238 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



answer -would he sent to Nagai3aki, added also that the squadron must preceed thither. In 

 answer to this he was most distinctly told that the Commodore would never consent to such an 

 arrangement, and would persist in delivering the letter where he was ; and, moreover, that if 

 the Japanese government did not see fit to appoint a suitable person to receive the documents 

 in his possession addressed to the Emperor that he, the Commodore, whose duty it was to 

 deliver them, would go on shore with a sufficient force and deliver them in person, be the 

 consequences what they might. 



In answer to this, the governor said that he would return to the city and send a communi- 

 cation to Yedo, asking for further instructions, and he added that it would take fo2ir days to 

 obtain a reply. One hour's steaming would have taken the ships in sight of Yedo, and so the 

 governor was informed that the Commodore would wait three days only, (until Tuesday, the 

 12th,) when a definite answer would be expected. 



A boat had been sent at daylight from each ship of the squadron to survey the bay and 

 harbor of Uraga. The governor, on observing these boats, inquired what they were doing, and 

 when he was told that they were surveying the harbor, he said it was against the Japanese 

 laws to allow of such examinations ; to' which he received for reply, that the American laws 

 command them, and that Americans were as much bound to obey the American as he was the 

 Japanese laws. "^^ This," remarks the Commodore, " was a second and most important point 

 gained." During all the questions and answers the interjireter had out his tablets, and was 

 busy taking notes^ and if all the importunate inquiries of the governor had been responded to, 

 his reporter would have enjoyed no sinecure. 



At the interview, the original letter of the President, together with the Commodore's letter 

 of credence, encased in the magnificent boxes which had been prepared in Washington, were 

 shown to his excellency, who was evidently greatly impressed with their exquisite workmanship 

 and costliness ; and he made an offer for the first time of water and refreshments, but was told 

 that the squadron was in no need of anything. The governor was made to understand perfectly 

 that there would be no necessity for any further discussion until the time appointed for the 

 delivery of the answer from the Japanese government should arrive ; and he left the ship fully 

 impressed with this understanding. 



During the conference, the governor and his interpreter were requested to use the same 

 designation in speaking of the President of the United States as that by which they 

 distinguished the Emperor. They complied with this request, although, previous to it, they 

 had used difl"erent terms for the two dignitaries. In a country like Japan, so governed by 

 ceremonials of all kinds, it was necessary to guard with the strictest etiquette even the forms 

 of speech ; and it was found that by a diligent attention to the minutest and apparently most 

 insignificant details of word and action, the desired impression was made upon Japanese 

 diplomacy ; which, as a smooth surface requires one equally smooth to touch it at every point, 

 can only be fully reached and met by the nicest adjustment of the most polished formality. 



The surveying boats, which seemed to give so much uneasiness to the governor, had been well 

 manned and armed, and Lieutenant Bent, of the Mississippi, who was in command, was 

 instructed not to go beyond the range of the ships' guns, while a good look-out was kept upon 

 the surveying party, in order that assistance might be sent to them should they be attacked. 

 In addition to the usual boat ensigns at the stern, white flags, indicative of their peaceful 

 intentions, were borne on the bows. They spread themselves out toward the ojiposite shore as 

 they pulled away, sounding at every boat's length, and had reached about two miles further up 



