stance, provided Lieutenant Laxman will promise, for himself and his countrymen, to return immediately to his own country, and never again to approach any part of the coast but the harbor aforesaid.

"2d. That the Japanese government thanks the Russians for the care taken of its subjects, but at the same time informs them that they may either leave them or carry them back again, as they think fit, as the Japanese consider all men to belong to whatever country their destiny may carry them, and where their lives may have been protected.*"

In L'Univers, on histoire et description de tous les peuples, etc., by M. A. D. B. de Jancigny, the author relates the attempt made by the king of Holland to open some of the ports of Japan to the Commerce of the world. A proposition of this kind from that quarter, would undoubtedly be more likely to meet with acceptance than from any other nation. The Dutch being the only nation who enjoy any commercial advantage or relation with Japan, the proposal comes from them without any suspicion of interested motive. In 1844–5, he says, an attempt was made by the king of Holland to lead the Japanese government to examine seriously if it would not be for the interests of Japan to anticipate the inevitable tendencies of European civilization and Commerce, and to open gradually its ports to other vessels beside the Dutch. This attempt, far from having the result which the generous motive merited, seems, on the contrary, to have confirmed the Japanese in their exclusive system. Drawing, from the example of China, the conclusion that unforseen events might compel her, in spite of herself, to multiply her points of contract with other nations of the earth, the king remarked that the proximity in which Japan was to the English colonies at Hongkong and the mouth of the Yang-tse-kiang, now open to European nations, would fatally draw this nation to a near crisis, the consequences of which it would seem prudent to prevent by concessions satisfactory to Europeans. He then solicited the ziogoon to open not only Nagasaki, but two or three other ports in Niphon and Yezo to foreign vessels without distinction of flag.

"You will easily understand," added the king of Holland, "that my interest must suggest to me counsels contrary to those I give you, since as long as you persevere in the present system, my nation will alone make a monopoly of your Commerce, but it is precisely the friendship with which you have favored us in preference to other people, that imposes on us the duty of calling your attention to the future which threatens you. If you longer refuse to take the place which you ought to hold among commercial nations, you will be forced in your intrenchments, and be humiliated as the Celestial empire has been. Spare yourself this humiliation, in season, by generous measures, which will conciliate to you the esteem and sympathy of European powers."

The king of Holland, we must think, erred in the motive of fear presented to the emperor, and also in referring to the fact of the English invasion of China, and of her colonies planted in the Celestial empire. If we had desired to present to the ziogoon an argument in favor of the present Japanese policy, we should not have known where to look for one more cogent

The above answer would seem to be mistranslated, as, in the expression of thanks for saving the lives of the Japanese, it appears at variance with the statements given of their law in relation to the criminality of such persons, with the other instances of returning shipwrecked natives, and with the answer to Sir Edward Belcher, unless, as the closing part of the answer seems to show, it was intended only as a courteous expression toward the Russians for having designed it as a kindnessnot for any kindness or favor actually done in restoring the men to their country.

to such a courageous and extremely jealous people. Possibly if the king of Holland had addressed his counsels to the ziogoon prior to the English attack upon China, avoiding all argument to the fears of the Japanese, we might now be rejoicing in a different result. His letter was mal-apropos in season and in tenor.

Thus the two European powers most favorably situated, and from whom the request for an open Commerce would be most likely to be well received, have made the proposal, and, in each case, met a refusal.

In 1846, President Polk dispatched two of our national ships, the Columbus and Vincennes, to Japan, under the command of Capt. Biddle, to endeavor to open a trade with that country.

president says:—

In his letter to the

emperor the

"I send you an envoy of my own appointment, an officer of high rank in his 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 extends 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."

66

Many of our ships will now pass in every year, and some, perhaps, in every week, between California and China. These ships must pass along the coasts 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 great ness, kindness for our men, and protection for our property. We wish that our people may be permitted to trade with your people; but we shall not authorize them to break any law of your empire.

"Our object is friendly commercial intercourse and nothing more. You may have productions which we should be glad to buy, and we have productions which might suit your people.

"Your empire contains great abundance of coal; this is an article which our steamers 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 may arise from these recent events, which have brought our two countries so near together, and what purposes of friendly amity and intercourse this ought to inspire in the hearts of those who govern both countries."

The letter of the president is couched in very courteous and conciliatory terms, and dictated with great prudence. We think, as before intimated, it it would have been still better if all reference to Commerce had been omitted, and all boasting of the greatness of our country been avoided. The answer given to Com. Biddle from the ziogoon was in these words:

According to the Japanese laws, the Japanese subjects cannot trade, except with the Dutch and Chinese. It will not be allowed that America make a treaty with Japan, or trade with this empire, seeing that this is not permitted to any other nation. What relates to foreign countries is determined at Nagasaki, not here in the bay. Consequently you must depart as soon as possible, and not return again to Japan.

* Translated from Jancigny. We have not the original before us.

