Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-08
RECEPTION OF COM. PERRY AT JAPAN.
The following letter is from an Officer attached
to Com. PERRY's squadron

Bay OF JEDD0, MARCH Q, loo4
The reception Of Commodore PERRY to-day at Yoko-
hama is worthy of notcehe object Of which was to lay
before the Imperial Commissioners from the Court of
Jeddo certain spulatons growing out Of the letter Of
the President of the United States to the Emperor of ia
pan which was last On open space
bordering the beach front of the town the Japanese
had erected five temporary buildings of which
arranged as On audience hail. This room supposed to be
about fifty feet long and story high furnished
with Of benches covered with mating and felt the
drapery consisted of Grape fesooned around
the ROOM and bore emblems devices peculiar to the
Japanese.
At an early hour large number Of persons had assem-
bed Shore and forming in groups with their
various costumes bearing many insgnas OF rank the
higher classes wearing swords their sidc which
were supported by grde around their waist which an
swered the purpose Of sword belt. The lower classes
permitted to but sword similarly arranged
large field tho north sde and in the of the place
Of reception bordered with screens of canvass be-
hind which the Japanese soldiers under arms con-
sisng Of crossbows matchlocks and ances Their
Der was not estimated but was much less than
appeared on the landing Uraga last summer The
site had been selected several days previous to the meet
ing, and perhaps convenient and suitable than
any other on the west side of the extensive bay.
The escort Of the Commodore consisted Of large num-
numbering about $50 souls and occupying twentysevcn
boats all armed and equipped The boats extending more
than mile in front Of the shipping in line abreast were
under the command of Capt Buchanan, aided by Capt
Pope the extreme right and Capt Lee on the left.
About IL A. NJ. the squadron proceeded to the shore,
where escort landed and formed in the open space
between the houses and beach, the boats then back
ed off and anchored under charge Of theirrespecye Off
GERS short distance from the beach.
At II NJ the Commodore and suite left the flag ship
Powhatan under salute seventeen guns from the cor
vptta and ed
landing by the japanese Commissioners and the
Of ocersby the latter forming lane at the beach and
moving off in his the hall of reception and in
passing the lines of sailors and marines formed square,
the latter presented arms and the bands of the shipping
added to the nterestof the occasion with loud and thrill
ling sounds of Hail Columbia while the -spanged
banner along the line and in every boat hoated proudly
in the breeze
The scene interesting Many of the officers ex-
pressed their admiration OF the fine military appearance
Of our sailors end soldiers and felt proud occasion
intended to impress the people of this remote and but
seldom visited region.
The entertainment given by recently formedfrends
the Japanese is entitled to brief notice Shortly after
entering the hall and taking seats, the Commodore
and suite on the extreme right, and the five representa-
tiyes OF the Emperors Court sitting the opposite side
Of the room, Japanese interpreter in Frustrated at
tude introduced the Commissioners in order according
to their official position to the Commodore after which
salute of twenty guns for the Emperor of Japan
and of less number for the Prince were fired from
the boats of the beach, in which several of our brass
howzers had been placed for the purpose This was re-
garded as a mark of high compliment by the Commits
sioners The party remained seated for time and
partook Of refreshments consisting of tea candy and
cake for the first course and second of SOUP fish,
and Salads the names of which unknown the
taste of them was unpaatabe. The soup was believed
by some to be made of snake of considerable dimen-
sons, few sups of which suiced in my own Sc whilst
but little relshcd the other things set before me-
part OF the ciyities Of our numerous attendants at din
ner to suggest the of the chop sticks" to con-
In tyitb tharf CHI
use our silver forks with which officers had provided
themselves Their politeness to be admired
than their disposition feed On several occasions
they would handle the chop sticks and after selecting
preferable part of the decaces on the dish and dipping
IN vessel Of Japanese sauce would convey to our
mouths and thrust it down throats much to their de-
light and to cur annoyance. found revolving
spirit in my stomach which could Only be out by
occasional sups of saSkey, with which prousely
served during the feast.
The Commodore and suite, together with the Commits
sloners were conducted into apartment where
they remained alone for time; and which occa-
sion the subject Of treaty discussed but not made
known to US.
Our japanese friends in the mean time entertained
the party in the hall by recording our in their
books and the Of the vessels to which belong
ed We noticed an artist of merit attempting to
sketch some of faces in which he encouraged by
several officers He succeeded olerably well but inya
raby gave badly proporoned to the rest the
face. lad Of about eleven years Of age who had evil
IDENTIFY received lessons in drawing amusing himself
In Similar manner He occupied about three minutes
in sketching my face and bunch of japonica in bloom
which held in my hand It really amusing to dis
cover the interest they took in oil that concerned
dress and appearances generally They took occasion to
make drawings of epauets pistols swords and every
appenage attached to persons and the impressions
made by their goodnatu countenances and efforts
serve US were altogether favorable and Doubt had
the great mass Of the people the liberty of exercising
their own generous feelings Japan would long since have
taken an elevated position in the scale Of civilized
tons Before returning to the shipping we were pro-
fusey supplied with punches Of the aponca tree now
full bloom and towering the height of twenty or
feet, and said to be abundant in the country.