Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-05
INTERESTING FROM THE JAPAN EXPEDITION
PROM the NEW YORK ooMnrRcIAI ApyERrlsER.

PROM THE NEW YORK COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.
We very willingly put aside much editorial matter to
make room for the following very interesting letter,
kindly placed at our disposal from gentleman officially
attached to Commodore PERRYs expedition. The reader
will perceive that it addressed to friend Of the
writer's aud makes auson to his having been on board
the Morrison, which visited Yedo bay in 1887 1t sup
plies by far the best account have yet of the
ceedngs and comparative of the mission, the
setting on foot of which will be perpetual honor to Mr.
FILLMoREs Administration. The London Times affects
think that when Commodore PERRY returns next year
he will incur hostile reception. The Times overlooks
the fact that the posponement of negotiations was the
act not of JAPAN but of Commodore Perry himself and
therein the gallant officer evinced consummate wisdom
and diplomacy
UNITED STATES STEAM FRIGArE susoUEmANNA,
AUGUST 3, 1858.
am now returning China after second visit to the
port of Napa and bay of Yedo under very different cir
cumstances from the visit made to those places sixteen
years ago.
The squadron under Commodore Perry reached Napa
about May g. consisting of steamers Susquehanna and
Mississippi sloop Saratoga, and storeshp Supply The
first thing did refuse all the presents from
the rulers and the next to request the Regent to
send officer board himself to the Com
modore, who had something to tell him. The Regent
accordingly and brought with him small present.
e received with considerable state and informed
that the Commodore would return the visit at the palace
wished provisions furnished to the ships at fair prices
| and intended to walk the island
All the usual excuses were made about the poverty of
the people and their wicked and dangerous dispositions,
the long and tedious journey (hree miles TO Shin, and
the utter worhessness of their presents Of sak and CAKE
which made it unnecessary to return the visit But all
would do, and i'll due time the Yankees marched to
Shin and down in the palace there; the place
that we had SO much doubt about when obliged
examine it through the telescope from the Morrsons
deck.
n tha If VIII oh AZ
hundred officers, marines, and sailors conducted Com
Perry the capital of Lew Chew and received rather
grand entertainment from the dgnitaries Of the island
We made some display with thirty naval uniforms,
our forty musicians hundred marines and our
two brass field pieces drawn by eighty sailors as
yelled the wellpaved road ascending to the town
This surely satisfaction enough for not having been
permitted at the first visit to go through single street
of Napa any further into the country than the officers
could help after they had notice of landing We went
along the very road taken by you and Mr.. h and the
rest the morning landed Podzung bridge in the
boat with Capt. IngGso and the road as far as now
retraced it. seemed marvellousy familiar to me- wildly
recalling the memory of those who were then with me-
/ have since walked wherever liked, and others have
gone further, every where finding we-cutvated coun
try but poor peasintry We have made the authorities
supply the ships at reasonable rate; have persuaded
them to rent us house and build coal depot sell us
articles of manufacture of various kinds and prevent the
underlngs Of Government logging steps like spies
wherever went The people still timid Of free in
tercourse, for do not well understand each others
a
OF, especially in suburban villages; and full confidence
must be matter OF time, subject to many drawbacks
All this IS perhaps not to be ascrbed visit for
other menofwar have been here and English mission
airy lives here with his family in the temple oil visited
and took ten at in 1887, Capstan Point but
we have begun order of things, and shall probably
60 on to further violations of the foolish restrictions i'm
posed by these islanders upon intercourse with their fell
ow-men The Plymouth is to winter at Napa that this
gradual acquaintance will not cease its progress.
From Napa the four ships started for Yedo bay each
steamer towing soop, and the 8th of July cast
anchor oil Uraga ibout three miles further than Capt
ngerso anchored and beyond the reef Of rocks which
alarmed him much. Dozens of boats full Of
and two-sabred officers alongside; but greatly to
their amazement, not one of them allowed to come
up the side of either of the other ships and only three
officers to BOARD the flag ship, that until their
rank had been formally inquired into Instead of hear
ing what they had soy, we told them that high impe
rial commissioner AID ambassador had from Amer-
ca to visit the Emperor of Japan; that he had letter to
be presented to officer of equal rank; and that we
wished them to ashore and ask the highest dgniary
at Uaga to come of next day and take Commodore Per-
rvs communication, limiting the time that they
must set guardboat about the ships they did wish
them fred their inquiry if we wished any water
or any thing else we replied that we wanted nothing Of
them except to take the Presidents letter.
The next day the Chief Magistrate of Uraga came on
board and various meetings and interviews followed all
conducted between him and Capts Buchanan and Adams
for Commodore Perry not until it was agreed TO
receive him Shore and that then two special officers
would take President Flmores letter behalf Of the
Emperor
On the 18th of July the two steamers moved as near
into the place they could and Commodore Perry landed
the shores Of japan at the request Of its rulers where
than four hundred OF his countrymen stood ready TO
escort him to the place Of meeting The were
anchored not than half mile from the Morrson's
anchorage and the meeting about that distance
the point where the four panted 1887
drive her away Curtains had been hung along the beach
aud three neat sheds erected for the OCCASION in and
around which upward Of FIVE thousand japanese were as
sebed In good order from fifteen hundred to two thou
sand Of whom soldiers to be spectators OF this
ing Of the farhest and the strand Of Gori-
hama. About thirty high dgnitsres, Of whom the Princes
Of IlEa and lwami the Imperial Enjoys and sup.
pose all the local authorities made up the rest No re-
Treatments offered, and all discussion respecting
the letters Of out Of places that there
not much 20 be done. The boxes were delivered one
contained President Flmores letter. the other the Gre
denals. receipt given for them, and left
The two princes rather old men, and had one
would Judge from their looks screwed their faces and
figures into certain fixed expression and position while
the infection lasted which relaxed we moved
away just a. does when arises from Daguerreo-
typist's stall
Capt Buchanan the FIRST man ashore and conduct
ed the landing and embarcaon without the least mishap
The soldiers and spectators placed along and be-
hind the curtains evidently prevent all attempt TO
rambe In the country and made any movement Of
the kind Ny feelings Of the triumphant sort
abi wished that others who In the Morrison on
July 81, 1887, had been At Gorihama on July IL 1853
vas satisfactory enough to to the proceedings
have skstched
We In bay three days afterward having e1cbanc-
"a fsw rfng presents with the Governor Of Uraga las
called him and parted Ia good terms with the pro.
Hise g. come and visit him year. Perhaps he will
manage V resign meanwhile lest worse evil come upon
hin.
The result n the expedition this year encourages one TO
h@s That vhea appears again of Uraga the demands