Polynesian., 1855-01-13
An American Trader for Japan.


The barque Edward Koppisch, Capt John II.
Eggleston, cleared at the Salem Custom House,
W ednesday for a voyage to Japan and ports in the
Pacific Ocean. The koppisch was formerly own
ed in this city, aud Captain Eggleston her present
owner and commander, who makes the tirst clear
aRce from any port in the United States direct for
Japan, for commercial purposes; likewise sailed the
first vessel from Salem for California, which was
previous TO the gold discovery.
common clearance even TO trade with new
people would not deserve particular attention, but
IN this instance 1t Is so perfectly characteristic Of
Salem, that II draws our mind 10 other little enter
prises of late years. The commerce Of this coun-
try has been almost entirely connected with the
great s-Bnston, New York, New Orleans,
&c, yet now and then there remains a survivor of
the past generations, within whose recollection
those pnces little more than villages and who
can amaze the youhg with stories of other towns
who can tell US of Salem, when she astonished
the world by the enterprise of her merchant prin-
Ices-the Derbys, Greys, Crownnshields, Peabo-
dys, and others, by whom she became more veal
thy and distinguished than any other port thi5
continent. IL that early timc, and to the present
it has been peculiar 10 Salem, to trade where no.
body else traded to seek and distant peoples,
and to carry out commerce of her Cwn. We
will venture even now, that Salem has commenced
the trade with more different peoples in ASIA Afri-
ca, South America, and the Islands of the seas,
ttldu all tne OlHeT POlS
if the history Of her commerce written 1T would
be one of the most valuable and interesting books
ever issued from the press.
Once Salem held all the trade Of the Indies, and
fortunes of millions OF dollars-such as are not
now known out of the great citres-were amas sed
therefrom. The first American ship around the
Cape Of Good Hope, was from Salem-the first to
trade at HIndOstan, Java, Sumatra, China, and
through the Dutch with Japan, as with many other
ASlatics were from Salem. The first at Madagas-
car, at Zanzibar where they retain almost the total
gum and ivory trade to this day-and at other ports
IN East Africa, were from Salem. She was among
the first, if not the very first, for ordinary CONNER
cia pursuits the west shores OF Afrca and there
she is the first now. She the first at the
mouths of the great South American rivers, at Mat
rided, at Para, where she retained the control fora
long time and yet leads in the Rubber trade-and
other ports in South America. She opened trade
with the Fegee Islands and mas ships there now
she sent.the first American goods 10 traffic IN New
Holland-she has her trade to-day with New Zea-
land, and Salem men, if not vessels, were among
the first from tn quarter on the northwest coast;
and the first ship for commercial pursuits sails
from her quiet waters to Japan.
These facts for such place, now comparatively
insignificant, are singular indeed, and well ar
raYed history thereof, from the time OF her fisher
ies and the primary investments Of Higginson, and
in foreign traffic, with narratives OF early voyages,
sketches of eminent sea captains and of the lead
ing merchants down to the Brookhouses, Uptons
Shepherd, Bertrams, and Philpses of those times,
who are like unto and rot behind their predeces-
sors, world be a work of intense Interest," New
buryport Herald.