Japan and the Japanese
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Japan and the Japanese

Japan and the Japanese Japan and the Japanese

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510 JAPAN. A. D. 1817 1854. " If your imperial majesty is not satisfied that it would be safe altogether to abrogate the ancient laws, which forbid foreign trade, they might be sus- pended for five or ten years, so as to try the experiment. If it does not prove as beneficial as was hoped, the ancient laws can be restored. The United States often limit their treaties with foreign states to a few years, and then renew them or not, as they please. " I have directed Commodore Perry to mention another thing to your im perial majesty. Many of our ships pass every year from California to China ; and great numbers of our people pursue the whale fishery near the shores of Japan. It sometimes happens, in stormy weather, that one of our ships is wrecked on your imperial majesty's shores. In all such cases we ask, and expect, that our unfortunate people should be treated with kindness, and that their property should be protected, till we can send a vessel and bring them away. We are very much in earnest in this. " Commodore Perry is also directed by me to represent to your imperial majesty that we understand there is a great abundance of coal and provisions in the empire of Japan. Our steamships, in crossing the great ocean, burn a great deal of coal, and it is not convenient to bring it all the way from America. We wish that our steamships and other vessels should be allowed to stop at Japan and supply themselves with coal, provisions and water. They will pay for them in money, or anything else your imperial majesty's subjects may prefer ; and we request your imperial majesty to appoint a convenient port, in the southern part of the empire, where our vessels may stop for this purpose. We are very desirous of this. " These are the only objects for which I have sent Commodore Perry, with a powerful squadron, to pay a visit to your imperial majesty's renowned city of Yedo : friendship, commerce, a supply of coal and provisions, and protection for our shipwrecked people. " We have directed Commodore Perry to beg your imperial majesty's ao ceptance of a few presents. They are of no great value in themselves ; but some of them may serve as specimens of the articles manufactured in the United States, and they are intended as tokens of our sincere and respectful friendship. " May the Almighty have your imperial majesty in his great and holy keeping ! " In witness whereof, I have caused the great seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed, and have subscribed the same with my name, at the city of Washington, in America, the seat of my government, on the thirteenth day of the month of November, in the year one thousand eight hun- dred and fifty-two. [Seal attached.] " By the President : EDWARD Your good friend, " MILLARD FILLMORE. EVERETT, Secretary of Stale." * * As some persons may feel a curiosity to see Mr. Webster's original letter, and as it is not to be found in the edition of Mr. Webster's writings edited by

AMERICAN LETTER TO THE EMPEROR. 51 1 Furnished with these orders, and this letter splendidly en- grossed and enclosed in a gold box of the value of a thousand dol- lars, and provided also with a variety of presents, Commodore Perry, Mr. Everett, I have copied it from the Senate Documents, 18-3152, vol. ix. The expansion given to it in the letter actually sent was not according to Japanese taste, which greatly affects brevity. " To His IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN. " GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND : " I send you this letter by an envoy of my own appointment, an officer of high rank in this country, who is no missionary of religion. He goes by my command to bear to you my greeting and good wishes, and to promote friendship and commerce between the two countries. " You know that the United States of America now extend from sea to sea ; that the great countries of Oregon and California are parts of the United States, and that from these countries, which are rich in gold, and silver, and precious stones, our steamers can reach the shores of your happy land in less than twenty days. " Many of our ships will now pass in every year, and some perhaps ip every week, between California and China. These ships must pass along the coast of your empire ; storms and winds may cause them to be wrecked on your shores, and we ask and expect from your friendship and your greatness, kindness for our men and protection for our property. AVe wish that our people may be permitted to trade with your people ; but we shall not authorize them to break any laws of your empire. " Our object is friendly commercial intercourse, and nothing more. You have many productions which we should be glad to buy ; and we have pro- ductions which might suit your people. " Your empire lias a great abundance of coal ; this is an article which our steamships, in going from California to China, must use. They would be glad that a harbor in your empire should be appointed to which coal might be brought, and where they might always be able to purchase it. " In many other respects, commerce between your empire and our country would be useful to both. Let us consider well what new interests arise from these recent events which have brought our two countries so near together, and what purposes of friendship, amity and intercourse, they ought to inspire in the breasts of those who govern both countries. Farewell. " Given under my hand and seal, at the city of Washington, the 10th day , , of May, 1851, and of the independence of the United States th seventy-fifth. " By the President : " 1). WEBSTER, Secretary of Stale." "M. FlLLMORE.

