the higher ground to the beach, and there embark in boats, which put off
immediately in the direction of the surveying party. And, during the
whole time, the various batteries were busy with the movements of the
troops, who seemed to he either preparing for hostilities, or attempting to
make a formidable show of force.
The boats proceeded from ten to twelve miles further toward Yedo than
the anchorage of the squadron. In proceeding up the bay, numbers of
government vessels appeared, waving off the intruders, and some thirty-five ■
put off in a direction fronting the course of the surveying boats, as if intending
to intercept them. Lieutenant Bent, who was in advance, ordered
his men to rest on their oars, and to afiix their bayonets to their muskets,
hut this proceeding did not seem to have the effect he had hoped for, of
stopping the Japanese boats. They still came on. The lieutenant, anxious to
avoid a rupture, then changed his course somewhat, to prevent an immediate
collision, and despatched a boat for the Mississippi, which was about two
miles astern. The desired effect was soon produced by the approach of the
steamer, and there was no apparent disposition shown afterward to interfere
with the party, which continued the exploration. Beep soundings were
found the whole distance, with a soft bottom of mud. A channel seemed to
exist at the furthest point reached; in the centre the lead gave a depth of
twenty fathoms, while on the sides it struck upon hanks of mud at not more
than five fathoms, j I t was inferred that there were deep soundings still further,
and that the squadron might readily push on with safety to within a
few miles of Yedo itself. At the extreme distance of the boats’ passage
there was a smaller bay, cut out, as it were, from the larger, which, it was
supposed, would probably afford an excellent anchorage.- On either side,
the shores were abrupt, and extended hack into lofty hills, and from the
position of the boats at this point a town was observed on the right side of
the hay of Yedo. The Mississippi had disappeared for some time 'from the
view of those on board the other ships; hut, just as the signal gun was
about to he fired for her recall, she shot round the promontory, some two or
three miles up the bay, which had concealed her from sight, came steaming
down, with the boats in tow, and was soon quietly settled at her old anchorage,
passing on her way between the Susquehanna and the Uraga shore, and
attracting the attention of numbers of soldiers on the latter, who came out
to see her pass.
The hay was covered all day, as usual, with the Japanese junks, sailing
up or down, apparently carrying on a brisk commerce, and not at all disturbed
by the presence of the squadron. Some of the fishing smacks and
other boats would, indeed, at times approach pretty near to the ships, but
obviously merely to gratify curiosity, as their crews would stand up and
gaze intently, but gave no sign either of alarm or hostility. The trading
vessels were observed to stop at a town on the opposite side in coming down,
and at Uraga in going up, in accordance, probably, as has already been intimated,
with some regulation of the customs. Everything passed tranquilly,,
and the next day, which was to bring some reply or other to the Commodore’s
demands, was looked forward to with deep solicitude and interest by
every man on board the ships.