Japan and the Japanese

496 JAPAN. A. D. 18171850.
" As, in consequence of your long voyage, provision?, and wood and water
are wanting on board your ship, we have regard to your request, and what-
ever you want will be given to you.
" As soon as possible after the reception of this order, the ship must depart
and return directly to her own country."
Immediately upon the receipt of this order, the ship was abun-
dantly supplied with provisions, her arms were returned, and she
was towed out of the bay by a file of boats more than a mile long.
It would seem that since the visit of the Morrison, a fleet of guard-
boats had been provided to take the bay of Jedo in charge.
Commodore Biddlc, sent soon after to the China Seas, with
a considerable American naval force, was instructed, among
other things, to ascertain if the ports of Japan were accessible.
With this object in view, with the Columbus ship of the line, and
Vincennes frigate, he anchored (July 20th, 1848) in the bay of
Jedo. Before the ships reached their anchorage, an officer with a
Dutch interpreter came on board to inquire their object. He was
told that the vessels came as friends to ascertain whether Japan
had, like China, opened her ports to foreign trade ; and, if she had,
to negotiate a treaty of commerce. The officer requested that this
statement should be reduced to writing, for transmission to the
higher authorities. He also stated that all needed supplies would
be furnished, but refused permission to land, and even wished to
stop the passing of boats between the two vessels ; but, as the commodore
would not agree to this, he did not persist in it. The vessel
was soon surrounded by a multitude of boats, and as many Japanese
as wished were allowed to come on board, both as a proof of friend-
ship and to let them see the strength of the ships.
Another officer, apparently of higher rank, came on board the
following morning. He stated that foreign ships, on arriving in
Japan, were required to give up their arms ; but when told that
only trading vessels could be expected to do that, he appeared to
be satisfied. The emperor's reply might be expected, he said, in
five or six days. He was offered copies in Chinese of the late Eng-
lish, French and American treaties with China, but declined to re-
ceive them, as did all the other Japanese officers to whom they were
offered. To explain the concourse of guard-boats about the ship, he
pretended that they were only waiting in readiness tc tow the ships