388 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



no change but that of the suhstitution of the port of Nagasaki for Napha in Lew Chew. We 

 respectfully submit, therefore, that all, and indeed, more than all, that, under the circumstances, 

 could reasonably have been expected^ has been accomplished. Japan has been opened to the 

 nations of the west, and it is not to be believed, that having once effected an entrance, the 

 enlightened powers that have made treaties with her will go backward, and, by any indiscretion, 

 lose what, after so many unavailing efforts for centuries, has at last been happily attained. It 

 belongs to these nations to show Japan that her interests will be promoted by communication 



Since the foregoing was written the treaty with England has reached us. We subjoin it, with the expression of our regret 

 that Admiral Stirling could obtain no more than he did, as all he might obtain beyond what we had, would, under article IX of 

 our treaty, have inured at once to our benefit, as well as that of England. 



[From the London Gazette, of January 15.] 

 CONVENTION BETWEEN HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN. 



CONTENTIOK BETWEEN HER MAJESTY AND THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN, SIGNED AT NAGASAKI, IN THE ENGLISH AND JAPANESE 

 LANGDAGE, OCTOBER 14, 1854, RATIFICATIONS EXCHANGED AT NAGASAKI, OCTOBER 9, 1855. 



Convention for regulating the admission of British ships into the ports of Japan. 



It is agreed between Sir James Stirling, knight, rear admiral, and commander-in-chief of the ships and vessels of her Britannic 

 Majesty in the East Indies and seas adjacent, and Mezi-no Chekfusno Kami, Obm yo of Nagasaki, and Nagai Evan Ocho, 

 Omedski of Nagasaki, ordered by his Imperial Highness the Emperor of Japan to act herein, that — 



1. The ports of Nagasaki (Fisen) and Hakodadi (Matsmai) sliall be open to British ships for the purposes of effecting repairs 

 and obtaining fresh water, provisions, and other supplies of any sort they may absolutely want for the use of the ships. 



2. Nagasaki shall be open for the purposes aforesaid from and after the present date, and Hakodadi from and after the end 

 of fifty days from tlie admiral's departure from this port. The rules and regulations of each of these ports are to be complied 

 with. 



3. Only ships in distress from weather, or unmanageable, will be permitted to enter other ports than those specified in the 

 foregoing articles, without permission from the Imperial government. 



4. British ships in Japanese ports shall conform to the laws of Japan. If high officers or commanders of ships shall break 

 any such laws, it will lead to the ports being closed. Should inferior persons break them, they are to be delivered over to the 

 commanders of their ships for punishment. 



5. In the ports of Japan, either now open or which may hereafler be opened to the ships or subjects of any forejo-n nation, 

 British ships and subjects shall be entitled to admission and to the enjoyment of an equality of advantages with those of the 

 most favored nation, always excepting the advantages accruing to the Dutch and Chinese from their existing relations with 

 Japan. 



6. This convention shall be ratified, and ratifications shall be exchanged, at Nagasaki, on behalf of her Majesty the Queen 

 of Great Britain, and on behalf of his Highness the Emperor of Japan, within twelve months from the present date. 



7. When this convention shall be ratified, no high officer coming to Japan shall alter it. 



In witness whereof we have signed the same, and have affixed our seals thereunto, at Nagasaki, this 14th day of October, 1854. 



JAMES STIRLING. 

 N. B. The Japanese text was signed by the Japanese plenipotentiaries. 



Exposition of the Articles of the Convention of J^agasaki of the lith of October, 1854, agreed to on the 18th of October, 1855, by 

 their Excellencies the Rear-admiral Commanding-in- Chief and the Japanese Commissioners. 



1. The ports of Nagasaki (Fizen) and Hakodadi (Matsmai) The first article of the convention ooens the ports of Naga- 

 shall be open to British ships for the purposes of effecting re- saki and Hakodadi to British ships for repairs and supplies. It 

 pairs and obtaining fresh water, provisions, and other supplies opens the whole and every part of those ports ; but ships must 

 of any sort they may absolutely want for the use of the ships. be guided in anchoring by the directions of the local govern- 

 ment. Safe and convenient places will be assigned where ships 



may be repaired. Workmen, materials and supplies will be provided by the local government according to a tariff to be agreed 

 upon, by which, also, the modes of payment will be regulated. All official communications will hereafter, when Japanese shall 

 have time to learn English, be made in that language. A British burying ground shall be set apart on Medsume Sima, fenced 

 in by a stone wall and properly protected. 



2. Nagasaki shall be open for the purposes aforesaid from The second article provides that at each of the ports of Na- 

 and after the present date ; and Hakodadi from and after the gasaki and Hakodadi the port regulations shall be obeyed ; but 

 end of fifty days from the Admiral's departure from this port, the Japanese government will take care that they shall not be 

 The rules and regulations of each of these ports are to be com- of a nature to create embarrassment, nor to contradict in any 

 plied with. other way the general tenor and intent of the treaty, the main 



object of which is to promote a friendly intercourse between 

 Great Britain and Japan. 



