of a friend, but also to guard himself against the suspicion of being
willing to appropriate, without recognition, the labors of another.
As to the Narrative itself, the highest ambition of the writer
was to tell the story, if he could, in such manner as would not only
present a true picture, but also keep alive the interest of the
reader ; his, wish was to make a book that might famish information
without being wearisome. I f in this he has succeeded, he has
attained all to which he aspired. If he has not, he has only to say
that he will feel more of regret than surprise.
In some instances he may be thought to be needlessly minute,
and especially in describing the pageantry of receptions, entertainments,
&c. In this matter he felt obliged to consult something
beside his own taste merely ; he was looking to the natural curiosity
of his countrymen to know every particular of the story, and
therefore preferred to tell too much rather than too little. Beside,
the pageantry was often an important part of the history of the
negotiation itself, with a people so ceremonious as the Japanese.
Nor did the compiler hesitate to use freely the materials placed
before him in the shape of journals, &c., even though the substance
of some portions of them is already in the hands of the public.
They were originally prepared for just such use as is here made of
them; the report was designed to tell the incidents of the whole
story from beginning to end ; and the compiler was directed simply
to use the materials that had been furnished him. I t was not for
him to omit facts because others had already related them.
In but one respect did he venture to exercise any discretion.
His duty required that he should tell all that occurred from the
moment the Mississippi left the Capes of the Chesapeake. As,
however, the chief interest of the Expedition was to be found in
events that occurred in China, Lew Chew, the Bonin Islands, and
Japan, he endeavored to make as brief as duty would permit the
incidents of the earlier part of the outward voyage, sensible that
but little new remained to be said in passing over a track so
often traversed and so well known by intelligent Europeans and
Americans. Still he believes he has omitted nothing which his
materials furnished, that is likely to interest the general reader.
The Narrative here presented of the Japan Expedition has
been prepared under my supervision and at my request, from
materials famished by me, and is authentic. I present it as my
official report, and am alone responsible for the statement of facts
it contains.
M. C. PERRY, Late Commander-in-chief
of the United States Expedition to the China Seas and Japan.