TERMINATION OF THE CONFERENCE. 261 



"As this is not a place wherein to negotiate with foreigners, so neither can conferences nor 

 entertainment be held. Therefore, as the letter has been received you can depart." 



After a silence of some few minutes, the Commodore directed his interpreters to inform the 

 Japanese that he would leave, with the squadron, for Lew Chew and Canton in two or three 

 days, and to offer to the government his services, if it wished to send any dis])atches or 

 messages to those places. The Commodore also stated that it was his intention to return to 

 Japan in the approaching spring, jierhaps in April or May. Tatznoske then asked the Dutch 

 interpreter to repeat what he had said about the Commodore's leaving and returniuL'', which 

 he did, using tlie same words as before. Then the question was asked " whether the 

 Commodore would return with all four vessels?" " All of them," answered the Commodore, 

 " and jirobably more, as these are only a portion of the squadron." Allusion had been made 

 to the revolution in China, and the interpreter asked its cause, without however translating to 

 the Japanese princes, to which the Commodore dictated the reply, that " it was on account 

 of the government." 



Yezaimen and Tatznoske now bowed, and, rising from their knees, drew the fastenings 

 around the scarlet box, and informing the Commodore's interpreter that there was nothing 

 more to be done, passed out of the apartment, bowing to those on either side as they went. 

 The Commodore now rose to take leave, and, as he departed, the two princes, still preserving 

 absolute silence, also arose and stood until the strangers had passed from their presence. 



The Commodore and his suite were detained a short time at the entrance of the building 

 waiting for their barge, whereupon Yezaimen and his interpreter returned and asked some of 

 the party what they were waiting for; to which they received the reply, "For the Commodore's 

 boat." Nothing further was said. The whole interview had not occupied more than from 

 twenty to thirty minutes, and had been conducted with the greatest formality, though with 

 the most perfect courtesy in every respect. 



The procession re-formed as before, and the Commodore was escorted to his barge, and, 

 embarking, was rowed off toward his ship, followed by the other American and the two 

 Japanese boats which contained the governor of Uraga and his attendants, the bands 

 meanwhile playing our national airs with great spirit as the boats pulled off to the shijis. 

 While there was some little delay in embarking all the party, in consequence of the smallness 

 of the landing place, which was now flanked by some sixty or seventy Japanese government 

 boats, the soldiers took occasion to crowd in from various parts of the shore, either to satisfy 

 their curiosity, or to show a more formidable front ; and it must be confessed that, had such 

 been the disposition of the Japanese, there would have been no diificultyj with their large 

 force, in completely hemming in the Americans. 



