much longer, but will have to go higher up the bay towards Yedo, where the
vessels can be more secure.
H I f the great man (chief commissioner) will appoint an officer of proper
rank to meet Captain Adams on shore, near where the ships are now lying,
to determine when and where the interview with the Commodore shall take
place, he must let us know by noon of Tuesday next.
“ The Commodore will be happy to place a ship at the disposal of the
great man, to bring him up to the place of interview, and take him back
again to Uraga, if he wishes it.
11 When the officer comes to meet Captain Adams, he had better bring a
letter to show that he has proper authority, and a person must be sent to
conduct Captain Adams to the place of meeting.”
The Japanese received the dispatch from the Commodore without any
attempt to discuss it, and bore it away with them, with the intention of consulting,
doubtless, with others higher in authority. As they rose to depart,
they asked if the Commodore had received a letter, through the Dutch at
Nagasaki, which had been sent to him the previous year by the government
of Japan. Captain Adams, as he had not been authorized to make any
revelations on the subject, answered he had no authority to speak on the
topic. They then took their departure.
I t was on this day (February 18th) that the Commodore transferred his
broad pennant to the Powhatan. The surveying boats, as usual, were busily
occupied on duty, but had changed their scene of operations further toward
Yedo. The Southampton followed in their wake, in order to facilitate the
work of the surveyors, who had hitherto lost much time by being obliged to
return, after a day’s labor, a great distance to the squadron. The surveying
party was now, by being immediately followed by a ship, enabled to go on
board of her at night, without losing time, which.it was necessary to economise,
in order folly to complete the extensive observations they had in
view.T
he next day was Sunday, (February 19th,) but the Japanese officials,
notwithstanding, came on board the Powhatan as usual. They were told,
that it was a day set apart by the Americans as their Sabbath, but that if
they had anything to say, they would be listened to, in consideration of the
long distance and inclement weather through which they had come. They
brought with them a large quantity of vegetables, oranges, fowls, eggs, and
various sweetened confections, which they courteously offered as a present to
the Commodore, with a kind inquiry after his health. These were received
upon their expressing a willingness to receive something in return, and they
accordingly were presented with some ship’s bread and a box of te a ; the
Japanese remarked, as they received them, they had given eatables only, and
that it was a Japanese custom to receive eatables only in return. Upon