Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-03


but that he could not receive il. To which | re-
Piled: The distance, TO be sure, was very long,
ana we mad come a great way-that we could not
think OF going 10 Nagasaki-that the letter was an
important one, and that our President had ordered
US 70 denver u as near the city of Jeddo as pos.
sipie therefore we were here, and | trusted that
the letter would be received in the morning."
TO this he answered-ssNo one here can re-
ceive it. II would bring harm upon him-Nagas.
AK Is the only piace-that he did not believe il
the letter was received that the emperor would
answer it, To this i Replied Does your gov.
ernor dare TO take upon himself the responsibility
10 refuse 10 receive a letter written TO his soye.
reign, and 10 forward it 10 him? Il is a very
grave responsibility to refuse to receive the letter
sent from one sovereign 10 another He then
said The governor may receive it, but we can't
tell when the answer may come = but then added,
. that he had not the power to receive il, and must
wait and refer it,
| replied that sthis letter was a very important
one-that it would be a great insult to the Presi-
dent OF the United States not TO receive il. That
as 10 the emperor's not answering il, that was not
our business now, that would be settled AFTER
He said, "Thisis Japanese custom; you Americans
don't understand Japanese customs" &c. | re-
piled, We Americans do business decidedly,
promptly" AT this point ! went out, and referred
this new phase of the discussion TO the commo-
dore, and by his order broke up the interview,
telling him that If the governor did not seRd of
for the letter in the morning, we would ourselves
deiiverit in the town of Orogama. He was rather
mission TO come OFF in the morning. To this | as.
taken aback by this decision, and requested per-
sented. He then took his leave. Before going of
he stepped back to our long gun aft, which is all
clear, and showing its massive proportions, and
examining il, said, looking interrogatorily, "Paix-
han" II he has an acquaintance with :. Paixhan,"
l trust 1t IS from reading and not from practice.
AT six O'Clock the next morning | was called on
deck to receive the mandarin so | dressed hur.
ridly and went up. There was the same story,
but he proposed to send TO Jeddo for permission.
We gave him until Thursday, at 12 o'clock, saying,
" If the letter was not received we would regard
II as an insult to the President, and act according
ly.' So it rests.
July 17.-One week has passed since | have
written a word, and a week of much excitement,
and greatevents. And here VIZ are, thank heaven,
safe and IN nine days we have effected much
so much, that the world will be gratifed, and our
country feel herself honored. We have landed in
Japan, within twenty-five miles of Jeddo, with
armed tr9ons and armed men, and delivered our
sioners-two princes, Que q counciIIor IF The
realm, and appointed by his Majesty TO receiv. us.
But | am ahead of events, and must more leisurely
detail the interviews, arrangements, &c., which
led to an issue so happy, so peaceful, so desirable,
and which have reflected much eclaf upon the
hrmness and wisdom fCom. Perry. He has GER
tainly selected a course of conduct which reflects
great credit upon himself.
left of by telling you that we had given Tezi-
mon, governor, or highest authority in Uraga, or,
by his other little, athe learned scholar who rides,'
until Tuesday at IL o'clock, to get an answer from
Jeddo to our propositions that is, that the copies
OF the letters and credentials, with a letter Of tho
commodores inclosed, were 10 be received BY a
high mandarin. accredited by his master TO receive
them. On Monday we were TO receive informa.
ton from him OF the advancement of matters. On
that morning he came off quite pleased, and said
that he thought the letters would be received. By
the by, we showed him the letter, which is beauti-
fully done up in a case, and the seal enclosed in a
gold box, costing 81 900; so also with the commo-
dore's credentials. We had talked and palavered
over matters, answering many questions, and
amongst others, diplomatising about the propriety
OF surveying the harbor, &c, for in the morning.
the boats well armed, with the Mississippi to guard
them, had preceded her up the bay, sounding, and
mad advanced ten miles nearer 10 Jeddo, finding
plenty OF water, and a fine. large, capacious, mag
nlhcent harbor when it has always been sup
posed that Uraga was about as far as vessels Of
any size could go, so great is the mystery that
hangs around this land.
On the advance of the boats, the forts were
armed, the %dungaree and canvass screens, behind
winch rested the pixies ofthe ~soldiery, fairly tapped
with anger, and armed boats with about IS men
each started out from every point by the hundreds,
looking defiance but onward went our little boats,
throwing their leads and marking the sound
lngs, and steadily advanced the Mississippi on her
purpose. Our steam was up, and all the vessels
hove short TO slip and run to their assistance, and
throw IN Japanese forts, dungaree, cotton, boats and
all, a few paixhan shell. My opinion is that for these
thirty-slx hours, (and more particularly for these
six3 the japanese hesitated whether or not they
should at once resist, and try with us the fortunes
OF war. But so steady was our determination both
In council and in conduct, so utterly careless of
any action on their part, so perfectly confident of
our own resources and power, and so regardless
OF all danger, that they were paralyZed, and pru-
dent and friendly measures were decided.
is We'll to remark here, that they have been
making the most extensive preparations OF forts,
&C, lately, as is evident by their new works and
nose not yet hnlshed. Doubtless, there are full
l :ooO boats, averaging, with rowersr and soldiers,
20 men. In these waters we have seen, and could
have counted, 500; some on the water, their ban
ners flying, forty and fifty together; others hauled
upon the beach, ready TO launch out-at first mis-
taken for villages. But a new era is marked in
their history they have been placed on the de.
iensive they dared not begin the game, though l
yet believe that any harsh measures, on our part,
OF encroachment or injury would cause a deter.
mined and bloody resistance, for they are a free,
frank, pleasing, sociable, fearless people, and
would stand bravely TO the slaughter. These
traits may be expected in a land where sthe wives
and mothers are proverbially yirtuouso-the ex-
Gepiion being the rarity and proving the rule.
Wen will It be if we can make these people our
friends and our allies. Yes, heretofore they have
arrogantly dictated to all others; but with us the
game is changed. We have said so must YOU
do-this is our way. These steamers, too, moving
without sails, against wind and tide, have struck,
If not terror, at least wonder and wisdom into their
souls.
But to the interviews-this Of Monday evening
ended. Tuesday morning, about noon, they again
came OF, and our learned scholar, evidently wore
a more contented air-byeihe-bye, lehman is a
gentleman, clever, polished, well informed, a fine
large man, OF most excellent countenance, takes
his wine freely, and a boon companion. His are
IS thirty-four. He told US that the letters would
be received that the emperor was going to send
GOWN q nigh prince, and a councillor TO take them.
" When" Con day after tomorrow. We are
putting up a new house to receive you. and it can
moi be ready before then nor will the prince be
down until Tomorrow" 1t was now that we un.
derstood that they expected to receive the letter
OF the President, and the commodore's letter of
credence, instead ofthe copies of which it was the
intention to send first, reserving the last in hopes
OF forcing an interview at Jeddo. This was ex-
planned to them-when the change that came over
them was plain-they persisted that they had un-
dIerstood that the letters were to be received, not
the copies--the fear of the permission 10 rip him.
sell up, the Hari-KasD was evident in his face
yet the commodore persisted in this point. and we
sent HIM of TO give notice to higher powers that
In tho a6arnoo, L. .--{,,