The weekly Placer herald., 1853-12-17
Japan EXPEDITION.

Landing of Commod re Perry-Recep
tion of the Presidents Letter BY the
Prince of IdSu.
1t had been arranged with the japanese
officials that the Presidents letter would
be delivered on Thursday morning, July
18th, at the town of Gori-hama, two
miles south of Uraga.
The morning was heavy and dark be-
| fore sunrise, but soon after cleared off
| brilliantly. As soon as the shore could
! he distinguished, it was seen that the prin-
cical hate ry on the promontory of Uraga
had been greatly amplifed and adorned
hy screens Of cotton canvass, in honor of
the occasion.
About o'clock the anchors were lifted, !,
and the Susquehanna and Mississippi
moved slowly down the Bay, leaving the
Plymouth and Saratoga. We soon saw
two boats bearing the Government flag,
pulled abreast of us, but farther in shore,
and accompanied by four other boats with
red banners, probably containing milf
tary escort. AS the hight opened behind
the prOmontOry, we saw a long line of
canvass walls, covered with the Emperial
crest, stretching quite around the head of
the hight. In front were files Of soldiers,
standing motionless on the sandy beech.
A multitude of banners of various brilli
ant colors g canned in the sun.
The anchor was no sooner down, than
the two Government boats sculled along
side, the Yezaimon, with the Interpreters,
TatsonoSke and Tokosniuro, came on
board. The second boat contained the
Deputy Governor. SaborOske, and an at
tendant officer. They were Accommodated
with seats on the quarter deck, until all
our preparations for landing were com
pleted They were dressed, as they had
nted the day previous, in official gar.
ments of rich silk brocade, hordered with
velvet. The gowns differed lit e in form
from those they ordinarily wore, hut were
elanorately embroidered, and displayed a
greater variety of gay cO!ors than taste in
their disposal.
We al felt, that, as being the
of the Portuguese from Japan,
when Il foreign Ambassador had been off
cially received on Japanese soil, it was
memorable event in the history OF both
countries, and that, if not an augury of
the future and complete success of the
Expedition, it was at least commence
ment more auspicous than we had ven
tured to anticipate.
The searnen and marines were formed
into line as soon as they were landed,
and presented a compact and imposing
file a ong the beach. The detachnents
of scatnen were under the command of
Lieut.. John X. Duer, of the Suac uehan-
ma; Lieut.. Charles Nj. Morris, Of the
Mississippi; Lieut.. John Matthews, Of the
Plymouth, and Passed Midshirman Robt.
w. Scott, of the Saratoga. Including the
officers there were upward of $40 persons
landed, while the japanese troops amour
ted, as they themselves informed us, TO
FIVE thousand.
A salute was fired from the Susque
hanna, as the Commodore left, accom-
panied by his staff, Commodore Adams
and Lieut.. Coffee, and the men bad
scarcely been formed into line before his
barge approached the shore.
He was received with the customary
honors, and the procession Immediately
started for the place of reception. A
staI xart boatswan's mate was selected to
bear the broad pennant of the Comm0
dore, upported by two very ia and pow
erful negro seamen, completely armed. I.
Behind these followed two sal or boys
bearing the letter of the President and
! the Conmod0re's letter of credence, in
their sumptuous boxes, wrapped in scarlet
cloth. Then came the Commodore him
self, with his staff and escort of officers.
The marine force, fine, athletic body of
men, commanded by Major Zellin, with
detac hment from the Mississippi, under
Capt. Slack, led the wav, and the corps
of seamen from all the ships brought up
the rear.
The house of reception was directly in
front of the landing, but an intervening
screen rendered n slight detour necessary
; in order to reach the entrance; and Major
Zei in made the most of this circumstance
in order to display our forces to the Japa-
nese.
The japanese were armed with the Old
Tower muskets, which are to he found
in every part of the world, with flint locks
and bay yonets.
The building into which the Commo-
dore and suite were ushered was smal ,
and appeared to have been erected in
haste. The timbers were of pine wood,
and numbered, as if they had been
brought from some other place.
On the right hand was a row of arm
chairs, sufficient in number for the Com
modore and his staff, while on the oppo-
site side sat the Prince who had been ap-
pointed to receive the Presidents letter,
1 L