CHAPTER XVI I I .
Letter from Dutch Governor General of India announcing the death of the Japanese Emperor.—Commodore’s
reply. Enumeration of the several objects in view.—Prospects of their attainment by the
mission.—Officers and men left in Lew Chew—Arrival o f the Saratoga.—Run to Yedo Bay.—Oho-
sima. Cleopatra isles.—Mijako-sima.—All belong to Lew Chew group.—Entrance of gulf or outer
bay o f Yedo.—Japanese charts of little value, made for mere coasting.—Wintry aspect of Japan.—
Macedonian aground.—Hauled off by the Mississippi.—Friendly offers of the Japanese to assist the
Macedonian. Squadron proceeds up the bay and anchors a t the “ American anchorage.”—Japanese
officials come alongside.—Received by Captain Adams on the Powhatan, pursuant to the Commodore’s
orders. They attempt to prevail on the Commodore to return to Uraga, stating that the high Japanese
functionaries were there awaiting his arrival, by appointment of the Emperor.—Commodore declines
on account of safety of the ships.—Visit on the next day from the officials, who reiterate their
request, with an assurance, that the commissioners were ordered to receive the Commodore at Uraga
with distinguished consideration.—Commodore again declines.—Japanese ask that an officer may be
sent to Uraga to confer with the commissioners as to a place of meeting.—Commodore consents that
Captain Adams may hold such a conference, but th at the commissioners must come there to hold it.-^
Japanese become alarmed as to the friendly feelings of the Americans.—Their fears allayed.—Survey
of the bay resumed w ithout interruption by the Japanese.—Our boats .forbidden by the Commodore
to land.—Japanese persist for several days in desiring the Commodore to go to Uraga with the ships.
Commodore invariably refuses.—At length the Japanese are informed that the Commodore will allow
Captain Adams to meet a commissioner on shore near the ships, or that he will proceed up the
bay to Yedo.—Note from the commissioners to the Commodore.—His reply.—Captain Adams sent
down to Uraga to communicate to the commissioners the Commodore's reasons for declining to take
the ships to Uraga.—Some of the Japanese accompany him in the Vandalia.—Interview of Captain
Adams with the commissioners at Uraga.—Visit to Captain Adams from Yezaiman on board the Vandalia.—
Assures Captain Adams of the friendly disposition of the Emperor.—Vandalia returns, and
perceives ahead the squadron standing up the bay toward Yedo.—1The Japanese no longer urge going
to Uraga, but suddenly propose Yoku-hama, where the ships then were, about eight miles from Yedo.
Commodore immediately assents.—Buildings constructed at Yoku-hama.—A Japanese seaman in
the squadron sends a letter to his family ashore, by Yezaiman.—Yezaiman desires an interview with
him—The interview.—Ceremonials settled as to the conferences on shore for negotiation.
REVIOUS to leaving Na-
pha, Commodore Perry had received
a communication from
the governor general of Dutch
India, conveying information
of the death of the Emperor of
Japan, soon after the reception
of the President’s letter. The
Japanese government (so said
the communication) had requested
the Dutch superintendent
to communicate the fact
to the American government»
as this event, according to the
laws and customs of Japan
made certain ceremonies of mourning and arrangements for succession
to the throne necessary, and the consequent postponement of all consideration
of the President’s letter for the present. The Japanese authorities
accordingly had, as was stated by the governor general, repeatedly requested
the superintendent of the Dutch factory at Nagasaki to express
the wish of the government of Japan that the American sqtiadron would
not return to the Bay of Yedo at the time fixed by Commodore Perry,
lest his presence might create confusion. The Commodore answered the
communication of the governor general of Dutch India with the usual formal
expression of regret at the event of the Emperor’s death, and added that he
hoped the present rulers of Japan werC so well satisfied of the intentions of
the President of the United States, as stated in his letter, that they would
not be disposed to throw any serious obstacles in the way of accomplishing
friendly relations between the American nation and the Japanese.*
The Commodore had previously heard, through the officers of the Russian
squadron, of the reported death of the Emperor of Japan, and that similar
reasons to those set forth in the communication of the Dutch governor general
had been assigned to the Russian admiral for not replying to the letter from
his sovereign, which had been sent to Yedo from Nagasaki. The Commodore
was disposed to suspect, at first, as nothing had been said of the illness
of the Emperor of Japan during the first visit to the Bay of Yedo, and as so
short an interval had elapsed since then, that the statement of the death of
the Emperor was a mere ruse to obstruct the American negotiations.
* [Translation.]
B uetknzorg, December 23, 1863.
Mr. Commodore : The Dutch ship “ Hendrik a,” master Admiral, which sailed for Japan
in July last, has returned to Batavia on the 15th instant.
She brings intelligence from the superintendent of our factory there, up to November 16,
1853, and information of the death of the Emperor of Japan, soon after receiving the letter
of the President of the United States.
The Japanese government has requested the Dutch superintendent to communicate to the
American government: That this event, according to Japanese laws and customs, makes
necessary the performance of many and continuing ceremonies of mourning, and extensive
arrangements with respect to the succession to the throne; that during the period of mourning
no business of any importance can be transacted; that the letter of the President of the
United States can only be taken into deliberation when the time of mourning is over; that
previous thereto, the opinions upon the subject have to be obtained from all the governors
(lords) in Japan; that for that purpose the governors have to repair to Yedo in succession,
(one after the other;) that all that will take much time.
The Japanese authorities have repeatedly requested the superintendent of our factory
that he would inform the American government of the wish of the Japanese government not
to let the American squadron return to Japan at the time fixed upon by your excellency, for
fear that under the circumstances created by the decease of the Emperor, and from the several
and unavoidable conferences with the Japanese authorities, and of those authorities
among themselves, the American squadron might create broil, (confusion,) as the Japanese
authorities express themselves.