Interpreter. To-morrow or the day after.
Lieut. C. Where is the house ?
Interpreter. On the shore.
Lieut. G. Can you point it out from here ?
Interpreter. I t oannot be seen.
Lieut. G., (repeating his last question.) Can you point it out from here ?
Interpreter. I t is on the other side of the hills—you can see it from
another position.
Lieut. G. What was the namo of the officer who came on board on the
day of our arrival ?
Interpreter. Nagazhima Saberoske.
(Gaptains Buchanan and Adams now returned.)
Captain Buchanan. Captain Adams and I have just had a conversation
with the Admiral.* He says that, since you appear to have wholly misunderstood
the matter about the letter, if you can show proof that an officer
of the proper rank is appointed to receive them, he will waive the matter in
dispute, and deliver the original at the same time with the copies. But he
requires strict evidence that the officer who shall meet him shall be of the
necessary rank, and that he has been specially appointed for the purpose by
the Emperor.
Yezaiman. Nagasaki is the proper place to receive letters from foreign
nations, and because Uraga is not an appropriate place, the officer will not
be allowed to converse, but only to receive the letters.
Capt. B. He is only desired to receive the letters. Will he come on
board, or will the letters be delivered on shore ?
Yezaiman. He will not come on board, but will receive them on shore.
Capt. B. Before the letters are delivered, the credentials of the officer
must be translated into Hutch, signed with the proper signatures, and sent
on board the Admiral.
Yizairnan. He will be accredited to receive the letter, but cannot speak.
Capt. B. He will not be desired to speak, but he must have a paper
signed by the Emperor, stating that he is empowered to receive the letters.
Yezaiman. He will have a document properly signed.
[Captain Buchanan now directed Mr. Portman to write in Dutch
the declaration he had made, and to give it to the interpreter. The following
is the English version : “ There has been a great deal of misunderstanding
about receiving the original letter and the translated copies, whether to
be received together or separately. The Admiral now is willing to meet
I t is proper to remark t h a t t h e title of Admiral was necessarily used at these interviews,
to designate your rank, as we found Yezaiman’s interpreters were familiar with it,
and were entirely unacquainted with that of Commodore:”— E xtract from Captain Adam's'
official report to Commodore Perry.
with a high officer of Yedo, holding rank in Japan corresponding to the
rank of Admiral in the United States. This officer shall be accredited, viz:
possess a writing properly signed by the Emperor, authorizing him to receive
the said letters. Of this writing or letter of credence shall be made a copy,
translated into Dutch, and the same copy be transmitted to the Admiral
before the interview takes place.
“ At this interview there shall be no discussions whatever; no more than
an exchange of civilities and compliments.
P The Admiral does not insist upon receiving an answer to the original
letter of the President immediately, but will come back for that purpose,
after some months.”]
Yezaiman. The high officer will not be allowed to speak on the matter :
only to make and return compliments.
Gapt. B. That is all that is necessary.
Yezaiman. The high officer will be here the day after to-morrow, to receive
the letter on shore.
Gapt. B. At what hour ?
Yezaiman. At eight o’clock in the morning. As soon as we see the
flag hoisted we will come on board the ship.
Gapt. B. Will the high officer bring the copy of the letter empowering
him to act, properly certified ?
Yezaiman. He will bring it.
Interpreter. The governor is very grateful for his kind reception on
board.
Gapt. B. We are very happy to see him. Where is the place of reception?
Interpreter. I can point out the place, but the house cannot be seen.
Yezaiman. Will the Admiral await the Emperor’s answer to the President’s
letter ?
Gapt. B. No; the Admiral will not now wait for it.
Yezaiman. When will he come for a reply ?
Gapt. B. He will return in a few months to receive the Emperor’s reply.
Yezaiman. I would desire a statement in writing to that effect. [ There'
being no satisfactory answer to this, Yezaiman continued.] The high officer
who receives the letter of the President will give a receipt for it, as an assurance
that it has been received.
Gapt. B. Can you not appoint a place nearer the ship ? The distance
is very great for the men to pull in a boat. The Admiral will be satisfied
to meet the high officer in a tent, or in one of the forts nearer the ships.
The interview will not be long.
Interpreter. The house is not far off; it is less than a Japanese mile.
Gapt. B. Can you not arrange to have it nearer the ships ?
Interpreter. The governor says he will endeavor to arrange it.