Japan and the Japanese

II
ADVERTISEMENT.
ers, it will be found, is very considerable;
while their char-
acters, objects and points of view, have been widely different ;
and perhaps the rea ler may reach the same conclusion that
I have : that, with all that is said of the seclusion of Japan,
there are few countries of the East which we have the means
of knowing better, or so well.
The complete history of the Portuguese, Spanish and
Dutch relations with the Japanese in not to be found else-
where in English ; nor inany language, in a single work ;
while in no oilier book have the English and Auieiican rela-
tions been so fully treated. Many extraordinary characters
and adventures make their npj>earancc on the scene, and the
reader will have no ground to complain at least of want of
vaiiety.
How little the history of Japan and of its former relations
with Poitugal and Holland are known even in quarters
where information on the subject might be siid to constitute
an official duty is apparent in the following passiige in a
letter addressed fiom the State Department at Washington
to the Swetary of the Navy, in explanation of the grounds,
reasons and objects, of our late mission to Japan, and intended
as instructions to the envoy :
Since the i.-dands of Japan
were first visaed by Eurojd-an nations, efforts have constantly
been made by the various maritime jKwers to establish com-
mercial intercourse with a country whose large population
and reputed wealth hold out great temptations to mercantile
enterprise. Portugal was the first to make the attempt, and
her example was followed by Holland, England, Spain and
Russia, and finally by
the United Slates. All lluse at-
tempts, hoircver. have thus far been unsuccessful ; the
permission enjoyed for a short period by the Portuguese,
and that granted to Holland to send annually a single
vessel to the port of Nagasaki, hardly deserving to be con-
tidered exceptions to this remark."