"Later from China: Return of the United States Squadron from Japan." (1853)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: Saturday, October 29, 1853.

By the arrival of the brig SOLIDE. we have Hong Kong dates to the 23d of Agust. The principal item of interest in these papers, is from the Register of Aug. 9th, concerning the Japan Expedition. We give it below, from which our readers will learn what progress Com. Perry has made in opening Japan.

RETURN OF THE UNITED STATES SQUADRON FROM JAPAN

The first scene of the drama "Japan Opened" has been played, and very cleverly played, too, if we can believe the accounts of it which are now current here. The United States fleet destined for the doing so, or rather a part of it, viz., the steamers Susquehanna and Mississippi, and the sloops-of-war Plymouth and Saratoga, left the coast of Loochoo on the 2d July, and steamed in to the bay of Jedo, each steamer having in tow one of the sloops, on the 8th of the same month. It was a very short time after they had come to anchor when the "civility" which had hitherto been forced upon all vessels-of-war, whether American, French, or English-that of having a cordon of boats thrown around them was proffered-indeed pressed upon Commodore Perry- a civility however which the Commodore not only did not value, but demurred at receiving. 

But a little time elapsed before the Mandarins of the place presented themselves on the quarter deck of the Susquehanna. It was explained to their chief that the courtesy thus proffered was not appreciated, and that it would be well that the boats immediately took themselves off. The Mandarin relied that it was Japan "fashion" -a fashion to which not only the American, but other nations had submitted, which could not be dispensed with. We believe that Commodore Perry is not given to swearing, but he so quickly and energetically explained that a longer detention of the boats around his vessels would not only be looked upon as an insult, but would be resented as such, that one wave from the fan of the leading Mandarin caused them to disperse-the sight of the ponderous guns on board leaving him no alternative. Eastern cunning, however, induced the notion that what would not be permitted when hundreds were engaged, might be looked over when engaged by the tens.- 

This movement however did not escape observation, and the lowering of a few boats, in which were marines with their muskets loaded, very speedily dismissed those that remained. During the stay of the vessels at Jedo no attention of this sort was again pressed upon the formidable strangers. 

The Commodore having informed the highest officials in Jedo for what purpose he had visited the country, explained that it would be necessary to send to the capital in order tat the Emperor might depute an officer of sufficient rank to meet him, to receive from his hands the letter of the President of the United States. A high officer was immediately despatched from the capital, and a meeting was shortly after fixed to take place. The Commissioner appointed to receive the President's letter received the Commodore on shore with a guard of honor amounting, it is said, to 5,000 men -soldier-like in their appearance and armed with matchlocks and English muskets. 

The Commodore on landing with a guard of honor of about four hundred men, accompanied by the bands of the two steamers, was received most graciously, and having delivered the President's letter, he was told it would be immediately carried to the Emperor whose deepest attention would be immediately bestowed upon it. The Commodore, in reply, stated it was a matter which involved the highest and best interests of Japan, -that he had no desire to hurry His Imperial Majesty to any hasty decision, -that he would have the honor of again calling, when he expected a favorable reply would await him, sometime during next spring.

Our "medium" not being on hand, we have no means of inspecting the private records of the Commodore, but we believe that what we have said pretty nearly embraces all that has been done, and if we have come in any way near to the truth we can only compliment Commodore Perry on the good temper and statesman-like conduct which he has displayed on this delicate mission; and we have further to express our heartfelt hope that all things will prove propitious for his spring visit -that his diplomacy may then be brought to an end alike creditable to his country and himself.