Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-10-19
THE JAPAN EXPEDITION.

II is with interest md qualification that we hav'
glanced over copy Of work by native of Rich
mond with which we have becp favored in advance
1t is entitled Japan and Around the World-an Ac
count of three visits to the Japanee Emprc. will
sketches of Madeira st. Helena, Gaze of Good Hope
Mauri,ius Ceylon, Singapore. Chins and Loochoo.-
BY J. ". Spulding of the U. S. STAN Frigate Mis-
sssippi, Flag Ship Of the E1pedtim." The book i
written in an easy and agreeable sse-nnd, while II
is full Of amusing incident, ii CONVEYS much informa
hon in regard to empire of whh little has been
known. We trust, however, that ;ac author is incor
rect in his conclusion that 10 b-nehts are ever to
arise from trade with tho Jap,nese whom he de-
scrbes as "a people of few vans, and no luIuries
and the great trade prophesied with that country
should we ever get commercial treaty, il n mere
myth, aud exists in the brain of ,isionares alone "
Let fair opening be made for commerce-nnd we
cannot doubt that American enrgy and enterprise
will mako a market for itself.
The last accounts from Japan Indicate considerable
difficulty in deriving any benefit from the treaty con-
cuded by Commodore Perry Inppears that Messrs
Reed and Dougherty chartered me American schoon-
er Caroline f. Foote, and mLle arrangements to
d. one of the places named in the treaty. for the pur-
pose of supplying the American whaleslips that hnd
designed and agreed TO winter here with such goods
rs the Japanese had not. They sailed from Homo
lulu with cargo Of shp-chanCery, &c. but on land
ing at Simoda 1--WE find the facts in the y. 7. SUM-
they met with obstruction and continual annoyances
from the Japanese authorities. They say
Our stay at Simoda was fra1sht with many sriev-
nucea alinUyances and restrictions too humiatIng
for an American to endure md we are that but
for tho great object We had il view, viz TO gain the
good will of the japanese ami peaceable residence
at Hakodadi, we should not h've s4unitted to many
of them.
Article fourth Of the treaty says 1--WE shall be free
as in other countries and not subject to such resrlc.
tions rs the Dutch aud Chinese urc at NanGasaka''
Alas, for American freedom in Japan You are conf
PEELED 10 90 on board your ship ut sundown you are
followed in your walks by from two TO ak officers
YOU are headed of here and headed off there, ana
are under closer watch and more restrictions than the
veriest fellow under arrest in our country. our
country should rise at once aid teach this selfish, 'so-
lated domineering and faithless people that paper
like the trcuy is grave paper and its rules must oe
observed at least not broken to the prejudice anu
ruin of our citizens. g,
Commodore Rodgers came into port and We placed
ourselves under his direct aud claimed our coun
try's protection He cheerfully and ably espoused
our cause anu explained 10 te japanese most clearly
our rights, confirming our statements and arguments
previously made.
During Commodore Rodgers stay at Simode, We
made arrangements to sail for Hakodadi. The Com
modore sailed before that We could land at la
kodndi without further troubIe or annoyance. he
vincennes arrived at lfukodad some eight days be-
fore US, Commodore Rodgers having had much con-
versation and correspondence with the authorities
about our landing at Hakudadi. The result was We
were refused permission TO land and ordered away.
Defeated in our plans, disappointed in our cnlcuia
tons and large losses staring US in the face we turn
ed reluctantly homeward OIL the 9th day OF June
last, with no pleasant recollection of the Japanese
their customs or their treatment of us. After ieav
n9 Hakodadi We found ourselves short of fresh pro-
visions which We could not obtain of the Japan, &c.
not because they had them not, but because they
would not sell them to US. The hills and valleys
around Hakodad were covered with fine neat catlie'
n,I when asked for fresh meat they would tell us
that they never kill their cattle as they are beasts VI
burthen.
In spite of Commodore Rogers representations oi
the treaty, the Japanese authorities remained I'M
movable and insisted thatthe treaty only covered inc
case persons shipwrecked or OF ships wanting "o0a
and water, aud that temporary residence meant
residence OF few days or at the utmost few months
In this Interpretation Commodore Rogers did not
concur but as the Interpretation Of the treaty is