ham, a few days prior to his leaving Hong Kong, that his visit to the Bonin
Islands had attracted the attention of the British government. Sir George
had called on hoard the Susquehanna to confer with the Commodore upon
the subject, stating that he had been instructed by Lord Clarendon, then
minister of foreign affairs, to ask of him some explanations of his designs.
The Commodore, in answer, declared his willingness to communicate to Sir
George Bonham the information he desired, and accordingly gave him verbally
to understand his objects, but at the same time suggested that he would
prefer to have the purport of their conversation put in writing. To this
proposition Sir George immediately assented, and the following day he
wrote a letter recapitulating what he had already personally stated to
which the Commodore replied.*
* Superintendency of T rade, H ong Kong, December 22, 1853.
Sir : With reference to my interview with your excellency, respecting your visit to the
Bourn Mauds, and to your proposal that I should address yon officially on this subject I
have now the honor to enclose, for yonr information, copy of a letter and its enclosures from
a Mr. Simpson, wherein it is stated that you have purchased ground from a resident there
a coal dePot> for tiie ^ ® Pi# government of the United States of America
After our conversation yesterday your excellency will, I am sure, clearly understand that
It is not my desire nor intention to dispute your rights or that of any other person, to purchase
land on the Bomn Islands ; but as it is generally understood that this group was some
tnne ago taken possession of in the name of the government of Great Britain, I think it desirable
to acquaint your excellency therewith, in an official form, that you may, should
you see fit, favor me with an explanation of the circumstances referred to by Mr. Simpson.
I have the honor to be, sir, your excellency’s most obedient humble servant^
„ . _ _ ' J - G. BONHAM.
s Excellency Commodore P erry , United States navy, frc.,
United States Steamship Susquehanna.
B eaulev, I nvernesshire, October 1, 1853.
My L ord : I observe it stated in the public prints that the officer commanding the United
States Japan expedition had touched at the Bonin group—that he had made purchase
from a resident there of land for a government coal depot.
Permit me to call your lordship’s attention to the fact that this group of islands, so advantageously
situated for opening up intercourse with Japan, really appertains to Great Bri-
tain.
Having had some connexion with it while acting temporarily for her Majesty’s government
in the South Seas, its importance was impressed upon my mind ; and I respectfully
bring under your lordship’s notice the particulars which will be found narrated in the en-
closure herewith.
I have, &c.,
ALEX. SIMPSON.
True copy; H. N. LAY.
L ord Clarendon, &c., &c., &c.
The following are the copies of the letter of the Navy Department and
the Commodore’s answer, which latter was necessarily hurried, as it was
written and dispatched by the pilot after the squadron was fairly under way
and standing out of port:
Secretary o f the Navy to Comrrwdore Perry.
N avy Department, October 28, 1853
Sir : Bor some months past, the department indulged the hope of being
able to dispatch a steamer to China, to be at the service of the commissioner
representing our government, and to afford him facilities for accomplishing
Extract from a pamphlet published by the writer in 1843.
THE BONIN ISLANDS.
“ Woahoo. Sandw ich I slands, December 27, 1842.
“ This small but interesting, and, from its situation, valuable group of islands lies in
latitude 27° north, longitude 146° east, within five hundred miles distance from the city of
Jedo, in Japan.
“ I t appertains to Great Britain, having been discovered by an English whaling vessel
in. 1825, and formally taken possession of by Captain Beechey, of her Majesty’s ship ‘Blossom,’
in 1827. There were no aboriginal inhabitants found on the islands, nor any trace
tha t such had ever existed.
“ Their aggregate extent does not exceed two hundred and fifty square miles; but their
geographical position—so near Japan, that mysterious empire, of which the trade will one
day be of immense value—gives them a peculiar importance and interest. The climate is
excellent, the soil rich and productive, and there is an admirable harbor, well fitted for the
port of a commercial city.
“ The first colonists of this eastern group were two men of the names of Millichamp
and Mazarro, who, having expressed to Mr. Charlton, the British consul at the Sandwich
Islands, their wish to settle on some uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean, were by him
recommended to go to this group, of the discovery and taking possession of which he had
been recently informed. They sailed accordingly, in 1830, took with them some Sandwich
Island natives as laborers, some live stock and seeds, and landing at Port Lloyd, hoisted
an English flag which had been given to them by Mr. Charlton.
“ The little settlement has been visited by several whaling vessels since that period, and
also by a vessel from the British China squadron. Mr. Millichamp returned to England,
and Mr. Mazarro, anxiqus to get additional settlers or laborers to join the infant colony,
the whole population of which only numbers about twenty, came to the Sandwich Islands
in the autumn of 1842 in an English whaling vessel. He described the little settlement as
flourishing, stated that he had hogs and goats in abundance and a few cattle; that he grew
Indian com and many vegetables, and had all kinds of tropical fruits; that, in fact, he
could supply fresh provisions and vegetables to forty vessels annually.
“ Mr. Mazarro, who, in virtue of his first arrival, receives the appellation of governor,
finds the task of governing even this little colony no easy matter. He applied to me for
assistance in this task, and thankfully received the following document, which I drew up
for his assistance and moral support:—
“ ‘ I hereby certify that Mr. Matthew Mazarro was one of the original leaders of the
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