of making sketches of the land, the forts,
shore.
and various other objects on removing the sham forts of striped canvas, and in training more guns upon
Everything seemed propitious, as the action of the Commodore had
so far been crowned with success. He had gained his purpose in clearing
the squadron of the presence of the guard-boats; he had compelled the visit
of the first in authority at Uraga; he had surveyed the harbor; he had
refused to go to Nagasaki, and kept his position in the hay of Yedo; and
this last he determined to retain until he had some definite answer as to the
reception of the President’s letter by a person of proper rank and authority.
The weather added its smiles to the occasion, for nothing could he more
propitious. The heat, which was not excessive, for the thermometer hardly
ranged above 78°, was tempered by cool sea breezes, and the atmosphere was
so clear that every object appeared with great distinctness, and there was a
picturesque view disclosed to the eye on all sides. The peaked summit of
Eusi rose, with great distinctness, above the high land on the western coast,
and ten miles ahead the hold cliffs, which guard both sides of the entrance
to the inner harbor leading to Yedo, were readily discernible. Nearer, the
houses of Uraga could be so plainly seen that their peculiar forms and construction
could be made out, and they were perceived to be built of wood,
with roofs of various forms—pointed, square, and pyramidal. Most of the
buildings were of the natural color of the wood, somewhat discolored, however,
by time, while some few were painted white. The Japanese boats and
junks, to the number of several hundreds, extending from the headland off
which the Susquehanna was anchored, to the harbor, were so distinctly visible
as to be readily counted. Nearer still, the eye could minutely distinguish
the parts of the unfinished forts that were in the process of construction
on the heights opposite to 'the ship.
The next day was Sunday (July 10th), and, as usual, divine service
was held on board the ships, and, in accordance with proper reverence for
the day, no communication was held with the Japanese authorities. During
the day, however, a boat came off with a striped flag, which indicated the
high rank of the three or four Japanese sitting beneath its awning and
languidly using their fans. They were evidently persons of distinction, and
had the same intelligent expression and the remarkably courtly manners
which were uniformly observed in all those of the better class. On coming
alongside they, through their interpreter whom they had brought, requested
permission to come on board. They were asked if they had any business
with the Commodore, and answering that they had none, but merely wished
to have a talk, were politely informed that, by his orders, they could not be
received. Through the day, preparations were observed to be still proceeding
on the land; the soldiers moved busily, with their glistening shields and
long spears, about the batteries in sight, and some seemed to be engaged in
the squadron. The reverberations of the report of a cannon, fired off
apparently some distance up the bay, echoed through the hills, and were
distinctly heard on board the ships. At night, the beacon-fires, though
fewer in number than on the previous evening, again blazed, while the deep-
toned bell tolled as usual until morning. Everything, however, remained
on board the ships tranquil and without interruption, as befitted the Christian
day of rest.
On the next morning early (Monday) the surveying boats were despatched
higher up the bay, and Commander le e , of the steamer Mississippi, was
directed to get his ship under way to protect them, if necessary. The
governor of Uraga, on seeing the Mississippi going higher up, came on board,
although he had been told that there would be no necessity for further communication
or disoussion until the reply from Yedo was received.
The Commodore had sent the Mississippi and the boats on the service,
in part for effect, being satisfied that the very circumstance of approaching
nearer to Yedo with a powerful ship would alarm the authorities, and induce
them to give a more favorable answer to his demands. I t happened as was
expected. The governor pretended that his visit to the ship was simply for
the purpose of bringing the information that it was very probable the letters
(meaning, as was then supposed, the translations of the originals) would be
received on the following day, and forwarded to Yedo. His evident object
in coming on board, however, was to ascertain for what purpose the Mississippi
and the surveying boats had ascended the bay, and he accordingly put
the question.
The Commodore, anticipating the inquiry, directed that the governor
should be informed that, unless the business which had brought the squadron
to the bay of Yedo was arranged during the present visit, he, the Commodore,
wofild be obliged to return in the ensuing spring with a larger force;
and, as the anchorage in front of Uraga was not convenient or safe, he was
desirous of seeking a more favorable situation nearer to Yedo, which would
facilitate his communication with that city.
The surveying party, as on the previous occasion, was composed of boats
from each ship of the squadron, under the command of Lieutenant Bent.
They were sent out with general directions from the Commodore to go as
far up the bay toward Yedo as possible, without getting out of signal distance
from the squadron, and to avoid giving any occasion of conflict with
the people of the country. Their departure was watched with considerable
anxiety by those on board the Susquehanna. Thirty fathoms of her cable
had been taken in, and the remainder was ready to slip, while steam was
got up, to be in readiness for any emergency. The movements on shore
were quite lively : in the distance, on the eastern shore, large numbers of
soldiers—as many apparently as a thousand—were seen to march down from