ACCURACY OF JAPANESE IN NOTING DISCUSSIONS. 365 



Commodore, and it proved that the commissioners were perfectly cognizant of his views.* On 

 the occasion of this visit Yenoske asked for the Japanese coins which had been obtained by the 

 chaphain of the Susquehanna in tlie course of his wanderings on shore, and they were delivered 

 to him. On the interpreter and his companions taking leave, presents were given to them, as 

 they had been also to the commissioners after the last interview at the treaty house. These 

 gifts consisted of Colt's pistols, and various articles of American manufacture of no great value. 



On one of these visits, which were regularly kept up almost without the intermission of a 

 single day, the Japanese officials were asked what had been the result of the expedition of the 

 Kussians to Nagasaki? They replied that no treaty of any kind whatever had been made with, 

 them ; but they had been told that the Emperor had so many affairs to dispose of that their 

 propositions could not be entertained at that time ; although, perhaps, in the course of a few 

 years, circumstances might be more favorable for negotiation. This they declared was the 

 constant answer to their repeated demands. The Kussians had been, however, supplied with 

 wood, water, and provisions. One of the chief objects of their visit, said the Japanese, was to 

 define with precision the frontier of Yesso. 



On the twenty-third of March the usual deputation visited the Powhatan, bearing with them 

 the final answer of the commissioners in regard to the opening of the port of Matsmai. The 

 document presented was written in the Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch languages ; of the latter 

 of which the following is a tran.slation : 



"Ships of the United States of North America, in want of provisions, wood, and water, shall 

 be supplied in the harbor of 'Hakodadi,' as has been desired. Some time will be required to 

 make preparations, inasmuch as this harbor is very distant; consequently a commencement can 

 be made the 7th month of next year, (the ITth September, 1855.) Kaei Sitzinen Nigoats. 

 (March 23, 1854.) 



"Seals attached by order of the high gentlemen. 



"MORYAMA YENOSKE." 



* This Japanese report is curious as an evidence of the precision with which the commissioners conducted the negotiations, 

 and of the exactitude with which their reporter, who was constantly present, noted the proceedings of tiie conference : 



Japanese statement of points agreed upon in the intervinc of Commodore Perry with the Japanese commissioners, March 17, 1854. 



1st. The citizens of the United States will not submit to degradations like those imposed upon the Dutch and Chinese, in 

 their confinement at Nagasaki ; that place is not convenient for ships to resort to, and does not answer the purpose. 



2d. Lew Chew is a very distant country, and a definite answer cannot be given. 



3d. Matsmai is a very distant place, and belongs to a prince. This point cannot be settled now ; some time will be required 

 for negotiation, until the first month of our next year ; because the concurrence of the central government and of the prince of 

 that country are both necessary to efl^ect a result ; a negotiation of the admiral with that prince, therefore, would be to no 

 purpose. 



It was stated that an answer had better be given at once. There was time enough to have that harbor opened by the above- 

 mentioned time ; that it was not probable that in the first year that harbor would be resorted to by many ships, because some 

 time would be required to communicate this decision lo the government and to have it generally known. 



In consideration thereof, it was agreed that a final answer should be given on the 23d of March, (the 26th of the Japanese 

 month.) 



It being mentioned that, besides Lew Chew and Matsmai, more harbors in Nippon would be required, it was sugg-ested that 

 the harbor of Simoda could be opened for the ships of the United States, and agreed that two shij)s of the squadron would sail 

 on the 19th of March to make a survey of that harbor ; and, further, that some Japanese officers, to go by land, would arrive 

 at that place on the 22d instant, and that the captains of those ships would await the arrival of those officers before proceeding 

 to survey, permit any one to land, &c. 



That shipwrecked men should meet with kind treatment, and be free as in other countries. 



Agreement made upon due consideration. 



