Your very interesting dispatches of 25th June last have been received,
and the department is much gratified with your successful operations thus
tar, and indulges the hope, that in regard to Japan and China there is in
store for you much additional honor and fame.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
„ , „ „ J . C. DOBBIN.
Commodore M. C. P erry,
Commanding United States Squadron, East India and China Seas.
Commodore Perry to the Secretary o f the Navy.
United States S team F rigate Susquehanna,
Hong Kong, January 14, 1855.
Sir : On the eve of getting under way for Japan, with all my arrangements
made to leave in an hour, and a large portion of my force actually
gone, I am placed m possession of the letter of the department of the 28th
of October, (which arrived by the mail of last night,) directing me, under
certain views of the government with respect to China, to detach one of the
steamers of my command, to he placed at the disposal of Mr. R. M. McLane
recently appointed Commissioner to China.
Such an arrangement, at this moment, would be seriously inconvenient
and highly injurious to my plans, the execution of which has already complies
m the north Pacific for onr whaling ships, and a line of mail steamers, which sooner
or later mnst be established between California and China.
I have no special instructions from my government upon the subject^ and am yet to
learn whether my acts will be approved.
The recognized sovereignty of these islands would only entail an expense upon the
power undertaking their occupancy and protection, and whether they may ultimately fall
under the American, the English, or a local flag, would be a question of little importance
so long as their ports were open to the hospitable reception of all nations seeking shelter
ana refreshment.
And I m ay venture further to remark, that it would seem to be the policy, as well of
England as of the United States, to aid in every possible way in the accomplishment of an
arrangement that would fill up the remaining link of the great mail route of the world,
and thus furnish the means of establishing a semi-monthly communication around the en-
tire globe.
With great respect, I have the honor to be your most obedient servant,
_ . M- C. PEKKY,
. Commander-m-Chaf United States meal forces, East India, China, and Japan seas.
His Excellency Sir I . Geoegb B onham, B art.,
H. B . M. Chief Superintendent o f Trade, Bong Kong.
menced; indeed, it could not be done at this time without deranging the
operations of the squadron—so intimately are the steamers connected with
each other; and I feel assured that, if the department could be made acquainted
with the true state of things, and the importance of my carrying
the three steamers with me to Japan, as it now knows of the events of my
former visit to that Empire, it would at once revoke the order; but, as it
is my duty to obey, though it cannot be done at this moment without serious
consequences to the success of my mission, I will detach one of the steamers
from the Bay of Yedo, and send her to Macao, where she can only be of
use in contributing to the convenience of the commissioner, as her great
draught of water will render it impossible to ascend, for any uBeful purpose,
the rivers in China.
My various letters to the department will, I think, demonstrate the
correctness of this assertion. However, I have no alternative, though I
cannot but express the deep disappointment and mortification to which I am
subjected.
Although Mr. McLane may not find a steamer waiting for him at Macao
when he arrives, I will order her to the coast of China the moment I can
do so consistently with the public interests.
I am sure the department will not object to the exercise of this discretion
no possible inconvenience can arise from the delay. Mr. McLane may
probably be detained some time in Europe, and the steamer may be back in
time to meet him, and before he will be prepared to act.
I must confess that this order has damped my hopes very much, but I
will do the best I can.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. C. PERBY,
Commander-in-chief o f United States Naval Forces
in the East India, China and Japan Seas.
Hon. J ames C. Dobbin,
Secretary o f the Navy, Washington.
The English mail-steamer, whieh had arrived just before the departure
of the squadron, had brought the eases and packages expected from Paris,
containing presents for the Japanese, but too late to be taken on board any
of the ships. They were therefore passed over to the care of some commercial
friends at Canton, who were requested to send them to Shanghai by
Her Majesty’s steamer the Rattler, to sail for that place two days after the
Commodore’s departure, and on board of which they were to be received by
the polite permission of Admiral Pellew. They were to be shipped then in
the Saratoga, which would carry them to Lew Chew, where, we may add,
they were duly received in time for the second expedition to Japan.
The squadron having set sail from Hong Kong, the course was directed