Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-20
COMMODORE BIDDLE's OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF
HIS VISIT TO JAPAN.
UNITED STATES sHIr CoLuaBus,


ascertain if the ports of Japan accessible, proceeded,
leaving the coast Of China towards the Of Japan.
The Japanese you know have always been rigid
in the exclusion Of foreigners than the Chinese. The
only Europeans admitted 10 trade the Dutch from Batavia
and their trade is confined to single port and limited to one
annual ship BY the laws of Japan foreign ships per-
mted anchor in any port Of the empire except that of
Nagasak Any attempt to penetrate Japan made at that
port would be encounter the hostility OF the Dutch
exerons have hitherto been successful against every
attempt to disturb their monopoly The Japanese officers
Nagasaki without authority TO treat with foreign officers
they could accede any propositions they could only
transmit them to the of Government at Yeddo. The
distance between Yeddo and Nagaa is three hundred and
oyv leagues, and the journey between them usually
performed in weeks, according to work on Japan
published New York in ls4l concluded, therefore, to
proceed direct the bay Of Yeddo, where anchored the
Goth instant the Vincennes III company.
Before reaching the anchorage officer with Dutch in
terpeter board. He inquired what my object
in coming Japan answered that came friend,
whether Japan had like China opened her ports
foreign trade and if she had to nix by treaty the conditions
which American vessels should trade with JAPAN He
ouesed me TO commit this answer writing and gave him
written paper, copy OF which IS herewith transmitted
He informed that any supplies might require would be
furnished by the Government. To my inquiry whether
ould be allowed go Shore he replied in the negative
He objected boats passing between this ship and the
Vncennes but, insisted upon il, he yielded Upon an
chong the ship SURROUNDED by vast number OF boats
belonging the Government The ship soon thronged
with Japanese permitted them to board IN large
numbers that all might be convinced of our friendly dispose
on well as OF ability in any event. to take care OF
| ourselves.
On the following morning officer apparently OF higher
rank came board He stated that foreign ships upon
tering port Of Japan always landed their guns, muske
swords &c told him impossible to do that trading
vessels only touu be expected to do and assured him
that peaceably disposed He informed me that my
paper Of the preceding day had been transmitted to the
Emperor who distance from Yeddo and that an
har ye0 rsIyd
why surrounded by boats and he replied that they
might be ready we wanted them to tow the SHIP MS
COURSE ue the object Of course, being to pre-
vent us communicating with the shore When our
boats were sound distance from the ship ia
panese followed them, without however, moesng them
During whole stay these boats continued about the SHIP
had on board copies Chinese Of the French, English, and
American treaties with China offered these treaties TO the
Japanese officer who declined receiving them Saying that he
could receive them without the permission OF his Emperor
offered these treaties subsequently TO other japanese ocer
who in like declined TO receive them.
1t worth while perhaps to mention that on the hrst Gay
the japanese undertook water the ship They sent off $50
gallons and the second day $50 gallons Our daily con-
sumption being nearly 500 gallons, told the officer unless
they watered the ship properly that would send our own
boats shore for He said there would be trouble
II sent our boats on shore replied that should be Obliged
to do SO if they continued heretofore to supply made
quaey The result that the third day upwards OF
200 gallons brought off, and on the following day
nearly 10, 600 gallons,
On the 25 having received answer 10 the papers
sns on shore five oppressed to the Japanese
officer my surprise delay, and requested him to inform
the Governor of Yeddo that desired answer as early as
possible.
On the 9th an officer with suite Of eight persons,
on board with Emperors The answer was trans
| lated by the interpreter, as follows
According the Japanese laws, the japanese not
trade except with the Dutch and Chinese 1t will not be
allowed that America make treaty with Japan trade with
her. as the same is not allowed with any other nation Con-
corning strange ands all things fixed at Nagasak but
here in the bays therefore you must depart as quick as
| possible, and not come any more IN Japan
stated to the officer United States wished to make
treaty Of with Japan but not unless Japan also
wished treaty that came here for information this sub
ect and having asceraned that Japan not yet
pared open her ports to foreign trade, should sail the
next day, if the weather permitted This answer was, at
the officers request committed TO writing, and given to him.
The Emperos letter forwarded by the Vincennes to Dr.
Parker at Canton for translation and requested him to trans
init to you the original and the translation OF It,
may here that Mr. Wolcott, consul at Shang-
hal informed that he had sold American coons to
Chinese merchants for shipment TO Nagasaki In
this the supply of American cotons in Japan may per-
| haps become equal to the demand
While at Batavia in October last, informed that the
Dutch trade Japan insignificant in amount that its
profits scarcely covered the OF the factory and OF the
customary presents and the Dutch valued their intercourse
with Japan chiefly because, while their flag was admit
ted all other European flags excuded-a distinction
gratifying their national pride This account of the trade
be confirmed by the fact that ago the
Dutch East India Company voluntarily enquished 1t to the
Dutch Government II confirmed also by the accompany
ing letter from consul at Batavia Mr.. Roberts,
wel-inomed merchant, who has resided many years IN the
East Indies.
must now communicate an Of unpleasant
character On the morning that the officer down in
Junk with the Emperos letter, requested to on board
the Junk to receive it, refused, and informed tho inter
prefer that the officer deliver board this ship any let
tel that had entrusted him for To this the officer
assened added that letter having been delivered
board the American ship he thought the Emperors letter
should be delivered board the japanese vessel As the
japanese officer, though attaching importance TO his
proposal had Withdrawn il objected TO ii con-
cluded that might be well for crafty him, and in
formed the interpreter that would go board the junk and
there receive the The interpreter then on board
the Junk In hour afterwards went alongside the junk
in the ships boat, in my uniform. AT the moment that
stepping board Japanese the deck of the junk
gave blow push which threw back into the boat.
Immediately called the interpreter have the seized
and then returned the ship. followed on board by
the interpreter and number Of japanese officers They all
expressed the greatest what had occurred stated
that the offender soldier board, and assured
he should be punished severely They asked IN what
wished him be punished and replied according
to tho laws OF Japan stated that the officers also
greatly to blarne they ought have been deck to
ceve me. They declared that they had not expected me
alongside and subsequently convinced that owing to
bad interpretation they believed my final decision had been
that they the ship careful to impress
upon them all the enormy Of the outrage that had been
mtted and how much they owed to my fobeaance ihey
manifested great anxiety and apprehension, and endeayoed
in eyery way 10 appease Ia the Of the day the
Governor Of Yeddo officer to inform me that the man
should severely punished and hoped would not mink 100
seriosly Of the affair The conduct OF the Is inexpca
ble especially all the japanese IN and ABOUT tue snip had
eyinced crea, good nature their intercourse with u.s.
As was convinced that the outrage had been committed