Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-22

| tity of flax straw already grown, and increase
her production sufficiently at all events to sup
| ply the quantity in manufactured state which
she requires for the consumption of her own
! population. H. P. B.
4 We learn that, since Professor Wilson came
to the United States, the American Flax Com
i pany, Of which Mr.. Thomas Kimber, jr., of
Philadelphia, is the managing director, have
commenced the erection Of the requisite ma
chinery upon Buchanan's method, and that
steps have been taken to secure the process by
1 patent in the United States. The cost of the
whole machinery, we understand, is but about
i $2,500.-Ed Louisville Jour.
From the New York Tribune
The Japan Expedition.
| We have received no letters intended for
publication from Mr.. Bayard Taylor since he
joined the Japan feet, but private note from
him dated on June 20, at the harbor of Napa
kiang, Loo Choo, states very briefly few facts
of interest, which it is not improper for us to
communicate to our readers. He writes as
follows: Behold me here, in this remote and
rarely-visited corner Of the Pacific sweating
under torrid sun, clothed in the lightest un.
dressed uniform allowed by the navy regula-
tons, and living from hand to mouth, now on
salt-horse and sea-buiscuit and now on turtle
steaks and wildboar outlets. I have not vet
been two months in the service, but its ordered,
artificial life is 50 new and peculiar, so differ
| ent from all my previous experiences, that, al
though am now tolerably at home in it, the
time seems greatly prolonged. / have, in fact,
seen and done a great deal since leaving
Shanghai. We sailed ON the 18th Of May,
leaving the Plymouth there, and after deten-
ton of three days at the mouth Of the Yang
tse-Kiang, sailed direct for this place, at the
southwestern corner of the Great Loo-Choo
Island, where we arrived on the Goth. Proba-
| bly, not more than dozen vessels had ever
been here before, and the arrival Of our two
great steamers, with the Saratoga aud Supply,
created, as you may suppose, an immense SEN
sation. Loo-Choo is tributary to the Japanese
Prince Of Satsuma, and the people are Japan
4 ese in dress, customs and government, though
not, as 4 think, in race. They approximate
nearer to the Malay. After the regent had
been received on board, and good under
standing established, the commodore appointed
party of four of whom was one---to explore
the interioroft the island. No white man had ever
been more than three miles from Napa before.
We took four men and some Chinese coolies
| with u.s. aud started on six days tramp, du-
ring which we made one hundred and eight
miles, and thoroughly explored more than one
half the island We were attended by govern
ment officers, who acted as spies, but did not
attempt to control our movements. We led
them such dance as they never had before,
but 1t was impossible to escape their espionage
Scouts were sent in advance wherever we went.
and the natives driven away from the road.
The inhabitants either shut up their houses or
hid themselves; not through fear Of us, as
many little incidents proved, but Of their own
rulers. The island is one of the most beautiful
in the world very fertile, admirably cultivated,
and combining in its scenery the characteristics
both of the tropic and temperate zones We
discovered ruined castle, FIVE hundred and
/ nifty feet long, on the summit Of mountain.
4 besides many ancient tombs, hewn in the rocks.
The northern part of the island is mountainous.
and covered with dense forests, in which wild
boars are found. The trip was altogether the
most fantastic and peculiar | ever made. We
took a tent, but lodged mostly in the cunqgua,s
or government houses, which are very neat and
comfortable. Our native escort furnished us
with provisions and bearers for our baggage.
On Monday, the 9th instant, the Commodore
returned the Regents visit at Sheudi, the royal
residence, three miles from here. He went in
state, with procession of more than two hun.
dred officers, seamen and marines, with two
field pieces and two bands Great numbers of
the natives came to witness our array. We
/ IL,
see either the young Prince or the Queen Dow
ager. After the reception we had grand ma
tive dinner at the regents house. partook of
thirty-one nondescript dishes, and was then
Obliged to stop Everything passed off remark
ably well. We left here on the 9th for the
Benin Archipelago, eight hundred miles to the
eastward Of this, taking the Saratoga in tow
and leaving the Mississippi and Supply behind
| After delightful voyage of five DAYS we
reached Port Lloyd, the harbor Of Peel island
where we remained four days. / was appointed
to the command of an exploring party. The
island is only six miles long, but very rugged
and covered with the densest tropical vegeta
ton. | never had such a hard days work in
my hfe, although we only travelled twelve
| miles. had seven men, officers and seamen.
with me. Two of them broke down complete.
| ly, third barely dragged himself along, and
| the others were wofully fatigued. We climbed
| down mile of precipices by holding on to the
corners of rocks and the roots Of trees; shot a
wild boar, kindled a fire and roasted his flesh.
and had grand time generally. The Benin
islands are of volcanic formation, and though
in lat 27o n. the vegetation is that which is
elsewhere found near the equator. The inhabi-
tants-30 in all--are English, American, and
Kanak-mostly runaway sailors, who raise a
few vegetables which they sell to sailors. Port
Lloyd is splendid and secure habor, and the
only one in all this part of the Pacific which
will answer as stopping place and calling sta
ton for our new Pacific steamers, when thew
get under way. We can even afford to lose
the chance of a station in Japan, if we get
Port Lloyd. Altogether | have employed Nv
time pleasantly and proftably, since entering
the service. We returned on the 23d and found
the Plymouth in from Shanghai with the
mails my first news from home is nearly seven
months. We leave here for Jeddo in three
days. The length Of our stay is, Of course nm,
certain, but as soon as get back again to some
Chinese port, shall resign, and make straight
across the Pacific have mighty hunger to
get back to civilization. / am tired to death Of
barbarians, especially of the Chinese, with their
monstrosities and denominations, and suppose
the Japanese are not much better. What see
of the operation of the Japanese laws in Loo.
Choo disgusts me. / think we shall certainly
sail on Wednesday and spend our fourth Of
July in the bay of Jeddo. Amateur theatricals
-.s La n - rss