510 JAPAN. A. D. 1817 1854.<br />

" If your imperial majesty is not satisfied that it would be safe altoge<strong>the</strong>r<br />

to abrogate <strong>the</strong> ancient laws, which forbid foreign trade, <strong>the</strong>y might be sus-<br />

pended for five or ten years, so as to try <strong>the</strong> experiment. If it does not prove<br />

as beneficial as was hoped, <strong>the</strong> ancient laws can be restored. The United<br />

States often limit <strong>the</strong>ir treaties with foreign states to a few years, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n<br />

renew <strong>the</strong>m or not, as <strong>the</strong>y please.<br />

" I have directed Commodore Perry to mention ano<strong>the</strong>r thing to your im<br />

perial majesty. Many of our ships pass every year from California to China ;<br />

<strong>and</strong> great numbers of our people pursue <strong>the</strong> whale fishery near <strong>the</strong> shores of<br />

<strong>Japan</strong>. It sometimes happens, in stormy wea<strong>the</strong>r, that one of our ships is<br />

wrecked on your imperial majesty's shores. In all such cases we ask, <strong>and</strong><br />

expect, that our unfortunate people should be treated with kindness, <strong>and</strong> that<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir property should be protected, till we can send a vessel <strong>and</strong> bring <strong>the</strong>m<br />

away. We are very much in earnest in this.<br />

" Commodore Perry is also directed by me to represent to your imperial<br />

majesty that we underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re is a great abundance of coal <strong>and</strong> provisions<br />

in <strong>the</strong> empire of <strong>Japan</strong>. Our steamships, in crossing <strong>the</strong> great ocean,<br />

burn a great deal of coal, <strong>and</strong> it is not convenient to bring it all <strong>the</strong> way<br />

from America. We wish that our steamships <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r vessels should be<br />

allowed to stop at <strong>Japan</strong> <strong>and</strong> supply <strong>the</strong>mselves with coal, provisions <strong>and</strong><br />

water. They will pay for <strong>the</strong>m in money, or anything else your imperial<br />

majesty's subjects may prefer ; <strong>and</strong> we request your imperial majesty to<br />

appoint a convenient port, in <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn part of <strong>the</strong> empire, where our<br />

vessels may stop for this purpose. We are very desirous of this.<br />

" These are <strong>the</strong> only objects for which I have sent Commodore Perry, with<br />

a powerful squadron, to pay a visit to your imperial majesty's renowned<br />

city of Yedo : friendship, commerce, a supply of coal <strong>and</strong> provisions, <strong>and</strong><br />

protection for our shipwrecked people.<br />

" We have directed Commodore Perry to beg your imperial majesty's ao<br />

ceptance of a few presents. They are of no great value in <strong>the</strong>mselves ; but<br />

some of <strong>the</strong>m may serve as specimens of <strong>the</strong> articles manufactured in <strong>the</strong><br />

United States, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y are intended as tokens of our sincere <strong>and</strong> respectful<br />

friendship.<br />

" May <strong>the</strong> Almighty have your imperial majesty in his great <strong>and</strong> holy<br />

keeping !<br />

" In witness whereof, I have caused <strong>the</strong> great seal of <strong>the</strong> United States to<br />

be hereunto affixed, <strong>and</strong> have subscribed <strong>the</strong> same with my name, at <strong>the</strong><br />

city of Washington, in America, <strong>the</strong> seat of my government, on <strong>the</strong> thirteenth<br />

day of <strong>the</strong> month of November, in <strong>the</strong> year one thous<strong>and</strong> eight hun-<br />

dred <strong>and</strong> fifty-two.<br />

[Seal attached.]<br />

" By <strong>the</strong> President : EDWARD<br />

Your good friend,<br />

" MILLARD FILLMORE.<br />

EVERETT, Secretary of Stale." *<br />

* As some persons may feel a curiosity to see Mr. Webster's original letter,<br />

<strong>and</strong> as it is not to be found in <strong>the</strong> edition of Mr. Webster's writings edited by

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