306 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



Princeton, San Jacinto, and Alleghany, have all proved miserable failures. This accounts, 

 therefore, for the delay of a previous order similar to this. 



The President trusts that it may not seriously incommode your operations, in regard to 

 Japan, to co-operate with our commissioner in the interesting undertaking to bring about free 

 intercourse with the government of China ; to form commercial treaties of vast benefit to the 

 American people, and introduce a new era in the history of trade and commerce. 



The mission in which you are engaged has attracted much attention, and excited much 

 expectation. But the present seems to be a crisis in the history of China, and is considered by 

 many as throwing around China, at least, as much interest and attraction as Japan presents. 



To have your name associated with the opening of commercial intercourse with Japan may 

 well excite your pride; but to be identified, also, with the great events that we trust may yet 

 transpire in connexion with China, may be well esteemed a privilege and an honor. 



Hoping that it may not interfere seriously with your plan of operations, you will, on receipt 

 of this communication, immediately dispatch one of the war steamers of your squadron to 

 Macao, to meet the Hon. R. M. McLane, our commissioner to China, to be subject to his control 

 until other orders reach you. Mr. McLane will bear with him further instructions to you. In 

 the meantime, however, you will act as heretofore in the matter of your mission — only 

 dispatching the vessel as above mentioned. Mr. McLane will probably leave on the 19th 

 proximo. 



Tour very interesting dispatches of 25th June last have been received, and the department is 

 much gratified with your successful operations thus far, and indulges the hope, that in regard 

 to Japan and China there is in store for you much additional honor and fame. 



I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



J. C. DOBBIN. 



Commodore M. C. Perry, 



Commanding United States Squadron, East India and China Seas. 



Thus it 13 plainly shown that the government of her Britannic Majesty cannot claim the sovereignty upon the ground of dis- 

 covery, and it only remains to determine how far this right may be derived from the ceremony performed by Captain Beechey. 



But these are matters only to be discussed by our respective governments, and I refer to them now merely in explanation of 

 our conversation of yesterday. 



With respect to my purchase of a piece of ground from Nathaniel Savory, though conceiving myself in no way bound to 

 explain such arrangement, I do not hesitate, in all due courtesy, to say, that the transaction was one of a strictly private 

 character. 



In acquiring the fee of the land, I had not the slightest idea of personal profit, but made the purchase for a legitimate object, 

 and to withhold the only suitable position in the harbor for a coal depot from the venality of unprincipled speculators, who 

 might otherwise have gained possession of it for purposes of extortion. 



And now let me assure your excellency, that the course pursued by me has been influenced solely by a settled conviction of 

 the necessity of securing ports of refuge and supplies in the north Pacific for our whaling ships, and a line of mail steamers, 

 which sooner or later must be established between California and China. 



I have no special instructions from my government upon the subject, and am yet to learn whether my acts will be approved. 



The recognized sovereignty of these islands would only entail an expense upon the power undertaking their occupancy and 

 protection, and whether they may ultimately fall under the American, the English, or a local flag, would be a question of little 

 importance, so long as their ports were open to the hospitable reception of all nations seeking shelter and refreshment. 



And I may venture further to remark, that it would seem to be the policy, as well of England as of the United States, to aid 



in every possible way in the accomplishment of an arrangement that would fill up the remaining link of the great mail route 



of the world, and thus furnish the means of establishing a semi-monthly communication around the entire globe. 



With great respect, I have the honor to be, your most obedient servant, 



M. C. FERRY, 



Commander-in-Chief United States naval fortes, East India, China, and Japan seaa. 



His Excellency Sir I. George Bonham, Bart., 



H. B. M. Chief Superintendent of Trade, Hong Kong. 



