a small house in which are stationed five other officers, who transmit all messages to or
from us, introduce to ns all who are allowed to enter, and make for us all the purchases we
require.” The list of articles of food furnished is both varied and extensive. Nor were the
Americans confined to the temple. Mr. Reed thus writes: “ In walking into the country,
we found that pleasing views invited us from one point to another, from mountain peak to
mountain peak, as we admired the strangeness, and richness, and beauty, until, though we
started only for. a morning walk, we often wandered too far to return the same night.” The
amusements of the party were not disturbed; for, on the evening of the 22d of March, the
Americans united with the Russian officers in celebrating, in the temple, by music and
dancing, the birthday anniversary of one of their number. Nor was this a ll: the time
of the sojourn of our countrymen was about two months and a half $ and, during this
period, as appears from Mr. Doty’s communication to the “ San Francisco Herald,” “ Mr.
Reed spent his time in selecting and purchasing a cargo of Japan goods for San Francisco,
composed of lacquer ware, rice, silks, &c., &c.,” which cargo, the California papers inform
us, was afterward sold at San Francisco at a large profit.
It would appear, therefore, briefly to recapitulate, that our countrymen were permitted
to land in Japan, were furnished with a house which was made comfortable for their residence,
were permitted to store part of the cargo of their vessel, were plentifully supplied
with necessary food, were permitted to walk about the country, were not molested in their
amusements, and were allowed to purchase a cargo from the Japanese and take it away.
Now, not one of these things could any American have done but for the treaty made by
Commodore Perry.
Mr. Reed further writes, in the columns of the “ Alta Californian: ” “ The Japanese
began early to interrogate us upon our intentions, and we told them in writing that we
came there to live.” In the letter of Reed and Dougherty, addressed to the governor of
Simoda, on the 22d of April, 1855, as published in the “ New York Herald ” of the 15th
of October, 1855, they thus state their intentions: “ We touched here, expecting to meet.
the Powhatan and Yandalia, to which we had letters, and also to consume time, knowing
that, by the treaty, we could not go to that place (Hakodadi) before the middle or last
of this month.”
“ We found the officers and crew of the wrecked ship Diana here, and anxious to go
away, and we at once negotiated to transport them to Petropaulowski. On this account
it became necessary for us to come on shore, and also to land part of our cargo and all the
passengers.”
“ I t was not our design to land here, nor is it our intention now to remain here longer
than till our vessel returns, which we now expect in fifteen or twenty days. Should our
schooner be lost and never return, our plans may be changed altogether; and, should we
not hear from her for two months to come, we then may seek other means of conveyance
from this place.”
“ Our object is not to mingle or trade with the Japanese, but to trade with and assist
our own people and ships that visit Japan.”
As to the treaty, the letter proceeds : “ We know well the interpretation and meaning
given to it by our government. We shall never compromise our government by saying
that we have no right to remain here a week, a month, a year, or even five years, for we
know, by the treaty, we have a perfect right so to do.”
Mr. Doty,,in his letter to the authorities of Simoda, dated the 23d of April, as published
in the “ New York Herald” of October 15, 1855, thus writes:
“ I give you in writing the following reason for my sojourn at this place:
“ I arrived in this port on the 15th ult., on board the American vessel 0. E. Foote.
Soon after our arrival, I was informed that the vessel would sail hence to Heda, and from
thence to a foreign port, with officers and men of the late Russian frigate Diana. Not
wishing to make the above voyage with my family, I came on shore, and now must necessarily
remain here until the return of our vessel, when it is my intention to leave Simoda.
“ I f the vessel should not return after a reasonable time for making the voyage has
elapsed, I shall avail myself of the first opportunity that offers to sail direct for the United
States of America.
“ In answer to the question of right of Americans to reside here, I would most respectfully
beg leave to represent that, in my opinion, it is a matter to be settled by our
respective governments, and, therefore, decline making any further communication upon
this subject.”
A proclamation was then issued by the authorities of Simoda, as follows;
“ PROCLAMATION.
“ To t h e A m e r i c a n s a t Y o k u s h e u T e m p l e :
“ About your leaving this place, your intention is heard, which you have declared, that
staying in this place is not properly your intention. But because the Russians have
engaged the vessel manned by you, with which they have gone home, you have been compelled
to stay here, and that you will, on the return of the vessel, leave this place, or should
she not return in the intended time, to await the arrival of a vessel that sails for your
country, and with that vessel to leave this place.
“ According to this declaration, you must, on the return of your vessel, leave this place;
or should she not return in the declared time, then, upon the arrival of an American ship,
you must leave this place, without, at that time, expressing any excuse to delay you.
“ Your present stay among us is found necessary, but it cannot in future be taken as an
example.
“ Never let it be asked again to stay. It is not only so in this place, but also at Hakodadi,
which you and all Americans are obliged to observe.
“ The foregoing is communicated by word of mouth from the governor of Simoda.”
Soon after this, Commander Rodgers, of the United States surveying expedition to the
North Pacific, arrived at Simoda in the Vincennes, and to him the Americans appealed.
This officer, taking distinctly the ground that the proper interpretation of the treaty was
not confided to him, but could be settled only by the two governments of Japan and the
United States, still endeavored, by a temperate and judicious letter to the authorities of
Simoda, to induce them to put a different construction from that they had adopted upon
the “ temporary residence ” allowed to Americans under the tre a ty ; his effort, however,
was fruitless.
But the object of Messrs. Reed and Dougherty, as they have stated it in the “ San Francisco
Herald” of the 18th of September, 1855, was to transport goods, and to establish
themselves in Hakodadi for the purpose of supplying our whale ships that designed to winter
there instead of at Honolulu. In other words, their object was to make at Hakodadi a
permanent commercial agency and supply depot for whale ships; to live in Japan with their
families, just as they would live in any European foreign port where they might establish
a storehouse. They, therefore, .while yet at Simoda, on the 20th of May, addressed the
following letter to the governor of Hakodadi, and forwarded it by the Vincennes, that was
about to sail for Hakodadi:
“ To His E x c e l l e n c y t h e G o v e r n o r o f H a k o d a d i :
“ We have the honor to communicate with you, through Commodore Rodgers, commanding
the United States surveying expedition, and who visits your place to meet a part
of his squadron, and also to survey and make a chart of your harbor. We are merchants
on our way to your place, to make a temporary residence there, in order that we may re