The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-11-16

lie, by the hundred. near and around our
ships, thus guarding and watching US. as
has been their custom. THE Columbus
and Vincennes having from five hundred
to one thousand boats around them con-
stanay all linked together.) That we
them off. Here you have the. basis Of my
Instructions. Thus armed, l took Mr..
Mandarin and interpreter, with my two
interpreters - Mr.. Williams in Chinese,
and Mr.. Postman in Dutch-into the
cabin.
After being seated a moment, Mr.. Man.
DARN arose, made a salaam a japanese,
and then extending his hand, we shook
hands,; then seated ourselves. using Mr..
Postman as interpreter, as the Japanese
interpreter spoke Dutch auently. l thus
opened. 'sTell the lieutenant governor
(for such was the m~andarin) that l am the
aid of our chief. the admiral, and am in
structed to speak for him. We have come
here on a friendly mission, with friendly
intentions, TO deliver a letter from the Pres
eign, the Emperor of Japan; that the let
ter is ready for delivery by 8 o'clock to-
morrow, to any mandarin sufficiently high
to receive it," To this it was replied:
sit must be referred to high powers to
know who can receive the letter. | then
asked, "How long will it take to give us
an answer?" They could not tell. |
said, 81 think the sooner the better, as we
are anxious. to be off" The reply was.
81 do not think it will take long;" and it
was then understood that, in the morning
a mandarin would be of to receive the
letter.
| then emphatically said: "This ship
has aboard the chiei-there is his penant.
All messages from shore must come here
by a high mandarin. No boats must go
to the other ships; their commanders have
orders not to permit intercourse; they have
no right to think and must obey. We
insist that no boats shall hang around our
vessels to watch them" This was not
palatable. They said: at is Japanese
custom law, and we must carry them out"
"Tell him. sir, that we too have our GUS
toms, and with men-of-war one of the
laws is that no boat is allowed 10 come
within a certain range" There was no
positive consent given just then to what
they would do; they evaded il by asking
questions: "Where are you from?" 'From
the United States of America Eyes: but
from what part, Washington, New York,
Boston!' My surprise was so great. that
smiled and told him, ssome from Wash.
ington, some from New York, all parts;
that the President of the United States liv-
ed in Washington" "What is the name
of the ship, how many people, guns, &c.?'
"Tell him, sir, that we are not traders, we
seek no trade, we are armed ships, and
our custom is never 10 answer such ques.
TONS"
The questions were again repeated in
pretty much the same way, when | told
Mr.. P. to make the same reply. and to
add that | have no curiosity to know how
many men are either in the Emperor's ar.
my or in his navy; and also that he could
see for himself that we had four ships; tina
we had others in these waters. "Wher
;, will the others come?' 81 don't know; j
depends upon the answer 10 the letter.
"What are the contents OF the %letter!'
"Tell him, sir. that the letter is from the
President to the Emperor Of Japan. and j
: would be most indelicate. in me to inquire
into its contents" This rebuke was re
ceived in an apologize amer, and the
questioning dropped. then again alludee
10 the boats which were still clustering
around our ship and the other ships; tolt
him it was absolutely necessary that they
should be kept off; that this must be done
1--WE shall be sorry, with our kind ane
friendly feelings to you. to do you am
harm, or to come into collision with you
! but, If you do not order your boats off, W,
shall fire into them and drive them of
! Our boats are now armed and ready. ant
: we cannot allow you more than hfteer
minutes to give your orders and keep then
off At the end Of that time you mus
: suffer-"
; Mr., Mandarin went out, told this 10 tn
: boats, and came in. Nov | must hav'
an answer. Whathave you decided abou
!. the boats?" 81 have ordered them OF
from all the ships. and with orders to com
municate only with this" Eyes, from al
the ships; and it any come around you
send word to the governor, and he viii
punish thom." Thus was this point, nev
err before yielded. conceded. After a few
g more remarks | bowed Mr.. Mandarin of
and away he went on shore, taking tn,
I boats off with him.
! My interview with my friend was agail
renewed in the evening, and in rather
2 different phase, which does not promise t
end so peacefully; but Tomorrow will tell
. AT present. am TOO tired, having been VI
2 all day from an early hour-and here W
? are. too. our pistols loaded. our sword
/; ready al hand, armed men and s%entinel
2 patrolling the decks. guns loaded. AM
2 trained, and cast loose; for we lie dow
to sleep tonight in the neighborhood o
10000. 900 of men. brave. enterprising
ready, never conquered. 1t behooves u
to be watchful. So ] will go to bed an
rest.
SUNDAY, July 11-12 A. M.-This hal
lowed day Of quiet has again come rou
and finds US lying quietly at our anchors
$ enjoying a day of rest; our broadside
upon the towns and forts on the shore; GU
e glasses watching The marches and coun
g termarches OF their troops on shore, parad
ed by their different mandarins. TIL
y spirit OF preparation for resistance an
a l Joofl,, ~rn1inr thorn TIL