Commodore Aulick, he formally proposed to the government of the United
States the expedition, which was finally sent. The proposition was favorably
received, and it was determined that a squadron should he dispatched, under
his command, on the peaceful mission of endeavoring to open a friendly commercial
intercourse with the Japanese.*
The expedition having heen resolved on, the following vessels were
selected to compose the squadron, viz: The Mississippi steamer, which had
heen the flag ship of Commodore Perry in the Gulf during the Mexican
war, and was deservedly his favorite vessel; the Princeton and Alleghany
steamers; the Vermont, 74; and the sloops-of-war Vandalia and Macedonian.
The steamship Susquehanna, and sloops-of-war Saratoga and Plymouth were
already on the Bast India station, and were to form part of the squadron.
The armed storeships Supply, Lexington, and Southampton, were also attached
to the expedition. The liveliest interest in the undertaking was
manifested by the President, (Mr. Billmore,) by Mr. Webster, and his successors
in the State Department, (Messrs. Conrad and Everett,) by the
Secretary of the Navy, (Mr. Kennedy,) and indeed by all the members of the
Cabinet. The most liberal equipment was authorized, and the commander
of the expedition was invested with extraordinary powers, diplomatic as well
as naval, because much was necessarily confided to his prudence and discretion.
The instructions from the department designated the Bast India and
China seas and Japan as the field of service; but the great objects of the
expedition were to procure friendly admission to Japan for purposes of trade,
and to establish, at proper points, permanent depots of coal for our steamers
crossing the Paoifie.
Orders were given to fit the squadron for sea with as little delay as
possible; yet such was the mismanagement in the equipment of the vessels,
that more than once the public were led to suppose that the enterprise had
been abandoned, simply from the delay in its departure. More than nine
months had passed beyond the time when the chief of the Bureau of Construction
and Equipment had promised that the Princeton should be ready,
before that vessel was reported as completed; and when thus reported, she
was found, on trial, to be utterly inefficient for the intended service, owing
to the imperfection of her boilers. Some new, and in this country untried,
plan had been adopted in their construction or arrangement, and the experiment
cost the expedition the loss of a year. The Princeton never formed
part of the squadron, as the Powhatan was substituted for her.
Amid these vexatious delays, however, the Commodore was not idle.
* The subject of establishing commercial relations with the East occupied the minds of so
many of our countrymen, that it is, of course, impossible to say, with certainly, with whom
its discussion originated. I t is, however, due to one gentleman, (Aaron H. Palmer, esq., of
New York,) to say that he was, at least, among the earliest to call attention to its importance.
A P P L I C A T I O N S OF S C I E N T I F I C MEN. 99
While he was waiting for the completion of the Princeton, the misunderstanding
arose concerning the fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and it
became necessary to dispatch an armed vessel to that region. The Mississippi
was ready for sea, and Commodore Perry was ordered to repair in her
to the fishing grounds, and assist in amicably adjusting the respective rights
of the English and American fishermen. Having performed this duty satisfactorily
to the government, he returned to New York, earnestly hoping that
he should find removed all obstacles to his speedy departure on his mission
to the East.
As soon as it was publicly announced that the United States had resolved
on sending an expedition to Japan, applications came from all quarters of
the civilized world for permission to take part in the service. Literary and
scientific men, European as well as native, and travellers by profession,
eagerly sought to accompany the expedition; and extraordinary influences,
in some instances, were brought to bear upon our government inducing it to
second some of the applications thus made; but Commodore Perry resolutely
persisted in an unqualified refusal to all such requests.
And here it may be well to explain the grounds of such refusal. The
duties confided to the commander were of a peculiar nature, and required
the most prudent and delicate management on his part. He had his own
views of what he had to accomplish, and of the best mode of doing it ; and
an essential element of success was the possession of absolute authority for
the time being. I t was indispensable that the most exact order and discipline
should be maintained. To effect this, strict military control would be necessary;
but civilians could not be expected to submit patiently to the restraints
of naval discipline, to the confinement on shipboard, and to the sanitary regulations
necessary to preserve health in crowded ships.
But, further, after the accommodation of the proper officers of the vessels
there would be but little room left for that of scientific men, who were accustomed
to the comforts and conveniences of life on shore, with abundant
space for their books and instruments; and beside, they would severely feel
the disappointment of not being able to go and come at their pleasure, when
curiosity and their scientific, researches might make it desirable, to say
nothing of the embarrassments they might cause to the commander when
they did land, by collisions with the people, arising from inadvertence or
inexperience.
But paramount as a ground of refusal was the fact that the object of the
expedition was not scientific, but naval and diplomatic; to attempt both
would probably be to succeed in neither. I f one, the last named, were
prosecuted to a favorable result, the door would then be opened for success
in the other. At any rate the commander thought it would be best to do
one thing at a time, and that the one thing confided to him for performance,
must take precedence of every thing else.