422 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



they need not trouble tliemselves for a moment -wltli tlie thouglit that so slight a matter had 

 been considered otherwise than a mere trivial occurrence unworthy of any investigation. The 

 Japanese were further informed that they need give themselves no anxiety for the future, as 

 none of their countrymen should be received on board the American ships without the consent 

 of t}ie authorities, as the Commodore and his officers were not disposed to take advantage of 

 their confidence or act in any way that would be inconsistent with the spirit of the treaty. If 

 the Commodore had felt himself at liberty to indulge his feelings, he would have gladly given 

 a refuge on board his ship to the poor Japanese, who apparently sought to escape from the 

 country from the desire of gratifying a liberal curiosity, which had been stimulated by the 

 presence of the Americans in Japan. There were other considerations which, however, had 

 higher claims than an equivocal humanity. To connive at the flight of one of the people was 

 to disobey the laws of the Empire, and it was the only true policy to conform, in all possible 

 regards, to the institutions of a country by which so many important concessions had already 

 been reluctantly granted. The Empire of Japan forbids the departure of any of its subjects 

 for a foreign country under the penalty of death, and the two men who had fled on board the 

 ships were criminals in the eye of their own laws, however innocent they might have appeared 

 to the Americans. Moreover, although there was no reason to doubt the account the two 

 Japanese gave of themselves^ it was possible they were influenced by other and less worthy 

 motives than those they professed. It might have been a stratagem to test American honor, and 

 some believed it so to be. The Commodore, by his careful efforts to impress upon the authori- 

 ties how trifling he esteemed the ofi'ence, hoped to mitigate the punishment to which it was 

 amenable. The event was full of interest, as indicative of the intense desire for information on 

 the part of two educated Japanese, who were ready to brave the rigid laws of the country, and 

 to risk even death for the sake of adding to their knowledge. The Japanese are undoubtedly 

 an inquiring people, and would gladly welcome an opportunity for the expansion of their moral 

 and intellectual faculties. The conduct of the unfortunate two was, it is believed, characteristic 

 of their countrymen, and nothing can better represent the intense curiosity of the people, while 

 its exercise is only prevented by the most rigid laws and ceaseless watchfulness lest they should 

 be disobeyed. In this disposition of the people of Japan, what a field of speculation, and, it 

 may be added, what a prospect full of hope opens for the future of that interesting country I 



Some days subsequently, as a party of officers were strolling in the suburbs, they came upon 

 the prison of the town, Avhere they recognized the two unfortunate Japanese immured in one of 

 the usual places of confinement, a kind of cage, barred in front and very restricted in capacity. 

 The poor fellows had been immediately pursued upon its being discovered that they had visited 

 the ships, and after a few days they were pounced upon and lodged in prison. They seemed to 

 bear their misfortune with great equanimity, and were greatly pleased apparently with the visit 

 of the American officers, in whose eyes they evidently were desirous of appearing to advantage. 

 On one of the visitors approaching the cage, the Japanese wrote on a piece of board that was 

 handed to them the following, which, as a remarkable specimen of philosophical resignation 

 under circumstances which would have tried the stoicism of Cato, deserves a record : 



" When a hero fails in his purpose, his acts are then regarded as those of a villain and robber. 

 In public have we been seized and pinioned and caged for many days. The village elders and 

 head men treat us disdainfully, their oppressions being grievous indeed. Therefore, looking up 

 while yet we have nothing wherewith to reproach ourselves, it must now be seen whether a hero 



