Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-12-01
THE JAPAN EXPEDITION.

THE JAPAN EXPEDITION.
The Baltimore American says the attention
ofthe whole civilized and commercial world has
been strongly attracted to the expedition which
our Government is fitting out for Japan. The
thing is novel in its design, yet enlists the sym
pathies of the most intelligentn all parts ofthe
globe. The result of the movement remains
completely in doubt. Yet it is in accordance
with the spirit of the age, and it belongs to
species of progress which the most conservative
may commend and support
The following from the London Sun, of Oc'
tober 10Th, indicates some of the interest which
is felt in Great Britain for this enterprise iden-
titled as it is with the civilization of the coun-
try. It says:
"Here is a country of extraordinary dimen-
sions, which has been, in polite sense, so to
speak, Theoretically sealed from the rest of the
nations of the earth during no less protract-
ed an interval of time than the last two cen
turtles. 1t is at length about to be forced into
some communication with the external multi.
tude, thanks to the generous enterprise of the
United States Government, for it must be OBJ
served that the expedition which has been so
long talked of as about to proceed to Japan
from the ports of the American Republic, has
been only for while delayed, not altogether
abandoned.
The interruption is simply attributable to
that unlucky squabble about the British fisher
les, which appears to be undergoing the pro-
cess of an amicabe settlement, owing to the
better judgment of Mr. Webster and the ener-
getic resolution of Lord Malmesbury. Almost
Immediately may be anticipated, therefore, the
intelligence that the vessels engaged in the un-
dertaking already specified have set out for their
very singular place of destination.
at is impossible not to wait with peculiar
eagerness the result of this novel and humane
enterprise. For ourselves, we look forward to
that result with some such interest as we might
suppose would be awakened among the gener-
alty were balloon to soar off to one of the
planets under the direction of some experienced
eronaut. Nor can the comparison be regarded
ut is any way so very extravagant seeing that
Japan is to the rest of the world almost az un.
trodden region as the surface of the moon or
of Jupiter.
Seriously speaking, we may assert that we
do know rather more about the inhabitants of
the Flying Island than about the hitherto al
most inscrutable and nearly fabulous Japanese
Goownin, it is true, has given us an account
about the latter, but an account by no means so
categorical or explicit as that furnished in refer
ence to the former by Lemuel CULVER. The
wonder is how this ignorance could have so long
survived the application of the steam engine to
the purposes of navigation"
In any view Of the matter, says the American
this expedition, we should think, must be pro-
ductve of useful results. Japan, heretofore en-
cluded almost entirely from intercourse with the
rest of the world contains population of some
thirty or forty millions. The imperial cities of
the Empire vie with London and Paris in point
of population, magnificence and splendor. The
country is vastly productive, and affords the ma
terials of lucrative commerce. 1t is adverse
to the interest of the world and to the fellow.
ship which ought to exist among nations that
such populous and productive Empire should
continue in condition of isolation.