New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-03

Cruise In the China seas-Visit 20 Japan
Re.cue of American Seamen-Discovery
of nm Islnud IN the North Pacific ocean-
Mortality among the Crew, &c.
The U. S. ship Prebie, Commander JAMES
GLYSS, arrived at this port yesterday, from saa
Francisco, via Valparaiso.
Her cruise has been a remarkable one. Sailing
from this port for California in September 1916.
rs convoy to Stevenson's Regiment Of Volun-
teers. she served with great activity upon the
West Coast throughout the Mexican War. At
its termination she was dispatched TO China with
Com. Gesinger on board, who was ordered to the
command of the Fast India Squadron. On her
way she stopped for a short time at several ports
of the Sandwich Islands. For interest and novel;
ty. the most romihent among these were hilo and
Kealakukua Some three weeks were employed
at the former place in recruiting the health OF the
crew after their lorg and arduous service, and IN
renovatng the ship, preparatory to going into the
malignant climate of the Asiatic Coast An OPP
portunity was here offered those on board who
were DESTROYS Of doing So to visit the volcano oil
Kirenea the second largest lin state Of activity
in the world, its crater being nine miles in cir
conference The latter place is interesting as
being that at which the celebrated explorer,
Capt Cook, was killed by the savages.
In running from Mazatlan to the Sandwich
Islands diligent search was made by the PEBBLE
for a group of islands represented in photograph
ical works, IS having been repeatedly seen be-
tween the parallels of l60 and 80 north lsttude'
and ne ar the track of vessels bound to Caiiorns,
but not the slightest indication of land was dis
covered in that vicinity. A number OF doubtful
islands and dangers on the route to China and IN
various other parts Of the North Pacific were also
sought for during the cruise. Ofthese researches
&c. much valuable information is contained in the
official records of the ship.
Reaching China at moment when matters
were beginning to assume grave aspect be-
tween the Governor of Canton and the u s. Com
missioner in relation to the recognition and re-
ception of the latter the timely arrival of the
Preble with the Commodore contributed in no
small degree 10 the restoration of harmony and
continuance of the respect heretofore shown to
American citizens by the Chinese.
Some misunderstanding, however between
other foreigners and the Chinese made it expe-
dent, in the view of the COMMANDMENT Chief, to
retain the Preble in his squadron and she was
consequently engaged for several months In visit
ing Manila and the various Southern ports OF
China But information having been received.
through the Dutch Government at Batavia, Of the
detention and imprisonment in japan of sixteen
American shipwrecked seamen, the Preble was
dispatched, in February, ls49, to demand and OBJ
tain their release. She had scarcely left the har-
Dor of Hong Kong, however, before the smallpox
made it's appearance board, and she was COM
PEELED put back into port to prevent its spread
ing among the crew. detention OF two or
three weeks in quarantine was the consequence
Of this unlucky occurrence, before It was thought
safe to pronounce the ship free from the conta.
gion, and again venture upon the purposed cruise
TO this Terra Incognita." On her way to japan
the Prebe touched at the Loo Choo Islands, q
Kingdom in itself yet dependent upon Japan
For gentle dignity of anners, superior advance
ment in the arts and general intelligence the in
babitants of this group by far the most inter
esting uneaiightened nation in the Pacific Ocean.
The Preble is the first American man OF. war that
has ever visited them.
AS the Preble nesred the coast Of Japan, signal
guns were fired from the prominent headIands to
give warning to the surrounding country las it was
afterward ascertained) Of the appearance of a
strange ship. As she entered the barber Of
Msgasaki the Preble was met by a number OF
large boats which ordered her off and attempted
to oppose her further ingress, but by standing
steadily in, with a fine breeze Their ranks were
soon broken, and desirable position selected for
anchoring.
Fleets of boats crowded with soldiers shortly
afterward began to arrive, and from that time until
the Preble left they poured in in one incessant
stream day and night. Each squadron of boats
wore banners ornamented with distinctive sym.
bols and Devices which were transferred with the
troops to their encampments on the elevated shores
surrounding the anchorage Of the Preble. From
these nights were at intervals unmarked bate.
ries of heavy artillery, numbering in all upward
OF 60 guns which were trained upon the Prsble's
decks.
1t was in the face of this array. and with a COR
don of boats drawn around the ship, that negotis-
tons were carried on for the release of American
citizens from the ignominious and cruel imprison'
ment OF nearly seventeen months. Against these
men the Japanese urged not the slightest charge
except the difficulty they had had in building
prisons and cages strong enough to hold them
yet they were treated with inhnman barbarty'
and when first confined were made 10 trample on
the Crucifx, being told at the same time that it
was the Devil of Japan" and that if they re-
fused to comply their lives would pay the forfeit.
The demand for their release was at first
treated with well affected, naughty Indifference
by the japanese authorities This subsequently
gave place to an evasive diplomacy, but upon be-
ing peremptorily told by Capt. Glynn, in language
that could not be misunderstood, that they must
Immediately deliver up the men or means would
be found to compel them, and that the American
Government always knew how to recover and
protect its citizens when Improperly detained or