have been applied at the instigation of the authorities, in order to efface
every vestige of an erection, which might provoke by its show of hostility
an unfriendly feeling on the part of the formidable visitors.
In consequence of the strong ebb tide, the boats which were pulling
ahead, engaged in sounding the channel towards the city, made but little
headway, and the steamers with difficulty stemming the current could not be
kept under safe steerage. The sailing ships had already anchored some
distance astern. The Commodore having promised the commissioners, in
order to allay their apprehensions, that he would not anchor the steamers
hear the capital, but only advance them sufficiently to take a glance at it,
felt himself bound to return. The men in the boats were exhausted with
hard pulling, and as it was not safe to keep the steamers where they were
without dropping anchor, the surveying party were accordingly summoned
back, and the ship’s head pointed down the bay again. The fears of the
commissioners, as they stated, and as the interpreters who were present never
failed to continue to suggest, were founded upon the supposition that if
the squadron should anchor near to, and in full view of the capital, its immense
populace would become greatly excited. This, they declared, might
result in the most disastrous consequences ; and though they did not particularly
name the Emperor and his household, they evidently felt deeply concerned
about their safety. In consequence, therefore, of the very courteous
and friendly conduct of the princes and their coadjutors, and trusting to
their asseverations that they would be held personally responsible for any
catastrophe that might ensue from anchoring the steamers off the city and
saluting the palace, as was the original intention, the Commodore determined
to yield to their remonstrances. A direct appeal was also made by
the commissioners to the generosity of the Commodore in the statement that
having, in the treaty, conceded more than had been originally designed, and
thus shown their confidence and friendship, they hoped the Commodore would
not subject them to a possible injury and probable death. The Commodore
yielded at once. He thought it was better not to bring about an issue that
might endanger the very friendly position in which he had placed himself in
relation to the Japanese. I t would have been a source of endless regret,
too, if to gratify a profitless curiosity misfortune should have been brought
upon the commissioners, whose friendly conduct deserved every kind return
that might be given in consonance with duty. The squadron, therefore, now
returned and anchored at the “ American anchorage.” The anxiety of the
Japanese interpreters, who remained on board during the whole trip, was
thus much relieved, and they participated with the greatest conviviality in
a collation which was spread for their entertainment in the Commodore’s
cabin.
There being no further reason for the detention of the squadron in the
upper bay of Tedo, the Commodore prepared to depart. He accordingly
dispatched in advance the Macedonian for Peel island, on the 11th of
April; the ships Southampton and Supply on the fourteenth, and the Vandalia
and Lexington on the sixteenth, for Simoda. During the two days
preceding his own departure, the Commodore took the opportunity of inspecting
the island near the “ American anchorage,” which had been called
by him Webster, and the neighboring shores. The beauty of the country,
now developed in all its picturesque charms of rich verdure, shaded groves,
fertile fields, and cultivated gardens, was a source of never-ending pleasure,
and as the time approached for taking leave of the attractive shores of the
upper bay of Yedo, there was no little feeling of regret. The scenery in
the neighborhood of tho American anchorage was now very familiar to all
on board ship, and had a double interest, as well that of association from
long residence as from its intrinsic beauties. Webster island is a charming
spot, shaded with the thickest groves of green growth, and varied with hill
and dale, wild mountain top and cultivated slope. Between it and its
neighboring isle, called by the surveyors Perry, after the Commodore, is a
little bay, upon the inland shores of which there is a considerable quarry of
stone that the Japanese have extensively worked. Large blocks were lying
about, and the rocky precipices of the shore were hewn into good walls of a
smooth surface, from which the masses of stone had been cut with a regularity
that showed much skill. There were other evidences also of the busy
industry of the Japanese; there were various boat-building yards, with
junks dragged ashore for repairs, with workmen actively at work over their
hulls, and various docks and landing-places constructed of stone, and showing
the careful industry and no little skill of the people.
At four o’clock in the morning of the 18th of April, the Commodore
finally got under way for Simoda, in the Powhatan, accompanied by the
Mississippi, and anchored in that port at ten minutes past three in the afternoon
of the same day. The Mississippi dropped her anchor off the mouth
of the harbor, but soon after took her position within, in the neighborhood
of the Powhatan. The Vandalia, Southampton, Supply, and Lexington,
were found anchored there. The Commodore had purposely dispatched the
several ships in succession, in order to enable those which arrived first, time
for examining the harbor and selecting convenient anchoring places for their
consorts which were to follow. This turned out to be a well-timéd precaution,
as the Southampton, in warping into the inner harbor, came upon a
rock lying in the middle of the channel, with only twelve feet of' water
upon it at low water, a danger which had escaped the hasty examination of
the surveyors. I f it had not been for this timely discovery, one or both the
steamers would have probably struck upon the rock, as it lies directly in the
way, and is all the more dangerous from its being only thirty feet in diameter,
and cone-like in shape. Lieutenant Commandant Boyle had very prudently
placed a buoy upon it, which enabled the steamers to avoid the dan-
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