The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-06
Interesting from Japan.
LETTER FROM COMMANDER FoOTE 10 coAAopoU
ARMSTRONG.

uyrrxp sr,rvs Sup PORTSMOUTH. .AAKopApr,l
ISLAND OF YEsso, JAPAN, Oct o, 1857. J
SiR-Agreeaby with your orders Of the 2orn Of August,
To proceed TO JApan arrived with this ship on the 7th
umo and anchored, by your dircetons, near Vandafa
Bluff, in the outer hsrbor Of smoia.
The day previous to arrival at 2 p. NJ, Breakers
ahead, reported by the lookout on the fore top
sail yard Wishing to ascertain whether the breakers as
reported might be the tide rips overfas 30
common in these seas stood until they were three
miles distant from and the entire line plainly visible
from the deck The wind being light at the time and tho
current setting towards the breakers wore ship
only in time TO clear them the other tack From chro
nometer observations taken by Lieut. Belknap and my
SELF placed the centre of the breakers, the
current affecting the latitude from meridian could be
ascertaned in latitude "a II norh and longitude 1913 II
east The entire line Of breakers apparently extended
alrom N. N 4. to s. s. W. from three 70 five miles.
encloee herewith extract from the log, by which viii
be we gave the Of the danger, Portsmouth
breakers" ss they not laid down any Of our
charts
On anchorng in Smoda harbor several officers Of rank
aboard with the Governors respects and welcome
TO Japan We found Mr.. Harris, our Consul General on
good terms with the authorities From the enclosed copy
Of convention marked Al il will be seen among other
advantages obsaned that he has been successful IN ar
ranging the currency question: that instead Of the Mex
collar as formerly, passing for only one third OF its
value, is current, weight for weight with the silver
currency Of Japan minus cent for the expense Of
coinage into the tsebute He has secured the right of
sdeDce TO American citizens in Simoda and Hakodadi
and after the 4th of July next also stipulated that Ahcr
cam when committing offences IN Japan, shall be tried
by the Consul General Consul, and punished
victon according 10 American laws.
few days after our arrival called on the two Cover
of Simoda accompanied by the Consul and four of
the ward officers. We received with great
courtesy and apparent cordalty They inquired with
good deal of interest how the Presiden. and
Of the United States regarded Japan about the war in
China--s and probable result and expressed
hope that future period Japanese would
America for the purpose Of education and obtaining
knowledge Of many things in which they acknowledged
their deficiency.
would doubt visit Japan frequently, the occu
patton OF the squadron In looking out for interests in
China, bad prevented vessel beng In Simoda and Hako
dad during the past year.
In view Of the efforts Of the Consul General in framing
commercial treaty with Japan and the prospect OF being
med at conference ut Yedo the frequent visits Of
our OF to be almost Indispensable 70
The Japanese evidently strongly impressed with our
power is the frequent display of this power rather
than its use, which will secure TO US commercial privi
leges far beyond those hitherto accorded TO nation
The inner harbor Of Smoda is too small to admit of more
than fve six vessels obtaining good anchorage For
this number regard the harbor to be safe many
poI in other parts OF the world where vessels lie during
all seasons Of the year The outer harbor I consider
wholly unsafe, a heavy swell is continually setting in
from westward, besides 1t being quite as difficult getting
to from under Vandaa bluff from the inner harbor
itself. This was experienced, with comparative light
wind and swell from the southwest in an unsuccessful at
tempt TO out from anchorage; and should vessel
succeed in getting TO sea from the outer harbor at
the Of southwesterly gale her exposure
outside TO the currents breakers and numerous islands
TO say nothing of the lee shore formed by the main
island, would seriously hazard her safety while II
anchored In the inner harbor, with lower yards
and topmssts down, any vessel might ride Out
the heaviest gale In perfect security.
