though it was perfectly useless to retain them, as he had given up all the
ammunition to the Japanese. He then very foolishly contrived to convince
the inmates of the Dutch factory at Dezima, to whom he brought letters,
that he suspected them of secretly intriguing to defeat his purposes with the
Japanese; wnile, in point of fact, the sagacious Dutchman, Doeff, who had
charge of Dezima, was exercising all his ingenuity to pursue such a nicely
balanced system of non-committal, that, let the mission terminate as it would,
he might be able to exclaim, “ thou canst not say, I did it,” and to turn
events to the advantage of himself and his countrymen. But, at last, the
ship was brought into safe anchorage, within the harbor; and after a great
deal of negotiation and delay, oonsent was given that the Russian ambassador
might live on land until an answer to his message was received from the
Emperor at Jeddo. An old fish warehouse was cleaned out and prepared
for his reception, and surrounded with a high fence of bamboos. At last,
when he was summoned to go to Nagasaki to hear the Emperor’s answer to
his application, curtains were hung before the houses on each side of the
street through which he passed, and the inhabitants were all ordered to keep
out of sight, so that he saw nothing of the place. Indeed, as we read the
account of Resanoff’s mission, it is hard to resist the belief, that the Japanese
took pleasure in mortifying the ambassador, and in overwhelming him,
at the same time, with an affectation of great personal politeness. They
kept him waiting, too, until 1805 for his answer; when it came, it was
peremptory enough. “ Order from the Emperor of Japan to the Russian
ambassador.” •“ Formerly our Empire had communication with several
nations; but experience caused us to adopt, as safe, the opposite principle.
I t is not permitted to the Japanese to trade abroad; nor to foreigners to
enter our country.” * * * “ As to Russia, we have never had
any relations with her. Ten years ago you sent certain shipwrecked Japanese
to Matsmai, and you then made us propositions of alliance and commerce.
At this time you have come back to Nagasaki, to renew these propositions.
This proves that Russia has a strong inclination for Japan. I t is
long since we discontinued all relations with foreigners generally. Although
we desire to live in peace with all neighboring States, the difference between
them and us, in manners and character, forbids entirely treaties of alliance.
Tour voyages and your labors are, therefore, useless.” * * *
“ All communications between you and us aré impossible, and it is my
imperial pleasure that, henceforth, you no more bring your ships into our
waters.”
Resanoff departed, the Japanese paying all the expenses of the embassy
while it was in Japan. I t is easy to understand how the indignant Russian
envoy immediately resolved to be revenged for the treatment he had received.
He gave way to his angry feelings, and proceeding to Kamtschatka,
directed two Russian naval officers, Chwostoff and Davidoff, who happened
to be there in the temporary command of two armed merchantmen that
traded between Asia and the northwest coast of America, to make a hostile
landing upon the most northern Japanese islands, or their dependencies.
He, himself, started for St. Petersburg, and died on the way.
The Russian officers did make a descent upon one of the southern Kurile
islands that belonged to Japan. That Empire had once owned the whole
Kurile archipelago ; but Russia had contrived, by some means, to possess
herself of the northern islands; and it was doubtful to the Dutch whether
this appropriation of territory was even known at Jeddo. I t is said not to
he unlikely that the prince of these islands, (thus taken by Russia,) and his
spy secretaries, deemed it expedient to conceal from the Emperor this loss
of a territory, of but little value, rather than make known an event which
would be deemed disgraceful to Japan, and subject them to punishment. If
this be so, they had, of course, to buy up the spies of government. The
islands were of but little value except from position. I t was precisely on
account of their position that Russia desired them. On the southern Kuriles,
however, their officers landed, and wreaked their vengeance on the unoffending
inhabitants, by plundering their villages, killing some of the people, and
carrying off others in their vessels. This was in 1807.
The news of these events filled the Japanese court with surprise and indignation;
and they sought, through the medium of the‘Dutch, to find out
whether they had heen authorized by the Emperor of Russia. Some time
after, in May, 1811, Captain Golownin, of the Russian navy, was sent in the
sloop-of-war “ Diana,” ostensibly to make a survey of the Kurile group,
though it was suspeoted (not proved) that he had ulterior objects, and was
instructed once more to attempt the establishment of commercial relations.
When he came to the island of Eeterpoo (which Siebold calls Ietorop)
he landed, supposing he would find Kuriles only; but he was met by a
Japanese officer and soldiers, who asked him if the Russians meant to treat
them as Chwostoff and Davidoff had treated another island some few years
before? Golownin, on this, thought it best to get away as soon as he could.
He then went to an island called Kunaschier, and here the Diana was fired
upon. Golownin, however, strove to show them that his purposes were
friendly, and was finally, by the cunning of the Japanese, tempted to land
with only a midshipman, pilot, four Russian seamen, and a Kurile interpreter-
All were made prisoners, and passed through various adventures, which
Golownin has recorded. They were kept prisoners for a long time, avowedly
in retaliation for the injuries that had been committed to gratify the angry
feelings of Resanoff; nor would the Japanese release them until they were
satisfied that these injuries had not been ordered by the Russian Emperor.
When Golownin left he was furnished with a dooument warning the Russians
no more to attempt the impossibility of establishing trade with Japan. It
is but just to the Japanese to add that Golownin, notwithstanding all his