Columbia gazette., 1853-12-24

BAYARD TATLOR'S REPORT
Editor ial Corysfpomdence of the ". J
Tribune.
'"'sD.l
On Monday morning the same survey
ing party was agail dispatched up til
bay, followed by The Mississippi, whicl
was designed to protect them and to,
them back in tn. evening. Lieut.
Bent's boat was in advance, and as h
passed the promoItory of Uraga, three
Japanese boats Iht out to meet him
The officers in them made signs to re
turn. but he keptssteadily On his way
We watched the progress Of our boat
with glasses, but q. the distance of fou
miles, they, with the Mississippi, passed
out of sight behind the point.
Several Government boats, fully man.
ned, were seen from time to time, pull
ling across the bay, in the direction Of
the surveying feet, but no prominent
movement occurred until noon. At this
time the distant shores were SO lifted by
the effect Of a mirage, that We saw land
extending entirely around the head oi
the bay, where previously none had been
visible. The este shore was remark
bly, distinct, and D. the first time, we
observed low, sand promontory stretch
ing out into the bay; FIVE or six miles to
the north of US Near the middle of it
rose low moun!, on which, by the aid
OF glass, We could discern number OF
soldiers. clustered around some white OBJ
jects, which I took to be tents. In a
short time, several hundred men were
marched down to Tie beach, where they
formed line nearly half mile in length.
At least fifty banners, of various colors
and devices, were planted along the line.
A number of Government boats, simi ar
to those which had visited us, were
drawn up on the 5each The greater
part Of the soldiers embarked in the
boats, which put og one after another,
and made directly across the bay. We
saw nothing more until o'clock in the
afternoon, when the Mississippi made
her appearance, at distance Of ten
miles. The hcadland Of Uraga was
crowded with soldiers, who came out to
see her pass.
From some of the officers who were
Of the party, learned the following par
ticulars: In ascending the Bay, they
were constantly met by Government
boats, the officers in which, urged them,
by signs to return. They kept on their
course, however, until MIR. Bent endeav-
ored to proce ID to the head of a deep
bay on the western coast. Here he was
met by forty-fve japanese boats, which
placed themselves in front of him, ia
intercept his progress He ordered his
men to lay OH their, oars and fix bayo-
nets to their muskets, but this produced
no impression. As the Mississippi was
more than two miles astern, he dispatch
ed one Of the boats to summon her, and
varied his course sufficiently to prevent
coming in collision with the Japanese
The approach of the steamer soon dis
persed them.
The boats everywhere obtained deeI
soundings, with bottom of soft mud
The furtherest point reached was ten o.
twelve miles from our anchorage. Tht
shores we're bold and steep, with noun
tains in the background, and the bay
Ito which Lieut.. Bent gave the name
of Pcrry's Bay, offers secure and com
modious anchorage. On her return, thu
Mississippi came down the center of thu
bay, finding everywhere abundance o
water.
LANDING CT COMMODORE PERRI-RE
CEPrIoN OF THE PRESIDENTS LET
TER BY THE PRINCE oFlDzU.
1t had been arranged with the Japan
ese officials that the Presidents letter
would be delivered on Thursday morn
ing, July IA, at the town of G ori-hama
two miles south of Uraga.
The morning was heavy and dark be
fore sunrise, but soon afterward cleared
off brilliantly. As soon as the shor,
could be distinguished, it was seen tha
the principal battery on the promontory
Of Uraga had been greatly a,nplifed ant
adorned by screens Of cotton canvass, il
honor of the occasion. On the hill abov,
among the trees, there were two small
forts or rather pavilions, of the same ma
terial. The canvass was streaehed alons
a row of stakes so as to form aspecies O
paneleing ,on which the Imperial coat-of
arms was painted, alternating with othe
devices. Behind the canvass we coult
see that numerous companies of soldier
were drawn up, in different COSTUME
from that which they usually wore
Their arms were bare, and the bod.
covered with short tunic OF a dark