloth, and specimens of Loo-Choo lacquer-ware, and chow-chow boxes. By nine o’clock, A.M.—having “opened a trade” with Loo-Choo, all were aboard, when the steam-frigates left for China, taking a look at the Amaccarima islands as we passed, during the day. The next evening, we espied a sail, which proved to be the United States sloop-of-war Vandalia, which saluted the commodore, and then laid to for her captain to repair on board of the flag-ship. We had hoped for some letters and papers from home by her, but she had none. After running separated for three days, in hopes of falling in with the Powhatan, the steamers came in company again, near the southern extremity of Formosa. At sundown on August 7th, the Mississippi and Susquehanna, after an absence of three months and eleven days, dropped anchor in the harbor of Hong Kong, China. |