JAPAN. '255 



Chiiftianity in the empire. The Abbe Raynal eflimates the whole 

 annual commerce at little more than forty-five thovifand 

 pounds. 



The firft time that the EngUJJj traded direitly with Japan, English. 

 was in 161 3, when captain Saris entered the port ofFiraftdo ; he 

 met with the moil courteous reception from the king of the 

 ifland. Saris was charged with letters and prefents from our 

 commercial pacific monarch James I. to his imperial majefty of 

 Japan. After a lliort ftay at Firando, he proceeded on his journey 

 to Surunga, where the emperor at that time kept his court. A 

 moft honorable anfwer was returned, and privilege of trade 

 granted to the Englijh throughout the Japanefe empire ; Sari^ 

 then made a vifit to the emperor's fon at Jedo. The hiftory of 

 thefe tranfadions is given by Purcbas *, and is well w'orth con- 

 fulting. Saris found at Firando, William Adams, an Englijlmian, 

 who by a flrange chance was flung on this ifland, and detained 

 there t till his death. He was of no fmall ufe to Saris as an inter- 

 preter. Saris efl:abliflied a fadlory at Firando^ till the general ex- 

 pulfion of the Europeans, the Dutch excepted. 



The French, in the time of Colbert, were defirous of partaking French. 

 of the advantages of the Japanefe trade ; that great minifler 

 propofed fending a number of Huguenots, who might fafely 

 fwear that they were not of the fame religion with the Portu- 

 gueje\ but the jealous Japanefe rejected the requefl. 



The Chinefe had once prodigious commerce in this empire, Chinese. 

 and came and fettled in any numbers they pleafed ; but in time 



• Pilgrim, vol. i. p. 366—377. f Ibid, p. 125—132. 



the 



