332 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN, 



" The Commodore will be liappy to place a ship at the disposal of the great man, to bring 

 him up to the place of interview, and take him back again to Uraga, if he wishes it. 



" When the officer comes to meet Captain Adams, he had better bring a letter to show that 

 he has proper authority, and a person must be sent to conduct Captain Adams to the place of 

 meeting." 



The Japanese received the dispatch from the Commodore without any attempt to discuss it, 

 and bore it away with them, with the intention of consulting, doubtless, with others higher in 

 authority. As they rose to depart, they asked if the Commodore had received a letter, through 

 the Dutch at Nagasaki, which had been sent to liim the previous year by the government of 

 Japan. Captain Adams, as he had not been authorized to make any revelations on the subject, 

 answered he had no authority to speak on the subject. They then took their departure. 



It was on this day (February 18th) that the Commodore transferred his broad pennant to the 

 Powhatan. The surveying boats, as usual, were busily occupied on duty, but had changed 

 their scene of operations further toward Yedo. The Southampton followed in their wake, in 

 order to facilitate the work of the surveyors, who had hitherto lost much time by being obliged 

 to return, after a day's labor, a great distance to the squadron. The surveying party was now, 

 by being immediately followed by a ship, enabled to go on board of her at night, without losing 

 time, which it was necessary to economise, in order fully to complete the extensive observations 

 they had in view. 



The next day was Sunday, (February 19th,) but the Japanese officials, notwithstanding, came 

 on board the Powhatan as usual. They were told that it was a day set apart by the Americans 

 as their Sabbath, hut that if they had anything to say, they would be listened to, in consideration 

 of the long distance and inclement weather through which they had come. They brought with 

 them a large quantity of vegetables, oranges, fowls, eggs, and various sweetened confections, 

 which they courteously offered as a present to the Commodore, with a kind inquiry after his 

 health. These were received upon their expressing a willingness to receive something in return, 

 and they accordingly were presented with some ship's bread and a box of tea ; the Japanese 

 remarked, as they received them, they had given eatables only, and that it was a Japanese 

 custom to receive eatables only in return. Upon being asked whether the Commodore's propo- 

 sitions had been laid before the high officer, the officials replied that they had, and that he 

 desired to confer about the President's letter at Uraga. The Commodore's objections against 

 going to Uraga were again resolutely pressed, but the Japanese merely answered, that that 

 place had been selected by the order of the Emperor. Captain Adams distinctly declared, that 

 if the Commodore did not receive a favorable answer to his request for an interview with the 

 high officer near his present anchorage, by the subsequent Tuesday, (February 21st,) "he 

 would then know what to do." The Japanese official still reiterated that it was the Emperor's 

 order that the interview should be held at Uraga. The next day there was another visit, with 

 the usual ceremonies, and a present of oysters for the Commodore. 



The Japanese brought with them a short dispatch from the high commissioners, addressed 

 to the Commodore, written in Japanese and Dutch, stating their instructions from the govern- 

 ment. The translation is as follows : 



" We are compelled by the order of the Emperor to meet the ambassador of the President of 

 the United States of America either at Kama-kura or Uraga. 



