to the Secretary of State that the document which was handed to Commodore Biddle as the reply of the emperor had been prepared with an evidently studied and intentional disregard of the rules of courtesy that are usually observed in the written intercourse of nations; that it was addressed to no one, and was without signature or date; and that he considered it as an additional proof of the extreme reluctance of the Japanese to enter into commercial relations with foreigners. He further reported that Commodore Biddle did not seem to have opened the negotiations with discretion, and that he had placed the subject in a rather less favorable position than that in which it stood before.

Dr. Parker, in charge of the legation at Canton, transmitted to the Secretary of State in 1848 an account of the imprisonment and harsh treatment by the Japanese of the surviving members of the crew of the American whaler Lawrence, wrecked on the Japanese coast, and added that from previous instructions it was evident that the President was fully impressed with the expediency of negotiating a treaty with Japan to secure at least "humane treatment" to shipwrecked American sailors. This was followed the same year by informa tion received at Canton through the Dutch consul that fifteen American sailors from another whaling vessel the Lagoda — were held as prisoners by the Japanese.

This led the commander of the American East India squadron to send a vessel to Japan to demand their surrender. Commander Glynn, with the Preble, went to Nagasaki in 1849, and, regardless of the rules which required foreign vessels to anchor down the bay, sailed

up into the inner harbor, and at once put himself in communication with the governor. After some equivocation and delay the imprisoned seamen were delivered up, and the Preble rejoined the squadron.'

The sailors both from the Lawrence and the Lagoda made detailed statements of their treatment while held as prisoners by the Japanese, which showed that they had suffered great indignity and cruelty. They alleged that they had been required to trample and spit upon the Christian cross; that they had been in some instances shut up in narrow cages, put in stocks, exposed to unnecessary hardships and severe weather, and that as a consequence some of their number had died. These accounts had much to do with the final resolution of the government of the United States to force a treaty upon Japan. And yet it is not certain that the Japanese government authorized any severe or cruel treatment. In order to carry out its policy of rigid exclusion of foreigners, it caused all who were found on its coasts to be arrested and held as prisoners. The orders were to send them to Nagasaki, from which port they were taken out of the country by Dutch vessels as soon as opportunity occurred. If indignity or cruelty was inflicted, it was caused rather by the zeal of subordinates than by order of the government.

About the year 1850 all the waters around Japan were swarming with American whalers in quest of their prey. Not less than eighty-six such vessels were counted by a Japanese observer that year as passing a single point. It was felt by them to be a great hardship that

1 S. Ex. Doc. 59, cited, 64-69; Ib. 3-44, 69-73.

they could not resort to Japanese harbors in distress or for water and supplies. It was a still greater cause of complaint that the shipwrecked sailors were inhospitably and cruelly treated. Their complaints were being heard at Washington. Added to this, the commercial demands were becoming urgent. The discovery of gold in California and the sudden development of the Pacific coast possessions led to a projected steamship line to China from San Francisco. To this end ports of deposit for coal and other supplies in Japan were felt to be a necessity. Hence the growing conviction had crystallized into a resolution on the part of the government that extraordinary effort must be made to force the opening of one or more Japanese harbors and induce the empire to adopt a more liberal policy toward foreigners.

The subject had long attracted the attention of thoughtful people, and various suggestions had been made with that end in view. Among others, Commodore Glynn, who in the Preble had secured the release of the last crew of shipwrecked sailors, and had returned to Washington, held a conference with President Fillmore, and submitted to him written suggestions for such an expedition. The subject was one in which Mr. Webster, again Secretary of State, had taken a deep interest. Cabinet councils were held, and it was decided that a strong squadron should be sent to Japan, and that in a more formal and decided manner a demand should be made for hospitable treatment to American sailors in distress, and for some modification of the existing regulations as to intercourse and trade.

Commodore Aulick was selected for the important

an

and delicate task, and was for this purpose assigned to the East India station. His full powers to negotiate a treaty, his instructions signed by Mr. Webster, and the President's letter to the emperor of Japan, bear date of June 10, 1851, and he sailed the following month.' When he reached China en route he received a letter from the Secretary of the Navy ordering his recall. It had in the interval been determined to intrust the mission to Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, officer who had attained distinction in the navy, and who had shown qualities which it was thought peculiarly fitted him to carry to success this undertaking, of such moment to the United States and to mankind, and one in the accomplishment of which officers of the American and European navies had thus far failed. Perry came of sailor stock, his father having served in the Revolutionary navy, and his brother Oliver being the hero of the victory on Lake Erie in 1813. At the time of his appointment to the mission he was fifty-eight years of

age.

He was given ample time to make his preparations, and great freedom in the selection of his subordinates. America and Europe were searched for publications which would be of service to the expedition. The charts used were obtained chiefly from Holland, for which the government paid $30,000. Van Siebold's "Archiv" was obtained at a cost of $503, and a great variety of books on Japan were collected. The

1 S. Ex. Doc. 59, cited, 74-82. For President Fillmore's account, 3 American Historical Record, 148; for Aulick's appointment and recall, Ib. 294.

commodore made visits to New York, Boston, and New Bedford to confer with captains of whaling vessels familiar with Japanese waters and merchants interested in the commerce of the East. Prominent manufacturers were also visited to secure specimens of the latest improvements in the arts and industries. Scientists, interpreters, and such other persons as could promote the objects of the expedition were secured.

Frequent interviews were held by the commodore with the President, Secretary Webster, and the Secretary of the Navy. The written instructions were carefully prepared by Mr. Webster, but he died before the commodore sailed, and they bear the signature of ad interim Secretary Conrad. The objects of the expedition were stated to be, first, protection for our shipwrecked sailors; second, the opening of the ports for the entry of vessels to refit and obtain coal; and third, the entry of ports for trade. The letter of President Fillmore to the emperor of Japan was more elaborate than the one carried by Commodore Aulick, and is countersigned by Edward Everett, who had become Secretary of State.1

No secret was made of the expedition. The official instructions were published, and the preparations were openly conducted. Both in America and Europe they were the topic of newspaper comment and general discussion. The prevailing feeling was of good-will for the expedition, but grave doubts were often expressed as to its success. The good offices of the government of Holland were solicited by Secretary Webster, to pave 1 S. Ex. Doc. 34, pp. 4-9, 33d Cong. 2d Sess.