334 



EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



receiving on board his .sliip sucli distinguished members of the imperial court as may be desirous 

 of viewing the steamers and witnessing the working of their machinery. 



" This communication will be j^resented by Commander H. A. Adams, captain of the fleet, 

 who is empowered to receive any written proposition addressed to the undersigned, and place at 

 the disposal of the commissioners of his Imperial Majesty one of the vessels of the squadron. 

 " With the highest respect, 



''M. C. PEREY, 

 •' Commander-in-cluef U. S. Naval Forces East India, China, and Japan seas." 



It was calm in the morning, but before the Vandalia had reached Uraga a strong gale from 

 the southwest, and directly ahead, prevented her from reaching the port, and made it necessary 

 for her to anchor under Point Rubicon.* Captain Adams, accordingly, was not enabled to land, 

 until the succeeding day. It being the twenty-second of February, "Washington's birthday, the 

 Vandalia commenced at noon firing a salute in honor of the occasion, and amidst the salvo of 



Landing at Uraga. 



artillery Captain Adams left the ship, accompanied by a score ot officers and attendants, and 

 landed at Uraga, where they were met by a large party of Japanese officials, who conducted 

 them to a wooden pavilion, which evidently had been but lately constructed. 



Captain Adams and his suite were ushered into a large hall, some fifty feet long and forty 



•Point Rubicon was a headland, in the bay which had received that name from the Commodore, because it was just abreast 

 of it where tlie surveying- boats, on the first visit to Yedo Bay, had, in spite of some show of opposition on the part of the 

 Japanese, persisted in carrying on the operations with success, and thus passed, as it were, the Rubicon. 



