The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-04
The Japan Expedition.
LITTER FROM AN OFFICER OF THE U. 8. STEAMER

IRON the wSaFsfS2lppIgat G Sentinel Nov. 81
We under great obi cations for the privilege OF pub
fishing the following extracts from letter written by
prominent and distinguished officer of the United States
navy TO his estmable wife, resident in this city. The
tracts contain matter of interest, and cannot fail 20
rest the attention Of readers although not intended
for publication and written with the freedom and minute
which always distinguish such correspondence they
WILL therefore, be perused with more avidy Than fpre
pared purposely for the press =
'Ts distance lends enchantment to the view'' Here
in the harbor Of Jeddo, after running nearly
thirty thousand miles of various and Of various
clines-here at anchor four miles higher up the bay
We anchored at p. NJ, and large boats, rowed
cheerily with about twenty men, and in each
dressed, came swarming of with determination fell to
come on board demand the Names the nation and the in
tentions Of the four craft thus coming boldly in, in joy
and calm. They were met with wave of the hand, and
"Keep of, no one allowed to board the
highest Mar Aim This literally took them all aback
but they clustered together and insisted upon az
At last voice said in Dutch-tDo you speak Hollan
dssr And soon the Commodors's clerk, Mr.. Postman,
was in high confab.
After much persuasion their part and their insist
ing that one Of them high mandarin the Commo.
dore ordered me TO put on my uniform and to receive
him and The interpreter board in the cabin and to
represen. himself saying that mission is friendly
We the bearers of letter from the President Of
the United states to his Majesty Of Japan that it
necessary 10 send board high mandarin to receive
this letter ard the the better Again, to
insist upon it that boats should not lie by the hundred
and around ships, thus guarding and watching
u.s. has been their custom. Che Columbus and Vim.
having from Ave hundred to thousand boats
around them constantly, all linked together) That we
would not submit to this but would drive them of Here
you have the basis Of my instructions Thus armed,
took Mr Mandarin and interpreter, with my two inter.
preters-hr. Williams, in Chinese and Mr. Postman, in
Dutch--into the cabin.
After being seated oment hr. Mandarin arose,
made s10om la japanese, and then extending his
hand, we shook bands; then seated ourselves using
Mr.. Psstman as interpreter, as the japanese inter
Ts;sr spoke Dutch aasnty thus opened Tell
darian) that 1 am the aid Of chief, the Adj
niral and am instructed to speak for him. We have
here friendly mission, with friendly intentions
deliver letter from the President of the United States
your sovereign the Emperor of Japan that the letter
is ready for delivery by nine O'Clock tomorrow TO any
mandarian sufficiently high to receive It," To this
replied 1t mnst be referred to higher po to know
who receive the letter" then asked: " How long
will it take 70 give US an answerF "They could
tell" said: . think the sooner the better
anxious to be off," The reply vas: do not think it
will take long, and then understood that in the
morning mandarian would be oil TO receive the letter
then emphaticslly said =" This ship has aboard the
chief-there is his pennant. All messages from shore
must come here by high mandarin No boats must 90
the other ships their commanders have orders not to
permit intercourse they have right to think, and
must obey. We insist that boats shall hang around
our vessels to watch them" This was palatable.
They sa.d -" 1t is japanese custom, law and must
carry Hthem out" Says Tell him, sir, that too
H. that no boat Is allowed to within certain
range" There positive consent given just then
Is to what they would DO they eysded BY asking cues
States Of American eyes; but what pait Washington
New York, Bostonf' Ny surprise was so great that
smiled, and told him, g from Washington, some
from New York all parts that the Presiden. of the United
States livel in Washingo What is the anne OF the
ship, how many people guns, scS' "Te him. sir, that
we are not traders seek radewe are armed ships
and our custom IL never TO such questionsn
The questions we're gain repeated in pretty much the
same when told Mr. TO make the same reply, and
70 add Tat have no curiosity to know how many
ere either IN the emperors army In his navy and also
that he could zee for himself that had four ships that
We had others in those waters When will the others
corse ~ don't know; 1t depends upon the answer to
the lstter" What are the contents Of the let err
Tel him. sir that the letter il from the President 10 the
Emperor Of japan, and 1t would be most indicate In me
TO inquire into its contents" This rebuke was received
IN On apt!ogetc manner, and this questioning drop. ed
then again alluded to the boats which were st cluster
Dg sTopnd our ship and the other ships told them that
T. Absolutely necessary that they shou be kept of
that this must he done eve shall be sorry with our
bind and friendly feelings to you to do you any harm or
"a into collision with you; but you do not order
your boats OF shall fire into them and drive them of
Our boats armed and ready, and cannot allow
you than fifteen minutes to give your ders and
keep them off, At the end Of that time you must suse
Mr.. Mandarin went out told thls 70 the boats. seat