Commodore Perry never invoked the aid of the Dutch, from the beginning
to the end of his mission, hut purposely avoided them; and the treaty
which he made is essentially different from that which the Dutch had provided.
The draft from the Hague made Nagasaki the only port open to
foreign ships for obtaining supplies, repairing vessels, and recruiting the
sick; and provided that foreigners might “ even be admitted to trade,” after
they had made a treaty on the Dutch basis.
The two ports of Simoda and Hakodadi, with a considerable space around
each, are, by the American treaty, thrown open for trade; and in case of
distress, or when driven by stress of weather, all the ports in Japan are
open to ships of the United States; and as, when Holland shall succeed in
making a commercial treaty with Japan, we cannot but hope and believe
she will be admitted to like favors with ourselves, we have been inclined to
think that the Dutch are far more indebted to us for releasing them from
their imprisonment of two centuries and a half at Dezima, than we are for
any aid they have rendered us, directly or indirectly, in negotiating our
treaty with Japan. That Holland should seek to advance her own interest
is both natural and proper; when other nations succeed in promoting theirs,
it is scarcely graceful or dignified to deny to them the modicum of merit
which may attach to their success.
I t only remains to say a word about the singular statements of Dr. Von
Siebold. This individual was the physician employed by the Dutch at
Dezima, and has published, more largely than all his predecessors combined,
the result of his observations during his residence. Of the value of his publications
we have already spoken During his continuance in the Empire,
however, a circumstance is said to have occurred involving a very melancholy
catastrophe, in which Von Siebold was an unwilling actor. The story is thus
related by a modem writer on Japan. Siebold had been with Colonel Van
Strurler, the Dezima chief, to Yedo; the Japanese astronomer, Takahasi
Lakusaimon, had, in violation of the law, furnished him with a copy of a
recently made map of Japan. The draughtsman who made the copy having
become, from some cause, offended with the astronomer, denounced him to
the authorities. An investigation followed, Siebold’s correspondence with
Takahasi was demanded, and the topographical and geographical information
contained therein, added to the fact that Siebold was not by birth a Hollander,
led to the suspicion that the physician of Dezima was a Russian
spy. This caused the investigation to become more rigorous still, and
severe measures were threatened. All who were known to be friends and
correspondents of Siebold, with a single exception, were thrown into prison.
The excepted individual was made a witness for the government. He broke
his oath in the cause of friendship, and privately informed Siebold of what
was designed against him. This warning enabled him to place his most
valuable documents in security, and to prepare copies for the use of the
government commissioners, before his papers were seized and his person
arrested at Dezima. Siebold was repeatedly examined by the governor of
Nagasaki, and steadily refused to name any of his Japanese accomplices;
and requested to be permitted to pass the residue of his life in a Japanese
prison, as a hostage for the innocence of his friends, and as a penalty for the
consequences of his transgressions. The investigation lasted nearly a year.
Siebold was b a n i s h e d f rom, Ja p a n : and Takahasi and the draughtsman who
accused him both committed suicide. Whether this story be true or not,
in every particular, it was, at least, circulated on the continent of Europe,
and in this form it had reached the United States before our expedition
sailed.
After Commodore Perry had been designated as commander, Siebold
applied for employment as a member of the expedition, and so anxious was
he to go, that he caused great and unusual influence to be exerted for the
accomplishment of his wishes. Commodore Perry, for several reasons, and
particularly from a desire not to compromit himself, or hazard the success of
his mission by taking back to Japan a man generally believed to have been
banished, resisted all influences, even the highest, and persisted in his positive
refusal to have Siebold in any vessel of the squadron.
At length our treaty was made, and the fact announced to the world.
Within a few months, and since such announcement, has appeared a pam-
phlet, by Siebold, published at Bonn, and bearing the following title :
“ Authentic account of the efforts of the Netherlands and of Russia toward
the opening of Japan to the navigation and commerce of all nations.” We
regret its publication for the author’s sake. I t subserves no scientific end,
nor does it add a single fact concerning Japan to what the author has already
communicated in his previous valuable writings. I t is evidently the product
of mortified and irritated vanity, and has two objects in view which are
perfectly obvious. The one is to glorify the author, the other to disparage
the United States and its Japan expedition. Appreciating, as we sincerely
do, the voluminous writings of Dr. Yon Siebold concerning Japan, we regret
exceedingly the egotism, vanity, and self-importance exhibited in the pursuit
of the one object; while we are not disposed to overlook, without rebuke,
the misrepresentations and impertinence displayed in the accomplishment of
the other. The tenor and spirit of the whole work may be found at the commencement,
on the third page of the book, in the following statement: “ We
have now to thank the Russians, and not the Americans, fo r the opening
o f Japan.” When we remember that, up to a very late period, the Russians
had effected no treaty at all with Japan, the reader may possibly
incline to the belief, that the shrewd Japanese were not far from the truth,
when they suspected Von Siebold to be a Russian spy, and banished him.
Of his intimate connexion with Russia there can be no doubt; the
pamphlet itself shows i t ; and though in the revelations it makes, its purpose