Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-29
The Japan Expedition.

having Japan for its destination, but the par
ticular object of which has been a matter of
speculation only. The story was, that the
expedition was only designed to seek redress
Of this people, for cruelties recently inflicted
upon some American sailors that had unfortu-
nately fallen into their hands-but the public
refused to be satisfied with such ffimsy story
and rumors began to be circulated that our
government had some covert and hidden OBJ
jects in view, squirting pretty strongly to the
adoption of the Intervention policy.
Some light, however, has been shed on the
matter, recently, by the publication of an ex-
tract of letter of President Fillmores, which
was among number of documents relative to
the Japan expedition, which were sent to the
Senate few days ago. The letter is adj
dressed to the Emperor of Japan, as treaty of
an important matter, and will be read with in
terest. We append extracts, as follows -
''" I send you by this letter an envoy of my
own appointment, an officer of high rank in
his own country, who is no missionary of re-
ligion. He goes by my command 10 bear TO
you my greetings and good wishes, and to pro-
mote friendship and commerce between the
two countries.
"You know that the United States of Amer
lea now extend from sea TO sea !; that the great
countries of Oregon and California are parts of
the United States; and that from these coun-
tries, which are rich in gold and silver and
precious stones, our steamers can reach the
shores of your happy land in less than twenty
DAYS.
=" Many of our ships will now pass in every
year, and some, perhaps, in every week, be-
tween California and China; these ships must
pass along the coast of your empire; storms
and winds may cause them 10 be wrecked on
your shores, and we ask and expect from your
friendship and greatness, kindness for onr
men and protection for our property. We
wish that our people may be allowed to trade
with your people, but we shall not authorize
them to break any law of your empire.
"Our object is friendly commercial inter-
course, and nothing more. You may have
productions which we should be glad to buy,
and we may have. productions which might
suit your people. Your empire contains
great abundance of coal; this is an article
which our steamers, in going from California
to China, must use. They would be glad that
harbor in your empire should be appointed to
which coal might be brought, and where they
might always be able to purchase it.
" In many other respects, commerce between
yonr empire and our country, would be useful
to both. Let us consider well what new in
terests may arise from these recent events,
which have brought our two countries so near
together; and what purposes of friendly amity
and intercourse this ought to inspire in the
hearts Of those who govern both countries"
As Japan, like China, is shut out from the
world, by the policy which it adopts, of not
only not inviting, but absolutely declining and
prohibiting foreign intercourse, little is known,
or desired to be known, hitherto, OF the history
of the country or The people. Since this move
ment has been started, however, the public
mind has been directed 10 the country, and va
rious scraps of information concerning ii, have
been given to the public, as the result. Some
of them we CLEAN, as calculated 10 interest and
afford instruction to our readers
Japan is estimated to have an area of &c.,
600 square miles, with population of IA ,O00,-
900. 1t has four large cities, as follows:
Jeddo, containing 100000 inhabitants Mi
AGO, 500, 900 Osaca, $50, 900; and Maismay,
with $4,000. The soil is fertile, producing
tea superior TO that of China and all the rare
productions of Eastern Asia Its minerals are
also of the richest and most precious nature
gold, silver, and vast amounts of copper.
AS to the early history of Japan, we can do
10 better Than copy paragraph from an excel
lent article in the Republican Journal, (Bel-
fast,) upon the same subject. 1t is in the pc
culiar graphic style of our contemporary:
a" 1t was during the latter part of the thir-
teenth century, that young Venetian left his
native city. and setting his face towards the
rising sun, lraversed Turkey and Persia, and
followed the northern slope of the Hmmala-
yeh mountains. In the soft, luxurious vallies
of Cashmere he. reposed in the gardens of
Gull his ears drank the song of the nightingale.
Nature charmed his eyes, the bright-turbaned
men in rich flowing robes pleased his imagina-
ton, and the beauty of the maids was the more
attractive 10 the youth, because yelled accord
Ing to the custom of the country, it was only
seen at slances, as the star appears in the
opening cloud. But the passion of the traveller
absorbed every other, and the Young man
passed on through the empire of Tartary to the
court of the great Khublai Kaha, the conquer
or of China. Here MARCO Polo, (lor we
have been speaking. of him. remained for
years, The favorite of the Tartar monarch
This latter. signing like Alexander, for fear he
should soon have more worlds to conquer,
set his eyes upon the three large islands to the
east of his kingdom. He contemplated their
ssraaanexatlan. The allempt-was made, but
failed. Polo went with the expedition to the
coast; when the east wind blew he caught the
odor Of fuwers, of verdure and of spices, and
he ,longed 10 see and touch them; but he could;
not. his Is no doubt the first civilization
knew of Japan. Polo returned home His
account stimulated the desire of discovering
and possessing these almost fairy islands. An
hundred faces turned 10 The east. Columbus,
with an almost divine instinct, turned to the
west. BY long voyage thilherward, he
noPeG 10 reach farther India A new CONT
nen' has been found,
ofaoiea In the roar of Western waves,
has been subdued and peopled and now i fire.,
among the nations. japan is AZ She vas ),
The Portuguese and Dutch people have !,
turn, enjoyed to limited extent. adv,,,.aos
Of trade with Japan. Between two and ,broo
centuries ago, Portuguese ship, proceed;na
from Siam to Cochin China, was wrecked oT
the coast. Three of the Portuguese escaped
were kindly treated by the japanese, and be-
came great favorites. One of them cured the
prince OF the gout, d favor which gained for
the Portuguese the advantages of trade with