The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-09-30

you but brief report of our doings for the
month. After the diplomatic negotiations
in Yokohama were concluded, the survey
of the bay was vigorously carried on, and
III spite of rough and stormy weather, made
good progress. On the 9th of April the Sar-
atoga fired her salute of departure, and sailed
amid hearty cheers from the remaining YES
sells of the squadron.
Before the fleet went down to Smoda,
Cone of the ports designated in the treaty as
open to American ships the commodore de-
sired to have view of Jedo, which desire
met with great opposition on the part of the
japanese, who were struck with horror at
the prospect of our fire-wheel ships anchor
ing under the walls of the imperial palace.
As the commodore remained firm in his pur-
pose, some Of them declared that the drop
ping of the anchor under the walls of the
former would be the signal for their own
disembowelment.
We were all not little excited when, on
the morning of the 9Th of April, the ships
got under way. Yenske, the chief interpre-
ter, with some other Japanese, were on board
the flag ship. They looked haggard and
alarmed as we steamed up the bay. Yenske,
especially, was petrifed with alarm, and
frequently said, Do you really intend TO
remain in Yedo? 2" "Oh, no; Commodore
Perry has a good heart; he certainly will
not do So" We stood across the bay, and
then, at distance Of three miles from shore,
made directly up towards the imperial city.
About ten clock we had the lighthouse Of
howasacli abeam, on the left hand, while
before US, in long semi circular line,
stretched the white houses of Yedo. At the
lighthouse commenced the suburb of Sine
gawa further toward the city were many
large junks al anchor; behind them great
many smaller craft, while crowds of fishing
boats and junks- of all sizes covered the bay.
A mound, Or eminence, lowered above the
houses of the city, near its center, and from
the turrets and shining white fronts of build
lngs covering it, we judged this to be the
imperial palace.
By this time the sailing vessels were far
astern, and only the Powhatan and Missis-
sippi lay before the town. Commodore Per-
~ halted for about half an hour, and then
returned to the old American anchorage, to
the infinite relief of the japanese officers,
who speedily recovered their good spirits.
cannot deny that we felt somewhat disap-
pointed, although we felt convinced tie
commodore had pursued the wisest course.
At the time, no important result could have
been obtained by anchoring at Yedo it was
u matter of curiosity, not worth gratifying
at the price of several lives, for l really
think the Japanese officers fools enough tc
kill themselves, and would have created i'll
seeling towards us. So the Commodore has
kept his word-gone in sight of Yedo, and
without driving the japanese to any desper
ate measures. l cannot but express my
admiration of the mastery manner in which
Commodore Perry has managed this difficult
business from the beginning. He has sue
ceeded in combining dignity and firmness SC
happily with kindness and cordiality, that
he has made our squadron and our country
respected, without humiliating the national
pride of the Japanese.
On the 10th of April we hove anchor, and
stood down the bay towards Simoda, oul
port in Niphon. Simoda is situated neal
Cape Fogu, sixty miles west from Point Sa,
galni, on the entrance of the bay of Yedo
and not far from the point where we first
made land in coming to Yedo last year. Il
IS good, commodious harbor, we'll sheltered
by hills several hundred feet high. 1t has
only moderately large entrance toward the
south, with rock within the entrance
which affords a still more protected anchor
age. The little town of Simoda, of abou
one thousand houses, is situated at the
northwestern end of the harbor on the banks