INTRODUCTION 



49 



promise was immediately made that the men should he sent on hoard in two days from that time. 

 This promise having been fulfilled to the letter, the Preble returned to join the squadron on the 

 coast of China. The next effort made by the government of the United States was that of 

 which the story is told in the subsequent pages of this work. 



We have thus laid before the reader the chief features of the principal attempts made by 

 civilized nations to open commerce with Japan ; and, in the following tabular view, these may 

 he seen at a glance, and thus, by showing what efforts were simultaneous, we may facilitate, 

 perhaps, the understanding of the subject as a whole. 



Tj 



