Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-09-20
:. STEAMER PowHATAN
orr CArr KING, aslANn OF Nrnoy) !

'Ati"'ts
L. ). STEAMER PowHArAN,
or CAFE KING, tlsfANp or NirHuS,1i
MAY l., 1854. !
anl obliged, from want Of time, 10 give ,oa
but "A hrici report of our dougs FIR the psi
month. After the diplomatic negotiations IN
Yoke hamma were concluded. The survey of the
bay was vigorously carried ON. and, in spite at
rough und stormy weather. made good progress.
On the 9th of April the Saratoga fired her salute
Of departure, md sailed amid hearty cheers from
the remaining vessels of the squadron.
Before the fleet went down to Smoda lone Of
the ports designated in the treaty open to a
morican shps) the Commodore desired Ia have
view Of icdo, which de, ire met with great oppo.
slton on the part Of the japanese. who wera
struck with horror at the prospects Of our five
wheel ships anchorng under the wills Of the In
pera Palace. As the Commodore remained firm
IN his purpose, some of them declared that the
dropping of the anchor under the walls of tire
former would be the signal for their own disem-
bowcnent. We were all not little excited
when, on the morning Of the 9Th If April, the
ships got under way Ncnske, tue chief inter
prefer, with some other japanese, were on board
the flag ship. They looked haggard and alarmed
Ms we steamed up the bay. lenskc, especially,
petriiicd with alarm, and frequently said,
"Do you really intend to remain in Ycdo oh
no; Commodore Perry has good heart; he Ger
tany will not do so"
W = Slhpu hCGbsS lt JuS anu lutll.dl II tllSldti
Of three miles from shore, made directly up to
ward the imperial city. About 10 O'Clock we
had the lighthouse Of Kowasacl,i abean, ON the
left hand, while before u, in long semi crcu-
lar line. stretched the white houses of lcdo.=
At the lighthouse commenced the suburb of Sine.
gawa; further toward the city were many large
nnks ut anchor behind them IA great many
smaller craft while crowds Of fishing boats and
unks OF all sizes covered the bay. a mound
emincnce lowered above the houses of the city
near its centre, and from the turrcts and shining
white fronts of buildings covering il, We judged
this Ia he the Imperial Palace.
BY this time the sailing vessels were far astern,
and only the Powhatan ald Mississippi lay before
the town. Commodore Perry 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 all felt somewhat disap.
pointed, although we felt convinced the Commo.
dorc hal pursued the wiscst course. AT the time
no important result could have been obtained by
our unehorng Mt Yedo. 1t was n matter of curl
osity not worth gratifying at the price of several
vcs-tor really think the japanese officers fools
enough to kill themselvcs and would have crea-
ted i'll feeling towards 50 the Commodore has
kept his word-gone i'll sight of edo and with
ont driving the Japanese to desperate measures
The Mississippi and Powhatan got under way,
on the lith May, for Chakodadc, for which place
the Macedonia, Nandaliu,and Southampton sailed
eight days prcyio3s.