The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-02-12

we pascal NnoSong on our port side
That place seemed to be HEADQUARTERS for
Junks, for there were great many living
there at anchor.
Yang lse kiang is the name of this river,
and Shanghai was 10 or ID miles from it.
mouth. The river reminded me very much
of the Delaware river. 1t is rather crooked
and about one mile wide. Land lay on
each side but not marshy, and the ebb and
flow of the tide about the same as TIE
Delaware river, and its water muddy.
There was 4 stiff breeze, aud by bracing
We had every thing set from courses to sky
sails
We were going almost at steamboat
speed.
The last turn brought us in sight of
Shanghai, about 4 or , miles distant.
We passed a lot Of Mandarin Junks
which lay at anchor close to shore. There
was either fourteen Of them or they carried
fourteen guns apiece, forget which.
Orders were given to clew up skysails
royals and tOp-gallaGt sails.
We went on taking in sails, making
preparations to anchor.
We could see over the waist the masts of
ships, and the one closest to us WAS flying
She Yanlsey flag at her peak aud pennant
at her main masthead.
l could stand it on deck no longer
sprang to the rail and saw it was one
of Uncle Sans men-of war, with side
wheels. Further up the harbor lay another
one. | did not know what vessels they
were.
A man don't know what nationality is
unless he witnesses sight OF this kind in
shat far off country. 1t didn't matter
whether a ship hailed from Boston or New
Orleans it was the Yankey ship and
Yankey flag.
1t wasn't long before we dropped anchor
about one hundred or so yards from this
sidewheel steamer. Soon a boat, with
officer aud sailors, was alongside Of u.s.
watched them when they were coming and
could not take my eyes of until | could
make out "Powhattan' on the sailors caps
/ wasn't long finding out that it was the
old sloOp.ofwar 'Powhattan," with conf
modore Perry on board, with the treaty
shat opened up the ports of Japan to our
trade.
We lowered the ladder and the officer
came board. Mr.. Hepburn, our first
officer met him as he climbed over the rail
1.-THE captain had gone ashore and gave
him lot of Frisco papers. After some
conversation they pulled off for their ship.
think the next day we sailed for Japan.
This was { l don't know the date in the
early part Of December 1851.
have been told lately that Bayafd
Taylor, then young man, was On board
Of the "Powhattan" as clerk for the COM
nodore; going along for the purpose of
writing history of that voyage, which he
did, end the book was seen by my III
former in the library at Darby.
1t is proper to ask just here SIS it not
wonderful the progress that country has
made since, and the time the japanese
commission visited us with japanese
Tommy
Ihey had common sense enough to see
great possibilities ahead of them and brains
enough to take advantage of it. OF course
the most advanced ones had to take the
lead to beat down superstition and ignor-
ance.
But now ali them seem to have wheeled
into the line Of civilization. So in a short
time they will have navy shird, in size,
OF the nations of the world, with all of the
modern Improvements, and manned with
officers and men equal to the best.
How is it with poor, old China, still
ploaaing along as she has been doing for
hundreds OF years, with ignorance and
superstition largely in the lead?
JunEs and Sanpans boat, with big,
ugly eyes painted in front of them I can't
call II a bow 80 they can see.
Chop sticks to eat with, wooden shoes,
cramped up feet for female children, which
cripples them for life, shaved heads with a
patch Of hair left at the crown. If the hair
don grow long enough to suit their taste
the plat is finished out with braid.
must get back to our ship
had better mention just here that the
other of Uncle Sans ships that were there
We're the old sailing sloop- of-war CYAN
dalia, beside her was surveying steamer
"John Hancock and schooner "Feni
more Cooper, and quite number Of large
sailing ships of different nationaites and
two large French frigates, the Joan of
Ark' and the "Colbier ~
l think, Mr.. Editor, l had better
straighten myself out just here, for some
might think had remarkably good mem
DRY to remember their names so well.
There was an English paper published at
that time in Shanghai called the "North
China Herald" 1 would get one at every
opportunity. Reading matter was scarce
on our ship, and l would read these Her
aids at different times until they were
worn out, and had good deal OF news in
shem by heart
Now l will go back to the ship.