260 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



conclude, and sign a convention or conventions, treaty or treaties, of and concerning tlie friend- 

 ship, commerce, and navigation of the two countries ; and all matters and subjects connected 

 therewith which may be interesting to the two nations, submitting the same to the President of 

 the United States for his final ratification, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of 

 the United States. 



In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. 



Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the thirteenth day of November, in the 



year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, and of the independence of the United States of 



America the seventy-seventh. 



MILLAED FILLMORE. 

 By the President : 



EDWAED EVERETT. 



[Seal attached.] Secretary of State. 



Accompanying the letters were translations of the same into the Chinese and Dutch 

 languages. After the documents had been laid upon the lid of the imperial box, made as 

 their receptacle, Mr. Portman, Dutch interpreter, by the Commodore's direction, indicated to 

 Tatznoske, the Japanese interpreter, the characters of the various documents, upon which Tatz- 

 noske and Keyama Tezaimen, still kneeling, both bowed their heads. The latter, now rising, 

 approaclied the Prince of Iwami, and prostrating himself on his knees before him, received from 

 his hands a roll of papers, with which lie crossed over to the Commodore, and again falling 

 upon his knees, delivered it to him. The Dutch interpreter now asked "what those papers 

 were?" to which it was answered, "they are the imperial receipt." The translation of it is 

 as follows: 



[Translation of receipt given uy the Princes of Idzu and Iwami to Commodore Perry.] 



"The letter of the President of the United States of North America, and copy, are hereby 

 received and delivered to the Emperor. Many times it has been communicated that business 

 relating to foreign countries cannot be transacted here in Uraga, but in Nagasaki. Now it has 

 been observed that the Admiral, in his quality of ambassador of the President, would be insulted 

 by it ; the justice of this has been acknowledged ; consequently, the above mentioned letter is 

 hereby received, in opposition to the Japanese law. 



"Because the place is not designed to treat of anything from foreigners, so neither can con- 

 ference nor entertainment take iilace. The letter being received you will leave here." 



[Here follow fac similes of signatures in Japanese.] 



"The nixtii of the sixth month." 



The above is a literal translation from the Dutch, in which language the conferences were 

 held, and into which the receipt of the chief counsellors, the princes of Idzu and Iwami, was, 

 doubtless, badly translated from the Japanese by their interpreter. 



The following would probably be the correct translation from the Japanese: 



"The letter of the President of the United States of North America, and copy, are hereby 

 eceived, and will be delivered to the Emperor. 



' ' It has been many times intimated that business relating to foreign countries cannot be 

 transacted here in Uraga, but at Nagasaki ; nevertheless, as it has been observed that the Admiral, 

 in his quality of ambassador of the President, would feel himself insulted by a refusal to receive 

 the letter at this place, the justice of which has been acknowledged, the above mentioned letter 

 is hereby received, in opposition to the Japanese law. 



