The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-08
OFFICIAL.
UNITED STATES SHIP Columns,

SIR: This ship and the Vincennes siiled from the
Chusan islands on the 18th instant AS your Instructions
direct me ~ ascertain if the ports of Japan accessible
proceeded upon leaving the coast o on" o""'o' "''
coast of Japan. -. .,.....- -. -.
rigid in he exclusion of foreigners than the Chinese
The only Europeans admitted to trade are the Dutch from
Baaya and their trade is confined TO a single port and
limited to one annual ship BY the laws OF Japan for
eign ships permitted to anchor in any port OF the
empire except thai Of Nagasaki Any attempt to pene-
tra Japan made at that port would be sure to encounter
the hostility OF the Dutch whose exertons have hitherto
been successful against every attempt 10 disturb then
monopoly The Japanese officers at Nasasaki are with
out authority TO treat with foreign officers they could not
accede to any propositions they could only transmit
them to the seat of government at ledo The distance
between Yeddo and Nagasak is 3i5 leagues and the jour
ney between them is usually performed in seven
weeks" according to work Japan published at New
York in ISL concluded, therefore, to proceed direct
to the bay of Yeddo, where anchored the Goth In
slant, the Vincennes in company
Before reaching the anchorage an officer with Dutch
interpreter came board. He inquired what was my
friend to ascertain whether Japan had like China, open
ed her ports TO foreign trade, and, if she had, to fix BY
treaty the conditions which American vessels should
trade with Japan. tie requested me TO commit this an
swer to writing, and gave him written paper copy
Of which is herewith transmitted He informed me, that
any supplies might require would be furnished by the
government To my inquiry, whether | would be al
lowed to 60 shore, he replied in the negative He OBJ
jected to boats passing between this ship and the Vim
cennes but as insisted upon it, he yielded Upon an
chorlng, the ship surrounded by vast number OF
boats belonging to the government The ship was soon
thronged with Japanese. | permitted them 10 come on
board in large numbers that all might be convinced Of
friendly disposition well as OF our ability, in any
event to take care Of, ourselves.
On the following morning, officer, apparently of
higher rank, came on board. He stated, that foreign
ships, upon entering port of Japan always landed their
guns muskes, swords, &C. | told him it was impossible
forus to do that trading vessels only could be expected
ed long they peaceab disposed He nformedm
that my written paper OF the preceding day had been
mitted to the Emperor, who at distance from
Ypdd n would N n
six days, | asked him why we surrounded by
boats and he replied that they might be ready in case
tue the object, of course being to prevent our commu
nicating with the shore When our boats were sent to
sound at some distance from the ship Japanese boats fol-
lowed them, without however, molestng them. During
whole stay these boats continued about the ship
had board copies in Chinese of the French English
and American treaties with China offered these treaties
to the Japanese officer who declined receiving them, say
ing that he could not them without the permission
of his Emperor offered these treaties subsequently to
other Japanese officers who in like manner declined to
receive them.
1t is worth while, perhaps, to mention that, the first
day, the Japanese undertook to water the ship They
senhof $50 galons and the second day, 500 gallons
our daily consumption being nearly 500 gallons told
the officer unless they watered the ship properly, that
would send own boats shore for water He said
there would be trouble if sent boats shore re-
piled that should be obliged to do if they continued
as heretofore to supply us 80 nadequately The result
was, that on the third day, upwards of 1000 gallons
brought off, and the following day nearly 10000
gallons.
On the 25th not having received any to the pa
per sent on shore five days previously expressed to the
Japanese officer my surprise the delay and requested
him to inform the governor of Yeddo that desired
answer early as possible
On the 27th officer, with suite of eight persons,
came on board with the Emperols answer The answer
translated by the interpreter, follows: According
to the japanese laws the Japanese may not trade except
with the Dutch and Chinese II will not be allowed that
America make treaty with Japan trade with her,
the not allowed any other nation Concerning
strange lands, all things are fixed at Nagasaki but moi
INNS If upDar ck
possible, and not come any more in Japan" stated to
the officer that the United States wished to make treaty
of with JAPAN but unless Japan also wish
eda treaty. that came here for information this SUBJ
ect, and having now ascertainei that Japan is yet
prepared to open her ports to foreign trade, should sail
the next day, II the weather permitted. This
at the officers request, committed writing, and
given to him. The Emperors letter forwarded by the
Vincennes TO DIR. Parker at Canton for translation and
requested hun to transmit to you the original and the
translation of it.
may here mention that Mr. Wolcott, our consul at
Shanga, informed that he had sold American cottons
to some extent to Chinese merchants for shipment TO
Nagasaki In this way the supply of American cottons
IN Japan may perhaps become equal to the demand
While at Batavia in October last, was informed that
the Dutch trade to Japan insignificant amount that
its profits scarcely covered the expenses of the factory and
Of the customary presents and the Dutch valued their
intercourse with Japan chiefly because, while their
flag was admitted all other European flags excu-
ded-a distinction gratifying to their national pride This
account OF the trade to be confirmed by the fact
that some years ago the Dutch East India company vol
unfairly relinquished it to the Dutch government II is
confirmed also by the accompanying letter to me from our
consul at Batavia Mr. Roberts, a Uniformed mer-
chant, who has resided many years in the East Indies
must now communicate an occurrence of an unpeas
ant character On the morning that the officer came
down in aunk with the Emperors letter. requested
to go on board the junk to receive it, refused and in
formed the interpreter that the officer must deliver on
board this ship any letter that had been nrused him for
me To this the officer assented but added that my letter
having been delivered on board the American ship he
the Japanese vessel. AS the Japanese officer, though
attaching Importance to his own proposal, had with
drawn as objected TO it, concluded that il
might be well for to crafty him, and informed the
interpreter that would go board the Junk and there
receive the letter The interpreter then went on board
the junk. In an hour afterwards, went alongside the
Junk in the ships boat in my uniform At the moment
that stepping on board Japanese on the deck of
the junk gave blow push which threw me back
into the boat Immediately cal! led to the Interpreter To
have the seized, and then returned to the ship
was followed on board by the interpreter and number
OF japanese officers They all expressed the greatest con-
Germ at what had occurred, stated that the offender was
be punished severely They asked in what manner wish
ed him to be punished and replied according TO the laws
OF Japan stated that the officers also were greatly TO
bame as they ought to have been deck receive me
They declared that they had not expected alongside
and was subsequently convinced that owing bad in
that they to TO the ship careful to i'm
press upon them all the enormy of the outrage that had
been committed and how much they owed 10 my for
bearance They manifested great anxiety and apprehen-
son and underworld in every way appease In the
course Of the day. the governor OF Ieddo sent officer to
inform me that the man should be severely punished and
that he hoped would not think too seriously of the af-
fair The conduct OF the man is nexpiicabe especially
all the japanese IN and about the ship had evinced
great good nature in all their intercourse with us