Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-05-06
The Japan Squadron.

IKfrnfts fTHm q letter 81 NJ 3AHAha
Com. perrv's flag ship. IA his friends ~ WASH
ineian, dated Napa henhg. "r'at is'' ,"''''.' -
I ., l-5i:
We left Hong Kong on the lilh ult. ~ conpa-
I nv With the Pewhaian, Mississippi, Southampton,
/ aud Lexington. the Macedonian, Nandhla. aud
/ Supply. having preceded n. On arrival here We
found them all snfe. We were shortly after Jun
ed by the Southampton aud Lexington, they nv
ing been towed most Of the way. These II rec
sfofeships brought each about four h ndred tons
Of coal. with supplies and proyisinns and Stores
80. that we now have six months supplies WIN
u. which will enable u to remain long enough
on the cnnst nf japan. 10 give "a fair test Ia me
experiment W. have undertaken, Of bringing he
authorities Of that country into some sort of IN
tcrronrse with u.
Viii the people Of this Island We are getting
along swimuunelv every day brings about some
neN concession from them which SIX months as"
would not have been thought Of.
Il. tlav wc visited the Regent Mt the Royal fal-
nee in the CITY Of Shut, about three miles from
Napn. accompanied by an escort 81 two eomph-
MES OF marines three bands, and about forty OH
Gers. a. nv this sort of show the people vt these
connf,ie. are more READILY influenced. We first
visited the Regent of the Palace, aud from thence
went 10 the CITY Hall. where n grand entertain
mpnt wn- served Ia the whole party. On leaving
the Commodore invited the Regent and nuthaf-
tie. To an entertainment on board oflhe hag ship,
TO come off on our return from Japan. They
have alrrndy dined with him bat we intend on re-
turning To give them n sort of dramatic show to
be gotten up by the Grew.
You cannot. or rnther il would be difficult Tor
YOU ~ imagine the beauties Of this island with
respect to the charming scenery and It's marvel
lous perfection Of cnliyation:its anelent bridges
paved roads, canals dapidated works OF defence
&c. HI re al FIVE palaces in the city; the one
IL. so ratts4 xfiH
ering space of three acres, with massive walls
quite equn to iuuny of the old castles OF Europe.
The island contains population OF one hun
bred and fifty or two hundred thousand souls, and
we have ns much control of il and the authorities
and people as If il were aconquered country; and
what i singular, not unfdcndly act, or III
stance of coercion,has occurred in bringing these
things about. We have explored the whole IN
terror of this island and surveyed the entire coast.
The people wherever our parties %, attend upon
them and supply them with lodgings and proyis-
ions 1t first they would receive no compcnsa-
ton. but the Commodore insisted TINT nothing
should be accepted unless it WIS paid for, aud
there i. now little difficulty in that why.
loo are aware that is AZ Eastern practice
To- exchange presents on all occasions of public
visits These must be given and received or
there can hc no intercourse, OF rather no in'er-
change OF visits. Consequently the Commodore
SEM his presents Il any OF Two ago, hlu every o.
ficer received trifing present from the Regent,
which Ind to bc received, 81 the whole harmony
Of the visit would have been destroyed, These
presents from the Lew Chewans are Of small val
ne, such as fans, tobacco, pipes &c. Our pres
cnts to them have teen more substantial, the
State Department having provided very literally
in this respect.
Hitherto our whaling ships have never dared
10 enter he ports of this island, NV they can do
50 with perfect safety, aud be furnished with sup
plies at fair prices.
their peaceful intentions. we shall leave party
on the island in charge Of depot of coal, cstnb
lishcd here this very day. The Regent has prom
Used II take good care of them during our ab
scnce.
The island has been rled over for nearly
thousand years by line Of kings. The present
heir 10 the throne being "A minor; Thirteen years
old,) the kingdom is goyernedhy n Regent WHO
ha. IL assist him thrcc COUNCILLORS. it is II tie
pcndeney of japan, and send annually To that
empire IA large amount IN taxes.
We sail in three days for Jeddp Bay, the Mac
cdonian, Nandalia, southampton, and Lexington
having already gone. The supply Ia, just dis
CHARGED Il r. conl into the three steamers, and
will sail IN a day or two for shanghai for another
cargo, To ioin rs al jcddo, We could not have
managed at all without the assistance of the
storeships; not yessc could bc chartered in Chi
ma for transporting OF coal, and our whole cruise
this spring would have heen defeated had il not
been Tor their services.