366 MATTHEW C. PERKY. 



two countries. To him the high honor is due of 

 having first proposed its accomplishment to the 

 United States Government, as well as the greatei 

 praise of having finally effected a result and achieved 

 a triumph which were in the highest degree difficult 

 and problematical, and at the same time most bene- 

 ficial and advantageous. The United States are 

 among the richest portions of the globe in their 

 natural products, in the results of mechanical skill, 

 in arts, in sciences, in mineral wealth, in manu- 

 factures, and in every thing which invites and re- 

 munerates the commercial intercourse of nations. 

 Japan is provided with an abundance of coal, rice, 

 and many other natural and some mineral products; 

 but the consideration of chief moment in view of 

 which a treaty was desirable was, because American 

 steamers in sailing to the remoter countries of Asia, 

 found it extremely inconvenient and expensive to 

 convey with them the necessary amount of fuel for 

 so many thousands of miles ; while the difficulty 

 might be obviated by the establishment of an ar- 

 rangement with the Japanese whereby American 

 ships would be permitted, in opposition to the ex- 

 clusive policy which that country has pursued 

 toward foreigners for many ages, to obtain coal, 

 provisions, and water at one of the most convenient 

 ports of the Empire. 