Az the weather was unsettled during our short stay in
Smoda, wAh frequent fresh breezes accompanied by a
survey which intended to have made by Lieut. Simpson
was prevented. This efficient officer, however, notwh
standing these difficulties, did make reconnaissance Of
the harbor, copy OF which Is herewith forwarded,
marked b, fully confirming the accuracy OF Commodore
Pey's chart, well that Of survey made since the
great earthquake, by the Russian oicers sample Of the
bottom obtained by Lieut. simpson, also forwarded here
with, by which will be seen that tho holding ground s
now comparatively good and Is no doubt improving by
red Of the bsrbor by the recedng waters attending
The earthquake. ~ \
quered ware, smoda offers but little encouragement to
trade while It's confined harBor renders Of less value
,or or o'nsr % ns W wen a,,rv sse
Miaco and for which believe Consul negotiating
ought possible TO be substituted for that OF Smoda
Osaca however cannot he obtained, Maco Is the resi-
dence of the Spiritual Emperor Urago which further up
the bay towards Yeddo than smoda, from whence the
native for several years has been tending
might be selected as the port wo must have IN case the
other is refused.
IL appears that the coal at Smoda a. far a. could
learn wholly supplied from the Island OF Kinsn,
the town Of EagasaSi There s hand supply OF
from eight hundred tons which will cost under the
IS good, and the supply might prove equal 70 moderate
demand notwithstanding he difficulties OF the long
portsion greater supply at less cost may be found
on islands OF Kin sin and Yesss Steamers from Cali
fornia and China might conveniently touch at
these places than nj Smoda
Tho quality OF coal o Japan s said 10 be good Much OF
II has been satisfactorily tested by the Dutch; and bc
leve that you yourself were satisfied with The specimens
procured and used by the flag ship when In simods
After remaining four days In sirnoda we made an un
successful attempt as already mentioned 70 get 70 sea 90
day the wind suddenly veerng with fresh breeze east
ward, out OF harbor without waiting for pilot
During the night the weather was thick, with rain and
alternate fresh breezes and calms at daylight on the fol-
lowing morning found ourselves among the islands OF
the harbor OF simoda having been dred thirty miles In
DAYS from thence 70 sEodad The wind was variable and
the weather pleasant until the day previous 10 srr
val On the 18th instant, being some fifteen miles from
the land the ship passed through feet of more than
hundred fishing boats containing average twelve
men each. The men In the boats offered us fish, and
they disposed 10 come alongside the vessel.
The evening previous TO entering the straits OF sangar
the wind set in strong from the northeast, and falling
barometer at the same time indicated heavy weather.
We stood into the straits, however, having at A. NJ.
treble reefed the opsals Al 10 o'clock the fog lifted,
and the wind moderaing found ourselves within thirty
miles Of Hskodsd the land being in sight six miles dis
ant on either side; Light variable winds, however pre-
vented our entering the bay and reaching The anchorage
Until SIX O'Clock IN the evening boat with two or three
officers then sent by the Governor TO ascer
tain who we were, and why we bad come 10 Hskodadi
On peihg antwered, apsper IN fngNh was benueoto me,
prescribing certain port regulations among them one for
bidding the discharge OF guns or FIRE arms while IN the
hsrbor. handed the paper back 10 The officer telling
him 10 say 10 the Governor that Of fired blank
cartridges in every port whenever they had occasion 70
do 80, and that such paper ought not 10 have been
presented 10 An apology by the officer and Afterwards
by the Governor himself was made, averrng that the
character Of The vessel was not remembered when the pa
per presented
On the Monday succeeding arrival called the Go
vernon with commercial agent, Mr. RICE, and three OF
the Leutenants Of the ship We were seated on level
with the Governor and his suite, denoting equality Tho
same cordially and courtesy manifested at The interview
ai Smoda was here observed by the authorities Aner
an hour conversation, at the suggestion OF Mr..
Rice Informed the Governor that had made request
o the commercial agent 10 procure fresh beef for Us oc
casionaly during our stay IN port The Governor said
that such a supply impossible; that the law OF Nip
pen forbade a. and that fresh beef had never been sup
Piled foreign vessel Of any character in Japan replied
that Consul General, Mr.. Harris informed me that
such supply could here be procured and that Mr. Rice
ssv had with him letter from Mr. Harris, notifying him
that such arrangement had been made also that sup
ply of nccessaries guaranetn the I'd article OF the
treaty and the Dutch tNagasaki understood were fur
with befFR1 article