186 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



enlightened condition of the world, they could only be ameliorated hy slow degrees ; that there 

 was an evident desire with many of the people to cast off the shackles which had so long bound 

 them to a mistaken policy ; but however a portion of the most intelligent might wish for a 

 change, there would still he arrayed, for a time at least, in opposition to the measure, a majority, 

 and especially amongst the hereditary princes, who had their proprietary estates in the interior, 

 and whose power over their vassals — a power subject only to the more despotic rule of the 

 court, would he seriously lessened by the introduction of the more liberal principles of Christian 

 nations ; and yet there can be little doubt that, by the exercise of just, honorable, and concilia- 

 tory measures towards these singular people, they could, and in no great space of time, he 

 brought into friendly commercial relations with the United States and the powers of Europe. 



The arguments of the Japanese princes who negotiated the treaty were certainly reasonable 

 enough, and their sincerity was sufficiently proved by the fact that a few of the most obnoxious 

 of the laws of the empire were repealed or set aside before the departure of the American 

 squadron ; such, for instance, as the abrogation of that which inflicted the punishment of death 

 upon all who, whether by accident or design, found themselves separated from their country ; 

 another which prohibited the slightest barter with strangers, and the more singular decree 

 which required that all Japanese vessels should be constructed upon one precise model and rig, 

 with open sterns, thus purposely rendering them unsafe for ocean navigation. Other changes, 

 tending to the same liberal object have since taken place, and it may be safely predicted that 

 many years will not elapse before this magnificent country will be numbered amongst the most 

 important of the eastern nations, with which a profitable trade will be established by the inter- 

 change of many of our manufactured articles for the products of a country already possessed of 

 great resources. 



Amongst many articles which they very much need is that of woolen cloth ; debarred by 

 their religion from rearing animals for slaughter, they confine their domestic quadrupeds to 

 the horse, the bullock, the dog, and cat, and consequently have no material of which to manu- 

 facture warm clothing, skins being an abomination to them ; they are obliged to quilt together 

 folds of their flimsy cotton, or the more costly texture of silken cloth, and hence the manufac- 

 tured woolen and cotton cloth of the United States and Europe would be gladly received in 

 exchange for their home products of gold, silver, copper, camphor, coal, lumber, spars, dried 

 fish, tobacco, and various descriptions of grain, in addition to their own manufactured articles, 

 such as silks, crapes, grass-cloth, lacquered ware, porcelain, &c. 



Eor the last two centuries the Japanese have been left to provide for themselves, being in no 

 way dependent upon foreign supplies ; but as they are unquestionably a luxurious and pleasure- 

 loving people, they would be inclined to seize with avidity upon the means of adding to their 

 comforts and convenience, and would soon find the way, in their abundance, to pay for what- 

 ever they purchased of foreign production ; and thus the enjoyment of one foreign luxury 

 would beget the desire for others, and from being at first luxurious they would, as in respect to 

 the early introduction into Europe of spices, teas, and other eastern products, soon become 

 necessaries, and in this way a successful commerce would be created. 



But in order to bring about and render permanent this desirable object, the government of 

 the United States should watch with constant solicitude the attempts which have already been 

 made, and will doubtless continue to be made, by persons calling themselves American citizens, 

 to force upon the Japanese a traffic which they cannot, under present circumstances, entertain ; 

 and to claim privileges not provided for in the treaty, but which may be secured by fair and 



