278 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



"The dinner tlien commenced, and seven or eight of the twelve courses of soups had been 

 served, when the letter was brought in and given to the regent, who took it, and, accompanied 

 by the mayor and interpreter, advanced to the Commodore's table, where he presented it with 

 every api)earance of submission and humility. His demeanor during the dinner was even more 

 constrained and impassive than on the occasion of his dining on board the Susquehanna, pre- 

 vious to our departure for Japan. The letter was enclosed in an envelope, and stamped with 

 the great seal of Lew Chew. Mr. Williams, at the Commodore's order, opened and read it on 

 the spot. 



"It commenced by affirming the small size and poverty of the island, stating that Dr. Bettle- 

 heim's residence among them had given them mucli trouble, and that if we should erect a 

 building for coal their difficulties would be greatly increased. Besides, they said, the temple 

 which they had appropriated to our use was thereby rendered useless to them, and their priests 

 were prevented from performing their worship in it. The productions of the island were few, 

 as they derived all of their teas, silks, cloths, and many other articles from Japan and China. 

 With regard to the shops and markets, that was a matter that depended on the people them- 

 selves, and if they chose to keep their shops shut, the regent could not interfere. He declared, 

 moreover, that the persons who had followed us whenever we had gone ashore were not spies, 

 but officers appointed to act as guides, and to prevent us from being annoyed by the jjeojjle. 

 Since we liad not found them to be of service, aud objected to them, they would be directed not 

 to follow us in future. 



"After the letter had been read, the Commodore ordered it to be delivered back to the regent, 

 stating that it was not at all satisfactory, and could not be received. We had asked, he said, 

 for no more than is accorded to us in other countries — for no more than we already had in 

 China, and expected to have in Japan. With regard to the temple, that they had themselves 

 assigned it to our use, as they invariably had done, for those foreigners who had visited them 

 previous to our arrival. We would pay them rent for it, and expected to pay for everything 

 that we obtained. We had travelled over their island, aud knew that the soil was rich, the 

 people thrifty, and supplies of all sorts abundant. As we paid for all we received, our presence 

 was an advantage to the people, who found in our vessels a good market for their productions. 

 If they did not wish to erect a building for coal, we would send a vessel with materials, and 

 put it up ourselves. The regent ventured to say that there Avere some difficult jioints in the 

 Commodore's communication, and they had much deliberation concerning them, before the 

 reply was written. The Commodore reiterated what he had previously said, that all his 

 demands were plain and simple, and ought to be granted without hesitation. The Lew 

 Chewans should be satisfied, by this time, that we had no intention to injure them. They had 

 not been molested in any way by any of our men. and if they persisted in following us with 

 spies hereafter he would not be answerable for the consequences. 



"The regent attemi)ted to come forward and again present the reply; but the Commodore rose 

 and prepared to leave, declaring that if he did not receive satisfactory answers to all his 

 demands by noon the next day, he would land two hundred men, march to Shui, and take pos- 

 session of the palace there, and would hold it until the matter was settled. With this declara- 

 tion, he left, the regent attending him to the gateway, where he remained until all the officers 

 had taken their departure. The Commodore returned to the beach, attended by his stall', aud 

 immediately went on board the Susquehanna." 



