New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-10-25
Japanese Curinsttiss

a number Of articles and documents have
been received by a gentleman in Newark. N. j..
from Japan, which may be regarded as curiosi-.
ties from that heretofore unknown people. one
Of them is q literal translation of letter sent
to Commodore Perry, of the Japan squadron, by
two scholars who were desirous of coming 10 this
country. 1t is as follows:
KANAGAwAs Japan, April II, 1854.
1.-TWO scholars from Yeddo, in Japan, present
this letter for the inspection of the hiah off,
GERS and those who manage affairs Our
attainments are few and trihing, as We our
selves are small and unimportant, 90 that We
are abashed in coming before you We are
neither skilled in the use of arms, nor are we
able. to discourse on the rules of! strategy and
military mi discipline. In etrifiDg pursuits and
IDLE pastlmes our years and months have passed
away. We have, however, read in books, and
learned little by hearsay. what are the Gus
toms and education in Europe and America and
we have been for many years desrous Of going
over the hye great continents; > but the laws
OF our country In all maritime points are very
strict Fur foreigners to come into the country
and ior natives to 60 abroad are both immuta-
bly, forbidden Our wish to visit other regions.
consequently, only goes to and fro within cur
own breasts in continual agitation. like ones.
breathing being impeded or his walking
cramped. - 75,g4 s.ys 9s4g,l, 515ga7T : -
haPPIy tne aITVal OF so many OF your
ships in these waters and their stay for so many
days--which has given us opportunity to make
Q pleasing acquaintance and careful axamina-
ton, SO That We are fully assured Of the kind
ness and Hberality Of your excellies and your
regard for others -7-haye also revived the
thoughts Of many years, and they are urgent
for an exit
ta' This, then, is the time to carry the plan into
execution, and we now secretly send you the
private request that you will take US On board
your ships as they go out to sea. We can thus
visit around in the hve great continents, eyenif
we do in this slight the prohibitions Of our
own country. Lest those who have the manage-@
ment of affairs may feel some chagrin at this,
in order TO effect our desire we are willing to
serve in any way We can aboard the ships and
obey the orders given us. For doubtless it is
when lame man sees others walking he wishes
to walk too; but how shall the pedestrian graf
ify his desires when he sees another one riding
We have all our lives been going hither and
yon, unable to get more than thirty degrees east
and west, or twenty five degrees north and
south but now, when We see how you sail on
the tempests and cleavs the huge biilows, going
lightning speed thousands and myriads Of miles;
skirting along the five great continents, can it
not be ikened to the lame finding plan for
walking, and the pedestrian seeing q mode by
which he can ride? 3A 5zs' .5@A7
g If you who manage affairs will give our /,
request your cQDsiutTALloh NC WILL Tttaiu tae
sense of the favor; but the prohibitions of our
country are still existent, and if this matter
should become known we should uselessly see
oul selves pursued and brought back for imme-
date execution without fail; and such result
would greatly grieve the deep humanity and
kindness You all bear towards others If you
are willing to aecede to the request keep wrap
ped in silence our error in making it until you
are about to leave in order to avoid all risks of
such serious danger to life, for when, by and
by, when we come back, our countrymen will
never think it worth while to investigate by
gone doings. Although our words have only
loosely let our thoughts leak out, yet truly they
are sincere; and, if your excellencies ara
pleased to regard them kindly, do not doubt
them oppose our wishes. We together pay
pay our respects in handing this in
& fItis hardly necessary to add that the re-
quest was granted by the Commodore, as it
would be breach Of good feeling between the
two countries. 1'=s