The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-08 00:00:00

AMERICAN EXPEDITION TO JAPAN.

The IVashington Union publishes extracts from a de
snatch received at the Navy Department from Cont.
M. C. Perry, commanding United States East India
squadron, dated at Napa, Island of Loo Choo, June 25,
1853, respecting the purchase of Port Lloyd, in one of
the Bonin Islands in the Japanese Sea. The Bonin
Islands extend in a direction nearly north and south
between the latitude of 26 deg. 30 min. and 27 deg.
45 min. north - the centre line of the group being in
long. about 142 deg. 15 min. east. The principal islands,
and indeed all of them, have been named by Captain
Beechey, of her Majesty's ship Blossom. The northern
cluster he called " Parry's Group ;" to the middle cluster,
consisting of three larger islands, he gave the names re-
spectively of "Peel," " Buckland," and "Stapleton," and
the southern cluster he called " Baily's Islands." Port
Lloyd is situated on the western side, and nearly in the
centre of Peel Island. It is easy of ingress and egress,
and may be considered a safe and commodious harbour,
though of deep anchorage, ships usually anchoring in
from 18 to 22 fathoms. The safest anchorage is to be
found as high up the harbour as a ship can conveniently
go, having regard to depth and room for swinging and
veering cable. Wood and water can be obtained in
abundance, though the former must be cut by the crew,
and of course taken on board green. The water
uis2yb.-
tained from running streams, and is of good quality
The few settlers still remaining on Peel Isla
other islands being uninhabited raise
cninons, taro,
quantities of sweet potatoes, Indian corn,
°1). are water-
and a few fruits, the most abundant of which o leratbilee
melons, bananas, and pine apples ; a few d sale
poultry are also raised. For these they find
at then ort for
pig:traeand_ysorne
to the whale ships constantly touchitnge
h four ys the
water and other supplies. During
American squadron was at anchor:antgliPsobrctetloinyudn,iteharteeed
whalemen, two American and one
ll in exchange for
by means of their boats with the settlement, and carried
tacceqputaalbitlye
forto away many supplies procured genera
articles, of which ardent sittverfe
many of the settlers. Thes excellentos
ling that of Madeira and
cultivation, very much rattertehe being in the same parallel
the Canary Islands (
auently is admirably adapted for
c?,nes vine, and of wheat, tobacco, sugar
of latitude) and
the cultivation of tla
cane, and many other valuable plants. Of sugar and
tobacco the settlers already cultivate enough for their
own consumption. Timber for building purposes is
rather scarce,
and would soon be exhausted if any in-
crease of population were to call for the erection of many
buildings. The best kinds are the tamana and the wild
mulberry. The former is similar to the red wood of
Brazil and Mexico, and is very enduring. Commodore
Perry caused the island to be thoroughly explored by
two parties of officers, and their reports will be
duly filed with other similar papers. The master
of the Saratoga also surveyed the harbour. Having
long been satisfied (writes the commodore) of the im-
portance of these islands to commerce, my present visit
has been induced by a desire to examine them myself, in
view of recommending Peel's Island as a stopping-place
for the line of steamers which, sooner or later, must be
established between California and China. To this end
I have caused, as before-mentioned, the island to be ex-
plored, and a few animals placed upon two of the group
as a commencement of a provision for future wants. I
have also distributed garden seeds of every description
to the present settlers, and have held out hopes to them
that I may furnish them with implements of husbandry,
and a greater number of animals. Indeed, I have gone
so far as to secure a suitable spot fur the erection of
I offices, wharves, coal sheds, f&c.".