COMMODORE PREPARES TO ASCEND THE BAT. 263 



princes of the Empire, acting as the immediate representatives of the highest authority, had so 

 far raised the iron-like mask of Japanese reserve as to show themselves face to face to the 

 Americans, and receive from the hands of an American ambassador an urgent invitation to 

 share in the comity of nations. "As it has been observed tliat 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 laws." Such are the remarkable words of the Japanese docu- 

 ment, and thus, in this striking phrase, " iii opijosition to the Japanese laios," has Japan herself 

 emphatically recorded the American triumph, as slie has, perliaps, foretold her own regenera- 

 tion. The vigorous grasp of the hand of America which was proffered in a friendly spirit, but 

 thrust forward with an energy that jiroved the power to strike, as well as the disposition to 

 embrace, had stirred Japanese isolation into a sensibility of its relationship to the rest of the 

 world. Japan had broken its own code of selfish exclusiveness to obey the universal law of 

 hospitality. 



The concession to the demands of the Commodore, though great for the Jaj^anese, was yet 

 very far from all that was to be reasonably demanded on the score of the usual comity of 

 nations. The communication from the government of Japan, remarkable as it was for its 

 breaking through the Japanese law of exclusion, was still marked with traces of their 

 restrictive policy, and contained these words: "Therefore, as the letter has been received, you 

 can depart." The Commodore, to show how little he regarded the order of the princes to 

 depart, had no sooner reached his ship, after the interview on shore, than he ordered the whole 

 squadron to get under way. This was not to leave the bay, as the princes doubtless expected, 

 but to go higher up. The Commodore determined to examine the channel toward Yedo, being 

 satisfied that the employment of so large a force in surveying service, and in so near a 

 neighborhood to the capital, would produce a decided influence upon the pride and conceit of the 

 government, and cause a more favorable consideration of the President's letter. 



The Governor of Uraga, Yezaimen, and Saboroske, with the interpreters, had accompanied 

 the party on the return to the ships, and, on going on board of the Susquehanna, were received 

 by the captains and the Commodore's aid in the upper cabin, where the following conversation 

 ensued : 



Tezaimen. We are happy to state that everything has passed off well and favorably. 



Captain Buchanan. We hope that Japan and the United States will always be friends. 



Yezaimen. When do you intend to go away? 



Capt. B. In the course of two or three days. The Commodore is going to take a sail up the 

 bay to see the anchorage. He does not like his first place of anchorage. 



Yezaimen. Will you anchor there? 



Capt. B. Only for two or three days, until we get ready to go to sea. 



Yezaimen. We desire to take leave officially to-day, that it may not be necessary for us to 

 return before you go. 



Capit. B. We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again before many months. 

 Commodore Perry did not bring this time with him the presents intended for the Emperor of 

 Japan, but when he comes again he will bring them. Among them is a steara engine or 

 locomotive, for railroads. 



lAeut. Contee. There is also among them a telegraph long enough to reach from Uraga to Yedo, 

 by means of which you can speak from one place to another in a single second. 



