COMPACT WITH LEW CHEW. 495 



While the judicial proceedings in the case of Board's death were in progress, the Commodore, 

 who was anxious to lose no time, employed^ with the aid and approval of the Lew Chew 

 authorities, native lighters to transport to the steamers all the coal remaining in the coal-shed 

 at Tumai ; and causing the building itself to he put in order, left it in charge of the native 

 authorities, with an assurance that they would look carefully to its preservation for future use, 

 and the reception of any deposit of coal the United States might wish to make there in time to 

 come. 



There remained, however, one important piece of business yet to be done. This was the 

 making of a compact or treaty between our government and that of Lew Chew. Accordingly, 

 the flag-lieutenant, Mr. Bent, and the interpreter, Mr. Williams, were deputed by the 

 Commodore, under suitable instructions as to terms, to confer with the regent of Lew Chew ; 

 and these gentlemen, on the 8th of July, met that official on shore by appointment, and 

 discussed with him the proposed compact, a rough draft of which they presented. The preamble 

 to this recognized Lew Chew as an independent nation. To this recognition the regent 

 objected, saying that such an assumption on their parts would get them into trouble with China, 

 to which country they owed allegiance ; that, as to the articles of the compact, they would 

 cheerfully assent to them, and feithfuUy fulfil them, nor would they hesitate to affix their seals 

 to the instrument, but that it had better not bear on its face the assertion or appearance of 

 their claiming absolute independence. There was none of the delaying, crooked policy of the 

 Japanese in these negotiations. The Lew Chewans were made fully to understand what had 

 transpired in Japan, and probably derived confidence and candor from their knowledge of the 

 Japanese treaty, which was shown to them. 



After the discussion our officers returned on board to report to the Commodore their 

 proceedings, and submit the terms proposed and accepted. On the 10th, the same gentlemen 

 were sent to hold another interview with the regent, when they soon succeeded in arranging all 

 the terms of the compact satisfactorily to both parties, and obtained from the regent a promise 

 that a bazaar should be opened on shore, on the succeeding Wednesday and Thursday, for the 

 officers of the ships. It was also arranged that the Commodore would visit the regent at an 

 appointed hour on the morrow. On the next day, in the morning, the Commodore sent on 

 shore a number of presents for the regent, treasurer, and other officers of the island^ consisting 

 of revolvers, lorgnettes, a dressing case, and numerous valuable agricultural implements. He 

 was also particularly careful to send a handsome present to the poor woman who had been the 

 subject of Board's outrage. At noon he landed himself, and, with a small escort of marines, 

 visited the regent at the town-hall. 



After the usual compliments, and a formal delivery of the presents he had sent on shore, the 

 articles of agreement or compact that had been made was produced, written in tlie English and 

 Chinese languages, and read, and the instruments were duly signed and sealed, and copies 

 exchanged, by the Commodore, regent, and treasurer of Lew Chew, the English version being 

 as follows : 



" Compa.ct between the United States and the kingdom of Leio Chew, signed at Napha, Great Lew 



Chew, the Wth day of July, 1854. 



"Hereafter, whenever citizens of the United States come to Lew Chew, they shall be treated 

 with great courtesy and friendship. Whatever articles these persons ask for, whether from the 



