Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-05-03
The japan SQUADRON

Extracts from letter OF officer board Commodor,
rerrys hag'ship to his friends in Washington dated
hapa heang Great Loo Choo. February 3, 1854:
We leit Hong Kong on the 18th ultimo, in company
win the Iowhatan Mississippi, Southampton, aud Lex
preceded us On arrival here We found them all s,G.
We were shortly after joined by the Southampton and
iin6ton-they having been towed most of the way,
snree brought each about four hundred
tons oil COAL with supplies aud provisions aud stores so
that we now have six mouths supplies with u.s. which will
enable Us To remain long enough the coast of ,pan
give ia tsst 10 the experiment have undertaken OF
bringing tue authorities Of that country some sort
Intercourse with US,
With the people of this Island We are getting along
sSmmings every day brings about some new concession
from them, which SIX months ago would not have been
thought OF.
To-day We visited the gent the Royal Palace in the
Wv! VI Suu ABOUT three miles from Nspa, accompanied
y W o Two companies OF marines, three bands and
ABOUT forty officers, as by this Of show the pc ,pc OF,
hese countries are more readily Influenced. We frs,
visited the Regent OF the Palace and from thence went
ne ey HAIL. where grand entertainment was served TO
me "noe party. on leaving the Commodore invited the
Regent aud authorities entertainment on hoard n,
the nag ship to came off return from Japan Tbev
nave already dned with hun but we intend on return
ing 10 give them sort Of dramatic show to be gotten
up by tie crew. e
lou cannot, or rather it would be difficult for Won n
imagine The beauties OF this island with respect 10 th,
th.rns scenery sud ts marvellous perfection of cult
'aon It's ancient bridges, paved roads canals dapd.
ted ~o KS OF defence &c There are five palaces in the
ety. tue one we visited is Of very great extent probably
covering space OF three acres with massive WALL. quite
equal to many OF the old castles of Europe
The island contains population Of one hundred and
ny or Two hundred thousand souls and have as much
control OF II and the authorities and people az If IL w.r
cohquied country, and, what is singular not an un
eh act or instance OF coercion has occurred in bring
ng these things about Wehave explored the whole in
'eror OF this island and surveyed the entire coa,t Tn,
people wherever our parties go attend upon them and
'upPiy them with lodgings provisions At first they
hut thaH
sisted that nothing should be accepted unless IL was maid
tor, aud there Is bow little difficulty in that way.
lou are aware that IL is Eastern practice to ex-
enahge presents on all occasions Of public visits These
must be gwen and received there eau be no
or rather no Interchange of visits ConseoueutIv III
Commodore sent his presents day or two ago and ev
cry oihcer received ting present from the Regent
sheh had TO be received or the whole harmony OF the
visit would have been destroyed These presents from
the Lew Chewans Of small value such as fans tobacco
pipes, &c. Oar presents to them have been more sub
'tantia the State Department having provided very lib
orally In this respect
Hitherto whaling ships have never J,reJ n o,,.,
the ports oil this island, they do So with perfect
safety and be furnished with supplies at fair prices
As an evidence of the confidence we have in their
peaceful intentions shall leave party on the island in
charge of depot OF coal established here this yerv
ine Regent has promised take good care of them dur
iug our absence.
This island has been ruled for nearly thousand
years by line kngs The present heir TO the throne
being minor (thrteen years DID, the kingdom is gov
erned by Regent, who has assist him three cou9cl
ors dependency of Japan, and sends annually to
that empire large amount in taxes.
We sail in three days for Jeddo Bay the Macedonian
Nandsla, Southampton, and Lexington having already
gone The Supply has just discharge her coal into the
three steamers aud will sail in day or two for shanghai
Tor another cargo, TO join at Jeddo. We could not
have managed at all without the assistance of the store
ship not vessel could be chartered in China for trans
portang OF COAL and whole cruise this spring would
nave been defeated bad 1t not been for their services