A EXPEDITION TO JB;APAN. 



expressed that the revolutionists were favorahly disposed toward foreign intercoiirse, thus giving 

 hopes for the future prosj^erity of trade, still it was declared that the disturbed condition of the 

 country was such that, if continued, foreign commerce would be destroyed, and the importation 

 of American goods, so vastly important to the United States, be entirely extinguished. 



The chief purpose, however, of the communication from the American merchants was, as it 

 stated, to urge upon the Commodore to send one or more of his vessels to the immediate neigh- 

 borhood of the factories at Canton, the whole country about which place was swarming with 

 thieves and desperate fellows, lying in wait for an opportunity to attack and plunder the foreign 

 residences, if not to wreak their vengeance upon the j^ersons of their occupants. 



The Commodore promptly answered this communication with assurances of his determination 

 to give his countrymen all the protection required in the j^revailing crisis of China aflairs. He 

 had already sent the Mississij^pi to Blenheim Eeach to protect the shipping at Whampoa, as 

 also to guard against the numerous pirates ; and had directed an examination of the river with 

 a view of moving that steamer nearer Canton ; but as for placing her at the point desired by the 

 American merchants, it was impossible, from her draught of water. The Commodore, however, 

 promised that the Supply, which had an efficient armament and accommodations for a hundred 

 and fifty men, should be sent on her arrival, if it were necessary, to the city of Canton itself, 

 and if there was any delay in the arrival of that vessel that the storeship Southampton should 

 take her place. In the meantime the merchants were informed that they could have, if they 

 desired, a guard of marines and one or more pieces of artillery from the Mississijipi, which 

 would be landed and stationed at the Factories. Moreover, Commander Lee, of the steamer 

 Mississippi, was instructed to be prepared to land, on the requisition of the acting American 

 vice consul, at a moment's notice, an advanced guard, to be followed, if need be, by a much 

 larger force, composed of detachments from the other ships in the river. 



On the arrival of the Supply from Amoy, the Commodore dispatched her, as he had promised, 

 to take her station at the anchorage opposite the city of Canton. Meanwhile the remainder of 

 the squadron were ordered to rendezvous at Cum-sing-moon, a port lying between Hong Kong 

 and Macao. This port was more safe and commodious, as well as more healthful, than any of 

 the other harbors or anchorages in the neighborhood, and, being the rendezvous of the opium 

 vessels belonging to the merchants of Canton, possessed the additional advantage of constant 

 communication with the neighboring towns. 



The Commodore, having thus disposed of his squadron, found it convenient, in order to arrange 

 the accumulated results of his voyage to Japan and the Lew Chew and Bonin Ishn^nds, to take a 

 house at Macao, for facilitating his own business, and for the accommodation of the surveying 

 officers and artists of the expedition to bring up their work. A hospital was also established in 

 the town under the superintendence of the fleet surgeon. The Commodore found the station he 

 selected much more advantageous than it would have been on board either of the ships, or at 

 Canton or Hong Kong ; as Macao was an intermediate, or rather central point between those 

 two places and Cum-sing-moon, and where, with mails arriving and departing daily, and 

 steamers and dispatch boats almost hourly, he was enabled to hold communication with them all. 



The hospital soon had a good number of inmates sent from the difierent ships. Scarcely an 

 officer or man escaped an attack of fever of more or less severity, and some few deaths occurred, 

 among which were those of Lieutenant Adams, of the Powhatan, and the master of the band 

 belonging to the steamer Mississippi. The Commodore himself, worn out liy duties which were 



