Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-13
THE JAPAN EXPEDITION.

The attention of the whole civilized and commercial
world has been strongly attracted the expedition which
our Government is fitting out for Japan The thing is
novel in it's design yet it enliss the sympahies of the
most intelligent in all parts of the globe The result Of
the movement remains completely in doubt Yet it is in
accordance with the sprt of the age and belongs to
species of progress which the conservative may COM
mend and support.
The following from the London Sun Of October 10TH
indicates something Of the interest which is felt in Great
Britain for this enterprise identified as is with the
civilization of the century:
Here is country of extraordinary dimensions, which
has been In political sense to speak, Theoretically
sealed from the rest Of the nations of the earth during no
less protracted interval Of time than the two CEN
turtles at length about to be forced into some COM
munication with the external multitude thanks to the
generous enterprise Of the United States Government
for it must be observed that the expedition which has
been so long talked of as about to proceed Japan from
the ports OF the American republic has been only for
while delayed not altogether abandoned The Interrupt
ton is simply attributable that unlucky squabbe about
the British fisheries which appears to be undergoing the
process Of amcabe settlement owing to the better
judgment of Mr. Webster and the energetic resolution of
Lord Mamesbury. Almost Immediately may be antici-
pated therefore the intelligence that the engaged
in the undertaking already specified have set for their
very singular place of destination.
1t is impossible not wait with peculiar eagerness
the result Of this novel and humane enterprise For our
selves we look forward to that result with some such in
1eres as we would be awakened among the
generality were balloon to off of the planets
under the direction Of experienced @ronaus Nor
can the comparison be regarded any way so very
travagan seeing that Japan is to the the world
almost untrodden region the surface of the moon
or OF Jupiter Seriously speaking may assert that
we know rather more about the inhabitants of the Flying
Island than about the hitherto almost inscrutabe and
nearly fabulous Japanese. Golownin, it is true has
given us an account Of the latter but account by no
means so categorical explicit that furnished in re-
ference to the former by Lemueh CULVER The wonder
how this ignorance could have long survived the
application OF the steam engine to the purposes of nav
CATION
In any view Of the matter this expedition we should
think must be productive of useful results Japan here
ofore excluded almost entirely from intercourse with the
rest OF the world, contains population Of thirty or
forty millions The imperial cities Of the Empire vie
with London and Paris in point Of population magni6-
cence and splendor The country is vastly productive
and affords the materials Of lucrative commerce 1t is
adverse to the interests Of the world and the fellowship
which ought to exist among nations that such popuous
and productive empire should continue in condition of
American.