further, handed his card to the prince, and requested his in return.
He was told that he should have it in a few minutes, when the Japanese
prince, requesting to he excused for a few moments, retired through the curtained
door into an adjacent apartment. In the meantime the attendants
handed round tea, in small China cups handsomely adorned, and home upon
wooden trays beautifully lacquered. The Japanese interpreters apologized
for the meagreness of the repast, and entered into an informal conversation,
in the course of which they asked for the names of the American officers who
were present, and inquired whether they were satisfied with Uraga as a proper
place for the reception of the President’s letter.
This subject was uppermost in their minds, and they seemed resolved to
press it on all occasions, as they were very desirous of preventing any nearer
approach of the squadron to Tedo; being instructed, no doubt, to attempt
to accomplish this purpose at all hazards. They were told that Captain
Adams had a letter upon the suhject from the Commodore, and were reminded
of the severe weather to which the Vandalia had been exposed, and how
impossible it was to place the squadron in a position so little protected against
the stormy season then prevailing.
The prince now entered, and his card was handed to Captain Adams, upon
which was recorded his full name and title, thus : Hayashi-Daigaku-no-kami,
i. e., Hayashi, prince of Daigaku.
Captain Adams now handed the Commodore’s letter, which has already
been given in full, to the prince, accompanying it with a statement in regard
to the insecure anchorage at Uraga, and the necessity of having shelter,
space, and smooth water, for mooring the squadron, and repairing one of the
ships which had become leaky. He also emphatically declared that it was
quite impossible for the Commodore to come to Uraga, but that he would be
very happy to send one of his steamers to convey the prince up the bay to a
place of meeting, near the anchorage of the American ships.
The prince and his coadjutors now retired to consider the Commodore’s
letter. In the meantime refreshments were presented, consisting of tea, of a
cake resembling our sponge cake, candy, various fruits, and their saki.
A general conversation ensued in regard to the building which the Japanese
said had been especially constructed for the meeting with the Commodore,
the depth of the harbor, and other points of no material interest.
The Japanese interpreters, in answer to the objections urged against the
security of the port of Uraga, insisted that it was perfectly safe, and requested
Captain Adams to make a survey of it, in order to convince himself; and
again and again earnestly urged upon him to entreat the Commodore to
bring his ships there, and meet the Japanese high officers, who had been appointed
to treat with him; saying that if he would come, the whole treaty
might be arranged before night. Capt. Adams, in answer, said that he would
inform the Commodore, when the conversation was interrupted by the reappearance
of the three Japanese high dignitaries. Upon entering, they announced
that they had carefully perused the Commodore’s letter three or
four times, but were not prepared to give an answer, as they would be obliged
to consult the other high officers appointed by the Emperor, and who were
now in waiting at Uraga. On being asked when the answer would be ready,
they appointed the third day after the interview. Captain Adams strove to
impress upon them the necessity of dispateh, in consequence of the insecurity
of the ship, in the prevailing stormy weather at Uraga, and of explicitness
in their answer, as the Commodore was anxious to bring matters to a conclusion,
and to send to America one of his ships to report progress in the
negotiations, and prevent others from coming out. The conference now
being at an end, the prince and his coadjutors bowed politely and retired.
The weather being stormy and the water in the bay very rough, the American
officers delayed their return to the Vandalia, and occupied the interval in
strolling about and viewing the neighborhood. Hardly anything could be seen,
however, of the town and the people, as the Japanese authorities had, in accordance
with their usual custom, hemmed in the shore, on both sides of the audience
hall, with cotton screens of some eight feet in height, which excluded
the houses from the sight of the strangers. Crowds of men, women, and
children could be observed, however, in the distance, thronging upon the surrounding
hills, and gazing eagerly at the Americans. When the storm had
somewhat abated, Captain Adams and his party, having been presented, in
accordance with Japanese practice, with paper parcels containing the
remains of the refreshments which had been left upon their plates or salvers,
returned to their ship lying off the harbor. Some went back in the Vanda-
lia’s boats, while others accepted the offers of the Japanese officials, and put
off in their craft. The superior excellence of the Japanese boats, in a sea,
was admirably proved, by the fact that those on board of them reached the
ship with dry jackets, while the others were wet through and through by the
dashing spray. The use of the scull instead of the oar may partially account
for this advantage of the Japanese boats, although their construction has
something to do with it. The sculls never leave the water, while the oars
are constantly in and out, dipping up considerable spray, which at every
stroke is blown, in case of a high wind, all over the persons in a boat of our
usual construction.
On the next morning (February 23) the Vandalia was still lying off
Uraga, when our old acquaintance, Yezaiman, the governor of Uraga, presented
himself. This, it will be remembered, was the dignitary who had figured
so conspicuously during the first visit of the squadron to the Bay of Tedo.
His absence hitherto had created great surprise, and it was naturally feared
that his conduct on the previous occasion had not been approved of by his
government, and that he had fallen into disgrace, or possibly had been reduced
to the disagreeable necessity of disembowelling himself. He however