The weekly Placer herald., 1853-10-22
Late and important from China
Vts,t of Commodore Perry to Japan.
Reception OF the Embassy.
Taking of Pekin- Insurgents everyache'
successful.

Bay bringing late and important intelli-
gence from China and Japan. 1t will be
seen that Com. Perry has been to Jeddo
and dispatched the letter of the President
of the United States to the Emperor.
The China Mail, of August 9th has
the following: "The first scene of the
drama, "Japan Opened" has been played
and very cleverly played too, if we can
believe the accounts Of it which are now
current here. The United States fleet
destined for the doing so, or rather part
of it, VIZ: The steamers Susquehanna
and Mississippi, and the sloops-of war
Plymouth and Saratoga, left the coast of
Loochoo on the Sd July, and steamed into
the bay of Jeddo, each steamer having in
tow one of the sloops, on the -th OF the
same month. 1t was but very short time
after they bad come to anchor when the
"civility" which had hitherto been forced
upon all vessels of war-whether Amer
lean, French or Englsh-that Of having
Gordon of boats thrown around them
was proffered, indeed pressed upon Com.
Perry, a civiity, however, which the
Commodore not only did not value, but
demurred at receiving. But little time
elapsed before the Mandarins of the p ace
presented themselves on the quarter deck
of the Susquehanna. twas explained to
their chief that the courtesy thus protfer
ed was not appreciated, and that it would
be well that the boats Immediately took
themselves off. The Mandarin replied
that it was Japan s'fashion'-a fashion to
which not only American, but other ma
tions had submitted, which could not be
dispensed with. We believe that Com
Perry is not given to swearing, but he SO
quickly and energeticaliy explained that
u longer detention Of the boats around his
vessels would not only be looked upon as
an insult, but would be resented as such,
that one wave from the fan of the leading
| Mandarin caused them to disperse-the
sight of the ponderous guns on board
leaving him no alternative. Eastern cum
ming, however, induced the notion that
what would not be permitted when hun
dreds were engaged, might be looked over
when engaged in by tens. This move
ment however did not escape observation,
and the lowering of a few boats, in which
were marines with their muskets loaded,
very speedily dismissed those that remain
ed. During the stay of the vessels at
Jeddo no attention Of this sort was again
pressed upon the formidable strangers.
The Commodore having informed the
highest officials in Jeddo tor what pur-
pose he had visited the country, explained
that 1t would be necessary to send to the
capital in order that the Emperor might
depute an officer of sufficient rank TO
meet him, TO receive from his hands the
letter Of the President of the United
States. A high officer was Immediately
/ dispatched from the capital, ard Il meet
! ing was shortly after fixed to take place.
! Ihe Commissioner appointed to receive
ihe Presidents letter received the Com
modore on shore with a guard Of honor
amounting, it s said to 5000 nen--sol-
dier-like in their appearance and armed
with matchlocks and English muskets.
The Commodore, on landing, with a
guard of honor of about 400 men, accom-
panied hy the bands Of the two steamers,
was received most graciously, and hav-
ing delivered the Presidents letter, he
was told it would be Immediately carried
to the Emperor, whose deepest attention
would be Immediately bestowed upon it,
The Commodore, in reply, stated it was
Il matter which involved the highest and
best interests OF Japan,-that he had no
desire to hurry his Imperial Majesty to
any hasty decision, that he would have
the honor of again calling, when he ex-
pected favorable reply would await him,
some time during next spring.
Our "medium" not being at hand, we
have no means of inspecting the private
records of the Commodore, but we believe
that what we have said pretty nearly cm-
braces all that has been done, and if we
have come any ways near the truth we
can only compliment Com. Perry on the
statesman-like conduct which he has dis
played on this delicate mission; and we
have further to express our heartfelt hope
that all things will prove propitous for
his spring visit-that his diplomacy NAV
then be brought to an end alike credtabe
to his country and himself"
The fleet has returned to Hong Kong
from Japan and is to receive an answer to
the Presidents letter on its return to Jeddo
next March.
There is no doubt that the great city of
Pekin has fallen into the hands of the in
surgents. They are everywhere success
fnl. The city and district Of c hing keang-
foo, and the city of Fungyang have also
been taken by the insurgent army.
The Times s. Transcript of Thursday,
comes out in an entire new dress and
! 4 =.