Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-12
The American Expedition TO Japan.
Correspondence Of the Sun.
U. S. SHIP CoLuMBus, }
HnNnIuLr. SEM. On 1910

Knowing the interest our visit to japan has
excited among civilized nations, | dispatcb
the following particulars by an opportunity
now offering fol Boston. We sailed from Ma
Gao on the Goth of May, ostensibly for the
Sandwich Islands, but with secret instructions
TO touch at the ports Of Annoy and Chusan, on
our way TO Japan, and as far as possible to pro-
mote friendly intercourse between the Auieri-
cans in those cities and the Chinese inhabi-
tants. In this the gallant Com. Biddle was
altogether successful, and after a run of fifteen
days we hove In sight Of Japan, and in COM
pdDy with the incomes anchored below
Nedo, or Jeddo, the commercial metropolis,
Having no charts of the harbor, and the ma
tlves refusing TO pilot US up, we remained in
the bay. The authorities came off and re-
q]uested US not 10 come near the shore. They
would supply us with everything we reouif-
ed, and deliver any communication we mirht
have for their grand CaJoy, or Emperor, who
resides at Jeddo, some miles inla nd. Com
modore Biddle forwarded his letter of intro
duction TO the Emperor, from the President
Of the United States, which explained the
objects Of our visit. The CuJoy is STYLED the
Industrious NOnarch under HeGuen," or 'sfhe
sgrercign qf lie Gj0ls u the god5 Under Sun
rising" His Majesty rules thirty millions
of people, he has two hundred and fifty thou
sand square miles of territory, an army of
three hundred thousand infantry and ten thou
sand cavalry. Next TO the Cuboy is the Da-
ir0, or spiritual head Of the empire. These
are sovereign in their respective governments
and each in turn is compelled 10 obey the
other. The Cuboy has petty princes under
him who rule the provinces into which the
empire is divided. Tie Dairo has twelve
wives and the Cuboy an unlimited number.
Polygamy is universal. The religion is like
that of China. In art, science and literature,
the japanese are superior TO the Chinese,
from whom they descended. They have
converted their barren islands into beautiful
gardens, which rise in terraces on the noun
tains. They have copper, iron, steel and
silver, and in working these metals they are
not surpassed by Europeans. Coal also
abounds in the islands. The manufacture of
porcelain and glass, lacquered ware, silk and
cotton goods, has been carried on by them
for centuries. Their trade is confined to the
Dutch, the Chinese and the Coreans, and the
only port open to these is Nangasaki. Their
dread Of foreigners was caused by an ATTEMPT
of the Portuguese TO establish the Roman
Catholic Religion ever them in The beginning
of the seventeenth century, when Dutch mer-
chants disclosed the plot to the Japanese
priests. The Cuboy himself had embraced
the Catholic religion, with a third of his peo-
pie, and all these, with the Catholic Mission
aries, were slain by the Dairo and his reli-
giou5 followers. Ever since, the Dutch mer-
chants have enjoyed exclusive privileges, and
all the great men of the empire speak the low
Dutch with great fuency. By this means
they obtain from Dutch newspapers an accu-
So, = I,a,-.1ol,-. e -
world. AS an evidence of this, we were as
tOnished 10 learn that they had heard of our
intended visit. The Presidents letter in
formed the Emperor that the people of the
United States were DESTROYS of cullivatinr
friendly relations with the Japanese, to which
the Emperor replied that he had heard of the
greatness of the United States; he hoped they
would continue to be prosperous and happy,
but the policy of his country would not per-
nit him to open his ports to any but the Chi
nese and Dutch. He begged the Commo.
dore to supply himself with what he wanted;
that the people would furnish him all that
the country afforded, and having obtained
his supplies, he hoped he would retire from
the bay as rapidly as possible and never re-
turn. They brought us everything we wan
ted--as fuel, water and provisions, &c. but
would take nothing in return. Accompany
ing the EmPeror's reply was a bundle of
worthless ~trlnketS, as a present from his ma
jesty TO Com. Biddle, which he refused to
accept. This puzzled the Japanese Ambas-
sador. He dare not return with his presents,
so he loitered around the deck until niphtfall,
and then throwing the bundle into the ships
boat, darted of to the shore. Commodore
BIddle distributed the trinkets among the
officers. We were not permitted to land
and the mandarins told US that if we attempt
ed TO land by force, they would all commit
suicide by ripping out their intestines, that
being the custom Of their country. Some ac-
cepted our presents, but returned them all
before we left. They would take nothing
from US. Most of the officers and people who
came on board brought their own provisions
with them. Some wanted to sleep on board
but were not permitted. We could see none
of their women, who are said to excel in
beauty and virtue, and resent indignities to
their honor by committing suicide at once
Their men are extremely beautiful, and even
at middle age present the full development
OF athletic power, with the freshness and VIC.
or OF youth. They attain a great age. An.
lmal food is not in general use. We could
obtain neither beef nor pork, but received
poultry, game, eggs and vegetables in abun-
dance. Their officers dress in gowns, much
like our female attire. Each had two swords,
a small one and a large one, equal in temper
and finish 10 our best American swords
The soldiers dress in flexible metallic armor
which is beautifully japanned, and covers the
body and limbs. Zach wears on his bach
the armorIal insignia of his regiment, and il
some instances a cross was worked in thei
coat of arms, probably in commemoration o
the massacre Of the Christians. Their boats
had similar devices on their flags, and eacl
different. In religious opinions they ar
greatly divided. Yet the Budhists, the fol
lowers of Sinto and the disciples of Confu
cius all agree in the following, which constl
tute the moral philosophy of the Empire, viz
l.. not to kill, nor to eat any creature that ha
been killed 2. not to commit fornicalion no
adultery 8. not to steal; 4. not to lie and
5. to abstain from wine and ali intoxicatin!
l.-I. IN. 49, ..-I1.a II lii. =. IL.