INTRODUCTION. 35 



"2. We grant unto them freedom of custom for all such merchandises as either now they 

 have hrought, or hereafter shall bring into our Kingdoms, or shall from hence transport to any 

 foreign part ; and do authorize those ships that hereafter shall arrive and come from England 

 to proceed to present sale of their commodities, without further coming or sending up to our 

 court. 



" 3. If any of their ships shall happen to be in danger of shipwreck, we will our subjects not 

 only to assist them, hut that such part of ship and goods as shall be saved be returned to their 

 captain or cape merchant, or their assigns. And that they shall or may build one house or more 

 for themselves in any part of our Empire where they shall think fittest, and at their departure 

 to make sale thereof at their pleasure. 



" 4. If any of the English merchants or others shall depart this life within our dominions, the 

 goods of the deceased shall remain at the dispose of the cape merchant ; and that all offences 

 committed by them shall be punished by the said cape merchant, according to his discretion ; 

 and our laws to take no hold of their persons or goods. 



"5. We will that ye our subjects trading with them for any of their commodities pay them 

 for the same, according to agreement, without delay, or return of their wares again unto them. 

 " 6. For such commodities as they have now brought^ or shall hereafter bring, fitting for our 

 service and proper use, we will that no arrest be made thereof; but that the price be made with 

 the cape merchant, according as they may sell to others, and present payment upon the 

 delivery of the goods. 



" 7. If in discovery of other countries for trade, and return of their ships they shall need 

 men or victuals, we will that ye our subjects furnish them for their money as their need shall 

 require. 



"8. And that, without other passport, they shall and may set out upon the discovery of 

 Jesso or any other jjart in or about our Empire." 



These certainly were privileges of the most liberal kind, and conclusively show that the 

 original policy of Japan was not at all one of exclusion ; and that Europeans may thank 

 themselves for the introduction of that rigorous system which has so long shut her ports 

 against the commerce of nearly all the civilized world. The Japanese, when they discovered 

 that foreigners were conspiring to take their country from them, did not choose to permit it ; 

 and, as the shortest mode of preventing it, sent out such foreigners as were in the country, and 

 forbade any more to come in. Now, whatever doubts may be entertained as to the wisdom or 

 expediency of such a remedy, no sane man will question the right, or find fault with the desire, 

 of the Japanese to keep Japan for themselves. If, ixnfortunately, some of the conspirators were 

 European ecclesiastics, they justly paid the penalty of expulsion from the kingdom for making 

 their religion a part of their politics. The blunder was their own, not that of the Japanese. 



The Emperor also sent by Captain Saris the following letter to the King of England : 

 " To the King of Great Britain : 



"Your Majesty's kind letter sent me by your servant, Captain John Saris, (who is the first 

 that I have known to arrive in any part of my dominions,) I heartily embrace, being not a 

 little glad to understand of your great wisdom and i^ower, as having three plentiful and 

 mighty kingdoms under your powerful command. I acknowledge your Majesty's great bounty 

 in sending me so undeserved a present of many rare things, such as my land affordeth not, 

 neither have I ever before seen, which I receive not as from a stranger, but as from your 



