Columbia gazette., 1853-12-31

ence on the part Of the Japanese, who
seemed tohaye made up their minds tc
submit to these unusual proceedings
Too much credit, however, cannot 5.
awarded to different officers, and espe-
4cilly = Lieut. Bent, for the GOODNESS
md courage with which they prosecuted
their work When we consider that this
yne of the greatest Bays in the world
has never .]t been surveyed, the inter
est and valG Of their labors will be bet.
ter understood.
DEPARTURE OF THE EXPEDITION FROM
Yezaimon came again on Saturday
morning, accompanied by both the In.
terpreters. This time they brought Q
number Of presents, as souvenirs of oul
visit-consisting of lackered cups, very
light and elegant in form, brocade silks
richly wrought with gold and silver
thread, tobacco pipes and peaches, and
fans covered with hideously distorted
and lackadaisical pictures of japanese
ladies. The Commodore was willing to
receive them, but insisted on giving
something in return. A selection of
American manufactures was made, which,
with some maps, engravings, arms, &C.,
formed a4rcturn more than equal in val
ue. They refused to take anything, az
iirming that it was forbidden BY their
laws and would subject them to the dan
ger Of losing their lives: besides, they
said, the presents offered them were too
valuable to be accepted. They were
willing to receive, each, some small ar
ticles which they could conceal about
their persons. They were positively in
formed that We could accept of nothing
unless they took our gifts, with the ex-
ception Of the arms, which were remov-
ed, as they stated that they could in no
case give or receive arms. When Ye-
zainon saw his presents about to be tuln-
bed back into his boat, he yielded at
once, choosing what he probably con-
sdered the least dangerous horn Of the
dilemma.
In the afternoon they returned in the
best possible humor, their course having
probably been sanctioned by some high
er authority on shore. They brought
off quantity Of fowls in light wicker
coops, and three or four thousand eggs
in boxes, taking away in return large
box Of American garden-seeds. The
interview lasted considerable time, as
they were socially disposed, and partook
of refreshments, both.solid and LIQUID. =
Tatsonoske stated, in half confidential
way, that the letter.of the President had
been received in Yedo, and that if the
translation which they had already re-
ceived through the Dutch, corrcsponded
with the original, the Government would
be disposed to regard it very favorably.
He also limited that Yezaimon would
shortly be promoted to much higher
rank. The latter was exceedingly jov.
ial, and stated, by an expressive panto-
mine, that he would shed tears on the
departure of the squadron. 1t was dusk
when the boat pulled off, and the shad-
ows of the wooded hills, lengthening over
the water, soon hid from sight the last
glimpse of our Japanese friends.
On Sunday morning, the 18th, we
hove anchor, and Started for Loo Choo,
having in ten days already accomplished
more than any other nation has been
able to effect for the last two centuries.
The universal feeling On board was one
Of honest pride and cxultation. Know
ing the cunning and duplicity of the
people with whomwe had to deal, it was
a satisfaction to find all their arts of d.
plomacy completely shattered by the
simple, straight forward, resclute course
adopted by Commodore Perry. Moth
ing could have been better managed
from first to last: and though l would
not encourage too sanguine anticipa-
ton Of the final result, am confident
that ifhe carries the undertaking through
in the same spirit with which he has be-
gun it, he will secure all its most impor-
tant ends.
The day Of our departure was clear
and warm, and the morning light fell
softly on the verdurous shores, as we
passed the promotory of Uraga. The
soldiers all gathered on the terraces, in
front of the batteries, to see us pass
The Mississippi kept such station on
our port quarter, that from the shore
she would appear as far behind the Sar-
afoga as that vessel from the Susque-
hanna and the sight Of four great war
ships, with all sails furled and yards
squared, keeping equi-distant from each
other to a hairs breadth, ye. moving
through the water at the rate Of eight
or nine knots, must have struck the
Japanese as something miraculous. The
day was so clear that the inhabitants of
both shores had an excellent opportuni-
ty Of seeing the performance Of the YES
sells, aud ve soon found that the news