196 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



Commodore Perry to the Secretary of the Navy. 



On board English Mail Steamer Hindoostan, 



At sea, Indian Ocean, October 7, 1854. 



Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a communication addressed by me, from 

 Singapore, to the Hon. K. M. McLane, commissioner to China ; in explanation of which I may 

 inform the department that on arrival at Ceylon, on my outward passage to China, I met a ship 

 of the king of Siam, having on hoard a number of distinguished Buddhist priests, on a pil- 

 o-rimao-e to a temple near to Galle. To the captain of this ship and to the pilgrims I paid some 

 attention, in view of availing of so favorable an opportunity of opening a correspondence with 

 the younger brother of the king, the one who evinced so much friendship to those of our officers 

 who had already visited his country. 



Accordingly, in a letter addressed to this prince, I informed him of my desire to visit, at 

 some future time, with the steamers of my command, his flourishing country ; and to endeavor 

 by every suitable act to enlarge and cement more strongly the friendly intercourse already sub- 

 sisting between the United States and Siam. 



It was my desire to revise the treaty entered into by the late Mr. Roberts, which had virtually 

 become a dead letter and altogether inoperative ; and that with England had also shared the 

 same fate. And, although subsequent attempts had been made by Sir John Davis and Sir 

 James Brooke, (the Rajah,) on the part of England, and Mr. Ballestier, as envoy from the 

 United States, I was induced to think that another trial would have resulted more successfully ; 

 and consequently, under the authority of one of my blank letters of credence, took the 

 preliminary steps in the business. 



But knowing the character of all eastern potentates, I was not disposed to venture hastily 

 upon a visit to Bankok, (even if it had been at the time practicable,) there, possibly, to be 

 politely repulsed, as the three gentlemen last mentioned had been. Therefore, on arrival at 

 Canton, and conferring with our secretary of legation, Dr. Parker, I addressed myself, with his 

 assistance, confidentially, to two of the American missionaries resident in Siam, and in good 

 favor with the king, requesting them to make inquiry as to the feelings of the king and his 

 ministers with repect to the government and people of the United States, and to give me their 

 candid opinions, whether, if I came to Siam, I should be successful in effecting the object of my 

 visit. 



In due time I received replies, not only from the second king, but from the reverend gentle- 

 men addressed by me. The letter of the king was merely one of courtesy ; those of the mis- 

 sionaries assured me of a friendly reception at court, hut expressed some uncertainty as to the 

 disposition of the government to enter into more liberal commercial intercourse with foreign 

 powers. On the whole, however, they rather recommended the proposed visit. 



Since the dates of these letters, I have received another from the second king, equally friendly, 

 and referring me to his brother, the first king ; and from other information obtained, I should 

 have made up my mind to enter upon the experiment after my return from Japan, if circum- 

 stances had permitted. 



It may be asked why I did not take advantage of the interval of my detention in China to 

 make the desired visit. The answer is, that I had not at the time a sufficiency of coal on hand 



