INTRODUCTION. 45 



plete as circumstances will allow lietwcen lier Asiatic and American possessions. "VVitli Corea, 

 Japan, and the Aleutian islands, stretching over to the promontory of Alaska on our northwest 

 coast, and with a strong point at Sitka, she might be in a situation to show the world that her plans 

 of extension were by no means confined to the limits of the Eastern hemisphere. With harbors on 

 the coasts of Eastern Asia and Western America, opening on a sea which must bo the seat of an 

 immense and lucrative commerce, she might aim to be a great maritime power, and to rule 

 mistress of the Pacific. If she possessed Japan, she would have an abundance of harbors, 

 unrivalled in the world for excellency, and with her resources would control the commerce of 

 the Pacific. It is not, therefore, the interest of any part of the commercial world that "Russia 

 should ever own Jajjan; but Kussia has, doubtless, long seen the importance to her of its acqui- 

 sition. If she aims at being a commercial nation, the possession of Japan would make her 

 eminently so. 



Some seventy or eighty years ago, a Japanese vessel was wrecked on one of the Aleutian 

 islands belonging to Russia. The crew was rescued, and was carried to the Eussian port of 

 Okotsk, or Irkutzk. Bat, instead of being sent hoem at once, they were detained in Rtissia ten years. 

 The object undoubtedly was, that the Japanese and Russians might learn each others' languages. 

 It seemed to be a small matter, but it had a specific end. At last, the discovery was made that 

 it would be humane to attempt, at least, the return of these poor shipwrecked Japanese to their 

 country. Russia, probably, was ignorant that they would be refused admission. Had they 

 been sent ten years before, the consequences would have been the same ; but Russia did not know 

 this ; and beside, her later efibrt deprives her of any apology for her tardy humanity. 



Tlie Empress Catharine, however, directed the governor of Siberia to send them back, and to 

 endeavor, through their instrumentality, to establish such mutual relations as might tend to the 

 benefit of both nations. He was ordered to dispatch an envoy, in his own name, with credentials 

 and suitable presents ; and was expressly forbidden to permit any Englishman or Dutchman to 

 be employed in the work. A Russian lieutenant, named Laxman, was the agent employed, and 

 in the autumn of 1792, he sailed from Okotsk, in a transport ship called the " Catharine." He 

 soon made a harbor on the northern coast of the island of Jesso, and there wintered ; in the 

 succeeding summer he went round to the southern coast of the same island and entered the 

 harbor of Hakodadi. The Japanese were polite, but refused to take back their countrymen, 

 informing Laxman that it was against their laws. They also told liim that he had sulyected 

 himself and his crew, as being foreigners, to perpetual imprisonment for landing anywhere in 

 the Kingdom except at the appointed port of Nagasaki ; yet, in consideration of the Russian 

 ignorance of this law, and of tlieir kindness to the shipwrecked Japanese, they would not enforce 

 the law, provided Lieutenant Laxman would promise for himself and his countrymen to return 

 immediately to his own country, and never again come to any part of Japan but Nagasaki. 



Laxman left without landing the Japanese, and the Empress Catharine made no further 

 attempt during her reign. In 1804, her grandson, the Emperor Alexander, renewed the effort. 

 A government ship, commanded by Krusenstern, was sent to Nagasaki, having on board 

 Resanoff, sent as special ambassador to Japan. He had hardly arrived, however, before he 

 furnished abundant evidence of liis unfitness for the delicate mission with which he was intrusted. 

 He commenced his intercourse with the Japanese oflicials by a dispute on a ridiculous point of 

 etiquette, viz : whether he should make a bow to the Emperor's representatives. Next he 

 positively refused to surrender the arms of the ship, according to the usual custom, though it 



