Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-05-13
The Japan Squadron at Loo Choo.

The Japan Squadron at Loo Choo.
The National Intelligencer publishes the fol-
lowing extracts from a letter of an officer on
board Com. Perry's flagship, to his friend in
Washington, dated Napa Keang, Great Loo
Choo, February 3, 1854:
We left Hong Kong on the 14th ult., in COM
pany with the Powhatan,. Mississippi, South
ampton and Lexington the Macedonian, Van
dalia and Supply, having preceded us. On ar
rival here we found them all safe. We were
shortly after joined by the Southampton and
Lexington, they having been towed most of the
way. These three store-ships brought each
about four hundred tons of coal, with SUPPLIES and
provisions and stores, so that we now have six
months supplies with us, which will enable us
to remain long enough on the coast of Japan
to give a fair test to the experiment we have I'M
dertaken of bringing the authorities of the
country into some sort of intercourse with us.
With the people of this island we are getting
along swimmingly; every day bringsabout some
new concession, which six months ago would not
have been thought of.
To-day we visited the Regent at the Royal
Palace at the city of Shut, about three miles
from Napa, accompanied by an escort Of two
companies of marines, three bands and about
forty oficers-as by this sort Of show the people
OF these countries are more readily influenced.
We first visited the Regent at the Palace, and
from thence went to the City Hall, where a good
entertainment was served to the whole party.
On leaving, the Commodore invited the Regent
and authorities to an entertainment on board the
flag ship, to come off on our return from japan.
They have already dined with him, but we in
tend on returning to give them a sort Of dramatic
show to be gotten up by the crew.
You cannot, or rather it would be difficult for
you, to imagine the beauties of this island, with
respect to the charming scenery and its marvel
lous perfection ofcultivation; its ancient bridges,
paved roads, canals, dilapidated works of de-
fence, &c. There are five palaces in the. city,
the one we visited is Of very great extent, pro-
badly covering a space of three acres, with mas
sive walls quite equal to many of the old castles
of Europe.
The island contains a population of one hun
dred and fifty or two hundred thousand souls,
and we have as much control of it and the au-
thorities and people as if it were a conquered
country; and, what's singular, not an unfriendly
act or an instance Of coercion has occurred in
bringing these things about. We have explored
the whole interior of the island and surveyed
the entire coast. The people wherever our par
ties go, attend upon them and supply them with
lodgings and provisions. At first they would
receive no compensation, but the Commodore
insisted that nothing should be accepted unless
it was paid for, and there is now little difficulty
in that way. ';@ ga 2.'"" .t
You are aware that it is an Eastern practice
to exchange presents on all occasions of public
visits. These must be given and received or
there can be no intercourse, or rather no inter-
change of visits. Consequently the Commodore
sent his presents a day or two ago, and
to-day every officer received a trifing present
from the Regent, which had to be received or
the whole harmony of the visit would have been
destroyed These presents from the Lew Che
vans are of small value, such as fans, tobacco,
pipes, &c. Our presents to them have been more
substantial, the State Department having pro-
vided very literally in this respect.
Hitherto our whaling ships have never dared
to enter the ports of this island now they can
do SO with perfect safety, and be furnished with
supplies at fair prices 11r-1g
As an evidence of the confidence we have in
their peaceful intentions we shall leave q party |
on the island in charge of a depot of coal, es-
tablished here this very day. The Regent has
promised to take good care of them during our
absence.
The island has been ruled over for nearly a
thousand years by'a line of kings. The present
heir to the throne being a minor, thirteen years
old, the kingdom is governed bya Regent, who
has to assist him three counsellors. 1t is q de-
tendency Of Japan, and sends annually to that
empire a large amount in taxes.
We sail in three days for Jeddo Bay, the Ma
cedonian, Vandalia, Southampton, and Lexington
having already gone. The Supply has just dis
charged her coal into the three steamers, and
will sail in a day or two for Shanghai for another
cargo, to join US at Jeddo. We could not have
managed at all without the assistance of the
storeships; not a vessel could be chartered in
China for transporting coal, and our whole cruise
this spring would have been defeated had it not
been for their services.
THE FIGHT LIEUT.. DAv1DsoN's Con-
land AND THE APAcHEs.-The st. Louis Re-
has received letters from C~antonment
Rurrwin pear Tans New Mexico IN the 21st |