Japan and the Japanese

534 JAPAN. A. D. 18171854.
ities of that island, which, from all the information he could obtain,
he concluded to be a nearly independent sovereignty.
Within fifteen days after Commodore Perry's departure from
Simoda, the clipper ship Lady Pierce, from San Francisco, fitted
out for the express purpose of being the first American ship to
arrive in Japan after the opening of commercial relations, entered
the bay of Jedo, with the owner, Silas E. Burrows, on board.
He had with him a Japanese seaman, the sole survivor of a crew
of fifteen men, belonging to a junk which had been blown out to sea,
and was picked up near the Sandwich Islands, after having drifted
about for seven months. This man, who is represented as quite
intelligent, and who had resided for some time at San Francisco,
was received with lively demonstrations of pleasure by his countrymen.
With a party of the Uragawa ofiicials on board, the Lady Pierce
proceeded to within ten miles of Jedo, and her owners expressed a
desire to anchor off that city ; but this was objected to by the offi-
cers, who said, " It is not good ;
and we hope you will not."
Commodore Perry did not go there,
During the stay of the vessel, every part of her was crowded with
visitors ; and although at one time there must have been several
thousands in and around the ship, and although everything, silver-
ware included, was thrown open to their inspection, not a single
article was stolen.
Large presents of silk, porcelain, lackered ware, &c., were made
to Mr. Burrows, who, however, was informed that henceforward
no foreign intercourse would be permitted with Jedo, but that all
vessels must proceed either to Simoda or Hakodade. Mr. Bur-
rows himself proceeded to Simoda, but does not seem to have
formed a very high idea of the prospects of trade there.*
* The following ia given in the San Francisco Herald as a copy of the
address presented to Mr. Burrows on this occasion :
" With pleasure we welcome you to Jedo Bay, and in doing so, can assure
y