Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-19
THE JAPAN EXPEDITION.


FROM THE dERMANrowS (PA.) TELEGRAPH
The following letter from an officer of high rank in the
Japan Expedition, received by the editor Of this paper
viii be read with deep attention In several respects IL
is the most interesting that has yet not
excepting that Of Mr. B. TAYLOR though not SO literal or
diuse. Our thanks particularly due our esteem
ed friend board the Susquehanna for the fu6lmen of
promise made few days before the expedition sailed
from the United States.
U. S. SKIP SUsouRHASSA, AT SEA,
AUGUST Arm, 1853
DEAR MAJOR: You had the terrors of high postage
before your eyes when you asked TO write to you from
this side OF the world have spared you long while
but now you must pay the penalty Of your ndiscreton
Since left Norfolk eight months ago, have visited Ma
deira ST. Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, Nautilus
Ceylon, Singapore, Macao Hong Kong Canton Shanghai
the Loo Choo Islands, the BONN Islands, and finally ia
PAN; at all of which places much that novel
and interesting to me- but not worth relating in letter.
especially there is order from the Navy Department
against communicating the Of the squadron to
editors and Others However, do not think it will in
fringe either the letter the spirit of the order 10 send
you account Of the delivery Of the Presidents letter in
JAPAN the first step of Commodore PERRY's mission
The Susquehanna Mississippi, Plymouth, and Sarato-
ga arrived in the bay of Yedo, JAPAN the Sh of July
and anchored off the city of Uraga which is about TWEEN
y-fve miles from Yedo, the capital The hills near the
water every where covered with Notifications They
had evidently been preparing for The flagship was
Immediately visited by officer from shore to know why
we came here to say it against their laws for for
egn ships 10 anchor at this place that 20 away
and if had any communications to make they must be
sent from Nangasak through the Dutch To this it
replied that the Commodore would 90 to Nangasaki
that he would have nothing to do with Dutch that
he had brought letter from the President of the Uni
tee states to the EMPEROR OF Japan, which must be
ceyed here's and that officer of the highest rank in the
Empire must be appointed for that purpose and to deliv
I'er it to the Emperor
After negotiating and disputing few days. we carried
every point and the preparatory arrangements being
made on the morning of the l4th July the Susquehanna
and mississippi got under way down. and anchored
OH the village of Gori-hanns about two miles from Ura-
ga which the place appointed for the landing for il
had been stipulated that the letters should be delivered
onore The ships sprang their broadsdes to bear upon
the spot The boats of the squadron manned and armed
with coors flying carrying double crews, oil the Marines
ana as many officers could be spared from the vessels
now assembled around the flag ship. On shore could
perceive thousands of troops long files extending
the mouth OF the valley from hill to HILL Lines of cotton
CLOTH having the coats of Of different princes and
ocers stamped or painted them stretched along
behind the front ranks to conceal their preparations
IN the rear Flags and banners Of gaudy coors but
chiefly red were dspayed every where On one side of
the bay great number Of large boats filed with men,
were anchored in line and bore flags of various devices
CroWds OF spectators were collected at different points,
drawn By curiosity to witness this novel spectacle
The boats under Captain BUCHANAN, now formed into
line and showed off for the shore. When the headmos
ones had nearly reached the beach, about mile distant
the Commodore left the ship under salute of thirteen
guns By the time his barge reached the beach the Off
seamen and marines hadlanded and were drawn up
to receive the Commodore Their appearance very
imposing, the officers in handsome undress uniform the
seamen IN white shirts blue trowsers and blue caps with
bands of red white and blue ornamented with stars and
the marines in their becoming uniform There about
40 in all Of which fifty remained By the boats guard
them. The barge reached the little etty which had been
built for convenience in landing; the Commodore,
companed by Commander ADAMS, Captain of the feet
and Mr. CoSTEE Flag Lieutenant all in full dress, step
ped on Shore the drums rolled the marines and sailors
presented arms the band struck up and the hills Of Nj
phon echoed with the sound Of Hail, Columbia
The procession then formed and marched short way
up from the beach to where the Japanese troops
paraded. In front of them enclosure in which
two new open buildings had been erected for the occasion
The Commodore and his suite passed through the first one
and there found nunber Of Japanese officers in rich
dresses squatted the foor which was covered with
mating and sort Of red felt They rose respectfully
as the train entered, aud remained standing until it had
passed into the second building which joined the
first In this room raised platform, the upper
end Of which placed large and handsome Japanned
box chest On the left hand side you entered were
seated two old of very high rank dressed in lowered
6roeade silks and embroidery The highest in rank
Toda Idzu-no Kami, Toda Prince Of Idzu This was
the ocer accredited by the Emperor TO receive from the
Conmodore's hands the letter of the President His as
sociate was lido Iwami-no Kam Ido Prince Of Iwami
They spoke not word but rose at the entrance Of the
Commodore On the side OF the platform opposite 70
them were four chairs for the Commodore and three Of
heers OF his suite. After they seated-the rest
standing-the Presidents letters brought in They
we're contained in two black walnut boxes with gold
clasps and to each attached the great seal of
United States in gold box and ornamented with cords
tassels OF Due ana god. IneSe were upon
japanese chest and declared to Be dred Receipts for
them in Japanese and Dutch then handed 10 the
Commodore, and the business announced be over
In al this time the Princes uttered word nor
moved muscle. They sat like bronze statues. Yezai-
mon, the Governor Of Urags and an interpreter, who
were present and assisting, kept their knees all the
while and apparently did not dare to look the great
in the face, they always bowling their heads to the floor
when they were turned towards them.
When the Commodore rose to depart TodR ldzu and
lido Iwami also The cortegs then returned tb;
boats in the order had left them with coors fly
ing and martial music sounding Every thing shore
quiet and orderly The Japanese soldiers kept their
ranks the spectators their places. heard not word
spoken but soldiers with muskets, with match1
locks, and with spears and shields two small
field pieces. / saw horses well cararisoned and there
cavalry behind the The time Sd
short and the objects diversified that the eye could
hardly dwell upon the half Of them Icing enough to make
m impression the memory.
We had felt doubt Of their intentions when VIC
the large force collected shores but every thing
conducted in good faith and with good order From
oar prepare TORS the state of discipline and the su
9erority oour arms any attempt at teachery on the
part would have been very unsafe Notwithstanding Il
disparity Of numbers.
Contrast this with the treatment Count REsAYoFE, th
Russian Ambassador, received from the japanese whe
he went to Nangnsah with letters from the Emperd
ALEXANDER and presents worth quarter OF a million
dollars. After keeping him waiting for six months du3
ing which time he subjected to oil sorts Of adgn
ties and submitted to oil sorts Of huniliaons he
last granted interview with of their greet
which occasion he was allowed to his SHOE
his sword, stand up, but compelled 20 sit
tie floor with his legs doubled underhm in manner
only nconveniea Russian, but extremely reioulou
End after bearing all this he told that neither his R
ter his presents himself would be received and tn
Japan possible and return
The letter Of the President is TO be left to work IN