dent determination not to return to the shore, by the desire they expressed
of casting off their boat, utterly regardless of its fate. The captain of the
Mississippi directed them to the flag-ship, to which, on retiring to their boat,
they pulled off at once. Haying reached her with some difficulty, in consequence
of the heavy swell in the harbor, they had hardly got upon the ladder
and mounted to the gangway, when their boat got adrift, either by
accident, or from being let go intentionally. On their reaching the deck, the
officer informed the Commodore of their presence, who sent his interpreter
to confer with them and learn the purposes of their untimely visit. They
frankly confessed that their object was to be taken to the United States,
where they might gratify their desire of travelling, and seeing the world.
They were now recognized as the two men who had met the officers on shore,
and given one of them the letter. They seemed much fatigued by their
boating excursion, and their clothes showed signs of being travel worn, although
they proved to be Japanese gentlemen of good position. They both
were entitled to wear the two swords, and one still retained a single one,
but they had left the other three in the boat which had gone adrift with
them. They were educated men, and wrote the mandarin Chinese with
fluency and apparent elegance, and their manners were courteous and highly
refined. The Commodore, on learning the purpose of their visit, sent word
that he regretted that he was unable to receive them, as he would like very
much to take some Japanese to America with him. He, however, was
compelled to refuse them until they received permission from their government,
for seeking which they would have ample opportunity, as the squadron
would remain in the harbor of Simoda for some time longer. They were
greatly disturbed by this answer of the Commodore, and declaring that if
they returned to the land they would lose their heads, earnestly implored to
be allowed to remain. The prayer was firmly but kindly refused. A long
discussion ensued, in the course of which they urged every possible argument
in their favor, and continued to appeal to the humanity of the Americans.
A boat was now lowered, and after some mild resistance on their part
to being sent off, they descended the gangway piteously deploring their fate,
they are sincere; and if your excellencies are pleased to regard them kindly, do not doubt
them nor oppose our wishes. We together pay our respects in handing this in. April 11.”
A small note was enclosed, of which the following is a translation: “ The enclosed letter
contains the earnest request we have had for many days, and which we tried in many ways
to get off to you at Yoku-hama, in a fishing-boat, by night; but the cruisers were too thick,
and none others were allowed to come alongside, so that we were in great uncertainty how
to act. Hearing that the ships were coming to Simoda we have come to take our
chance, intending to get a small boat and go off to the ships, but have not succeeded.
Trusting your worships will agree, we will, to-morrow night, after all is quiet, be at Kaki-
zaki in a small boat, near the shore, where there are no houses. There we greatly hope
you to meet us and take us away, and thus bring our hopes to fruition. April 25.”
C O N S E Q U E N C E S OF T H E VI S I T OF T H E J A P A N E S E . 48?
and were landed at a spot near where it was supposed their boat might have
drifted.
On the afternoon of the next day, Yenoske, the chief interpreter, who
had come to Simoda from Yedo for the express purpose of requesting the
postponement of the expedition to Oho-sima, which was conditionally granted
by the Commodore, came on board the Powhatan, and requested to see
the flag-lieutenant, to whom he stated, that “ last night a couple of demented
Japanese had gone off to one of the Amerioan vessels,” and wished to know
if it had been the flag-ship; and if so, whether the men had been guilty of
any impropriety. The flag-lieutenant replied, that it was difficult to retain
any very precise recollection of those who visited the ships, as so many were
constantly coming from the shore in the watering boats and on business, but
he assured the interpreter that no misdemeanor could have been committed,
or he would have been aware of the fact. The interpreter was then asked,
whether the «Japanese he referred to had reached the shore in safety, to
which the very satisfactory answer that “ they had ” was received.
The Commodore, upon hearing of the visit of the interpreter and the apparent
anxiety of the Japanese authorities in regard to the conduct of the
two strange visitors to the ships, sent an officer on shore in order to quiet
the excitement which had been created, and to interpose as far as possible
in behalf of the poor fellows, who it was certain would be pursued with the
utmost rigor of Japanese law. The authorities were thanked for the solicitude
they had expressed lest the Americans should have been inconvenienced
by any of their people, and assured that they need not trouble themselves
for a moment with the thought that so slight a matter had been considered
otherwise than a mere trivial occurrence unworthy of any investigation. The
Japanese were further informed that they need give themselves no anxiety
for the future, as none of their countrymen should be received on board the
American ships without the consent of the authorities, as the Commodore
and his officers were not disposed to take advantage of their confidence or
act m any way that would be inconsistent with the spirit of the treaty. I f
the Commodore had felt himself at liberty to indulge his feelings, he would
have gladly given a refuge on board his ship to the poor Japanese, who apparently
sought to escape from the country from the desire of gratifying a
liberal curiosity, which had been stimulated by the presence of the Americans
in Japan. There were other considerations which, however, had higher
claims than an equivocal humanity. To connive at the flight of one of the
people was to disobey the laws of the Empire, and it was the only true
policy to conform, in all possible regards, to the institutions of a country by
which so many important concessions had already been reluctantly granted.
The Empire of Japan forbids the departure of any of its subjects for a foreign
country under the penalty of death, and the two men who had fled on
board the ships were criminals in the eye of their own laws, however inno