The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-30

instructions OF January 3lst and relieved from conne
ment the seamen OF the American whaer :" Lagoda,'
and an adyenturer named Ranald Mcdonald who lef
lne wbaleT plymouth, Captain Edwards of Sag Harbor
New York. on the coast OF Japan, and also in
fnement there | shall leave in few days for Macao
and on my arrival there will be enabled inform the
department more fully OF the result of the Preble's
cruise
have the honor to be. very respectfully, your ODE
d. GEISINGER,
Commanding U. :: Squadron. East Indies.
Hon. SECRETARY OF THE Navy, Washington.
Ertrad of a.despateh from Commodore Dapd Geisinger
addressed 10 he Secretary of Me Navy, dated
mo, 29.l UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP PLYMOUTH,
Macao Roads, June Is, lS49.
SIR Transmitted herewith, for the information Of the
department are copies OF the dispositions of the
brought by the Prebe from JAPAN and OF the memoranda
made by Commander Gym Of his various interviews
with the japanese officials at Nangasack, sc.
The honorable Secretary will perceive that the cruise
OF the Preble was altogether successful The release
and surrender OF these seamen. under the crc1msan-
Cess Is probably the rs instance IN which the stubborn
policy oil the Japanese has yielded TO the demand of for
egners have only to regret that Commander Gynn
dd not conform to my instructions directing him TO make
known to Mr. Levyssohn, the Dutch superintendent Of
trade at Decima, The high appreciation in which his
humanity and generosity towards suffering country
men are held and the sincere pleasure afforded 10
communicate 10 the government OF the United States IN
formation Of his disnieested conduct instead OF prom
ising that in justice to Mr. L., he would make his kind
HtSs puUHC Oh his return 10 lnt UnHeu StateS.
The original representation OF the seamen of the
Lagoda," that they were shIpwTecked Mariners
sxpedient to obtain sympathy and the OF rescue
The truth is they deserted the ship and alleges their
excuse the harsh treatment they experimentation board
Nevertheless. the cruelty and suffering to which they
afterwards subjected may be deemed worthy OF the atten-
lion OF the government and afford occasion to enforce
upon the japanese # necessary, an observance Of the
rights of charitable hospitality towards those who. by act
OF Providence, are cast away, come in destuon upon
their shores.
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedi
ent servant.
:, ., Commanding U. s Squadron, East Indies.
Hon. VIM. BALLARD PREsToS,
Secretary OF the Navy, Washington.
Before me, James Gynn commanding the United States
shP preble personally appeared, this thirteh day OF
April eighteen hundred and forty nine Robert Mccoy,
who, being duly sworn, deposes a, follows:
am twenty-,hTee years of age was born in Phila-
depha. On or about the fifth day of June, thou
sand eight hundred and fortyegnt three boats OF us.
which bad belonged to an American whale ship having
on board at this time the following named persons-in
the first boat Robert Mccoy, John Martin Jacob Boyd,
Melchar Bff,r and John Bull in the second boat, Ezra
Goldhwat and four Sandwich Ianders and in the third
boat, five Sandwich Islanders-wee near The islands of
Japan In the afternoon we made small island in the
straits o Saugar, Matsna One OF the boats sepa
rated, but reolned us IN The evening .
Second day Made the island OF Yesso and landed al
people gave water but no food. We asked permis-
sion to sleep IN the village but II refused. The
wind being from the south award, stood TO the north
ward, and after sailing about three miles came To an
other town. Two ,f the boats. pulled By Sandwich
Islanders Alone (except white man, Goldthwait,
stood IN Tor the shore, but, seeing people to the
by whites, in and beached their boat the natives
dering them assistance. By this time il dark We
asked Tor food and they supplied They gave us per
mission to sleep there all night and built US three tents
OF mats.
Third day--An officer asked us why we had come
there We told him we were driven there by southery
m and tr han fatr,n md shn inxu
away. We got PERMISSION 10 stay Tor the ialT wind,
promising TO take immediate advantage OF il. About
nine o'clock, people and soldiers came down TO the
tents, and guarded us from going about or into the
country. They erected calico all about The
soldiers were armed with swords and match locks The
officers were cased in amor, and japaned bats
In the afternoon they sent three bags of rice about
one hundred and fifty hundred and eighty pounds
and three bundles OF wood
We remained until the morning OF the fourth day |
The number OF soldiers constantly increasing, were
AFRAID TO trust ourselves alone any longer and put TO
using our oars pulling against the wind, and standing to
The souihward WeIelnrned the neghborhood OF the
village where first landed and moored the boats to
some rocks, opposite, and took breakfast After break
fast we pulled away TO the southwark till about noon,
slght. We had not been there long before num-
bers OF people, some armed and others horseback
One man came and motioned for go away, or 10
10 some village by. We pulled around point of
land and saw village. We saw people on horseback,
but did not land, but kept on, percevng boat pulling
on as we came opposite 10 the town. The boatmen OF
w
The wind should be fair, and then 10 go away. We
went IN accordingly, and found there mat enclosures,
having no tors, ready Tor reception, which bad |
been prepared since in sight Stald here all
night
Fifth doy-Remained until about three o'clock, D. m. |
The wind then being fair, asked 20 away in our
boats They told US, not now" oil the Japanese
ohcers had something 10 say 10 We anxious
to go, but they would not permit MS 10 doso We under
stood the people 10 offer larger boat saying that
boats were too fra and might perish. Most Of us
preferred our own boats but the soldiers took things
out, and carried them back to our tents We finally CON
cnded 10 accept the oie thinking if did moi they
would force They then took things and tailed
them, and carried MS all TO a house in the village We
in this house two days-nohng OF interest oc
curing in the mean lime. They then gave us TO under
stand that in twenty days should have a boat the
first promise three days were put oil twenty
days longer.
think about five days after this they informed us that
The house we were IN poor one, and, had
remain twenty days, they would put in finer building
In the afternoon all removed to this other house
both sides of the being lined with soldiers armed
as before with swords and match h-ocks On arriving at
this house, we discovered that II was intended for a
prison IL might have held their people. but il could no,
hold pS. guard was constantly kept upon us and we
were not allowed TO walk about. Until the expiration OF
me PROMISED twenty days. remained quiet and patient
lhey then came and told that they had junk yet,
but 10 twenty days more would build good, large,
and strong one.
AT the enj Of the second twenty days they informed us
that ~ January should have the Junk and be per.
mnted TO go away We placed no confidence in this
promise, but asked Tor our boats they good
enough Tor our use and they at least better than
trusting ourselves IN their hands any longer This they
anINg InaN "A n