338 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



" We wisli this to he well understood : we desire the Admiral to come to Uraga, there to have 

 the interview with us in the building aforesaid, and would gratefully acknowledge the friendly- 

 meeting of the Lord Admiral in complying with this order of the Emperor and our own wishes. 



"Our best wishes for the health of the Admiral. 



" HAYASHI-DAIGAKU-NO-KAMI. 



" The 21th Siogoots, 1854. 



The arrival of Captain Adams was soon followed by that of Keyama Yezaiman, the governor 

 of Uraga, who made his appearance with the alleged object of receiving a reply to the high 

 officer's letter, but, as it will appear, for another purpose. Yezaiman commenced by inquiring 

 whether the Commodore was still determined not to return to Uraga, and being answered in 

 the affirmative, he again offered supplies, and was again told that wood and water would 

 be received. Yezaiman replied that these articles would be cheerfully furnished, but that they 

 could only be obtained at Uraga. He was then informed that it was a matter of indifference 

 whence they came, but that the Commodore would not go to Uraga, and if the Japanese did not 

 bring water to the ships, the Commodore would send on shore and procure it by some means. 



Finding that the Commodore was immovable in purpose, and evidently inclined to approach 

 nearer to Yedo, Yezaiman suddenly abandoned the previously pretended ultimatum of the 

 Japanese commissioners, as to the place of meeting, and suggested a spot in the immediate 

 neighborhood of the village of Yoku-hama, directly opposite to where the ships then were 

 anchored. 



Thus, after having interposed for the last ten days all possible objections to the squadron's 

 moving further up the bay, and having used every inducement to prevail upon the Commodore 

 to return to Uraga, they suddenly abandoned the position from which they had so frequently 

 declared they could not possibly be moved. They had discovered that the Commodore was not 

 to be shaken from his resolution, and finding that the ships had already approached within 

 eight miles of their capital, they thought it politic to stop them there, while it was practicable, 

 by a conciliatory concession. 



The motive of the Commodore for thus persisting, with what may seem obstinacy, in his 

 determination not to go to Uraga, is best explained by himself. In his communication to the 

 honorable Secretary, on this siibjeet, he thus writes : 



" I was convinced that if I receded in the least from the position first assiimed by me, it would 

 be considered by the Japanese an advantage gained ; and, finding that I could be induced to 

 change a predetermined intention in one instance, they might rely on prevailing on me, by dint 

 of perseverance, to waver in most other cases pending the negotiations ; therefore, it seemed to 

 bs the true policy to hold out at all hazards, and rather to establish for myself a character for 

 unreasonable obstinacy, than that of a yielding disposition. I knew that upon the impression 

 thus formed by them would in a measure hinge the tenor of our future negotiations ; and the 

 sequel will show that I was right in my conclusions. Indeed, in conducting all my business 

 with these very sagacious and deceitful people, I have found it profitable to bring to my aid 

 the experience gained in former and by no means limited intercourse with the inhabitants of 

 strange lands, civilized and barbarian ; and this experience has admonished me that, with 

 people of forms, it is necessary either to set all ceremony aside, or to out- Herod Herod in assumed 

 personal consequence and ostentation. 