On the day preceding the departure of the Columbus and Vincennes from the bay of Yedo, the 28th July, a French ship of war, commanded by Admiral Cecille, entered the harbor of Nagasaki. It does not appear, however, that the admiral made any proposal for a trade or intercourse with the country, but merely requested a supply of water and provisions.

As to the idea of forcing Japan to alter her laws or policy for our benefit, such a thing can find no sanction in an American Congress. Such an enterprise can never proceed from our shores. Every citizen of this country has that in his breast which repels, at once, such a suggestion. We are not ready, we shall never, as a nation, be ready for such villainy. But we consider it extremely doubtful if any nation in the world, except Great Britain, has the physical ability to accomplish it. If it should ever be done, it will be by that power. But it will be no Chinese, nor no Mexican war. Anything less than an armada of thirty of the heaviest and best ships of the navy of Great Britain or the United States, with 100,000 well-appointed troops, would do better to try its tactics and its metal on some other shores. The English may find it holiday work to overrun India and China, but when they put themselves in front of a Tartar with a sword better than their own and with death awaiting him behind if he suffers the invader to advance they will find every inch of ground they measure with their feet on Japanese soil, will be well paid for. Russia and France are too far distant for such an attempt. England has an advantage from her neighboring possessions in India, where her ships may be refitted and her armies recruited. It is true the Japanese musketeer is not equal to the infantry soldier of England. His musket is a matchlock, and his infantry tactics may be very inferior. But he has cannon, and makes his own powder; he has a horse, and knows well its use; he has arrows, and knows how to point them; and a pike, which, if not so good as the opposing metal, will, in some cases, be found "available."

The

There seems even less chance by direct negotiation or solicitation. Japanese despise trade and traders. The private soldier holds a grade above the richest merchant. Their own country supplies all their wants, or nearly, and their limited trade with China and the Dutch leaves them nothing to want for convenience or luxury. Commerce is not needed for government revenue. The princes are obliged to support the army, each one his quota of troops. There is no civil list, as with us, swallowing millions of revenue. And whatever is required for the support of the emperor and his court is easily made up by the feudal contributions, or by tithes, taxes, and levies upon the people. All connected with the government, therefore, have no interest in promoting foreign Commerce, and the four higher classes look upon all persons concerned in trade as inferior, and in a degree degraded. The extreme jealousy of this people has been spurred by the English war upon China, and it may be supposed they would be, since that event, more convinced of the safety and necessity of their policy, and more determined rigorously to maintain it.

Commerce must open its own way to Japan. Let our steamers stop at Nagasaki regularly for coal, let all our ships, which can do so, put into that port for refreshments, let them be acquainted with our character; and if they find it good, if our men are guilty of no wrong there, in a course of years they may relax their policy so far as to admit some one article of ours, or give us such license as the Dutch; and so, gradually and easily, Commerce may work its own way to a more extended trade.

The trade with Japan does not promise great results. The Dutch factory found it rather a losing business, and were glad to give up the largest part of it to the government. But if it were gold in exchange for iron, weight for weight, our government will not take it by robbery.

Art. II.--COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES.

NO. IV.

RALEIGH'S CHARTER AND EXPEDITIONS-AMIDOS AND BARLOW, GRENVILLE, ETC.-EVENTS TO 1600 -REVIEW OF ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES UP TO 1600-DITTO IN THE REST OF AMERICA-CAUSES OF NEGLECT OF THE UNITED STATES-GROSNOLD'S VOYAGE, TRADE AND FISHERY AT NEW ENGLAND-PRING-GILBERT-DE MONTS-WEYMOUTH-NORTH AND SOUTH VIRGINIA COMPANIES-COMMERCIAL FEATURES OF THEIR CHARTERS-SETTLEMENTS-TRADE, FISHERY, ETC.-DUTCH TRADING STATIONS AT HUDSON RIVER-TOBACCO-JAMES'S REGULATIONS THEREON -VIRGINIA SLAVE TRADE-SMITH'S TRADING AND FISHING VOYAGE TO NEW ENGLAND-PLYMOUTH COUNCIL, ETC.

GILBERT, failing in his efforts to colonize America, and perishing in his second expedition, in 1583, RALEIGH, the next year, renewed the patent for six years longer. This instrument gave him the right of exclusive trade and unlimited powers as lord proprietor, over all heathen lands which he should find between the 33d and 40th degrees of north latitude. The right of visit, however, was reserved to vessels overtaken by stress of weather, or those of the kingdom engaged in the Newfoundland fisheries, a business in which English vessels had been engaged for near seventy years, and the French for ten or fifteen years longer. One-fifth of the gold and silver that might be found, was stipulated also, as in most of the patents subsequently granted, as the property of the crown.

Under this charter, Raleigh commenced that series of efforts for colonizing the new world, which, pursued with a perseverance worthy of a better fortune, have, notwithstanding their utter failure, connected his name forever with the history of its leading nation. The same year, Capts. Amidos and Barlow were dispatched, with two small vessels, on an expedition, chiefly of exploration. Reaching the coast of North Carolina by way of the Canaries and West Indies, they opened a trade with the Indians, exchanging iron and other metals, of which the Indians had none except a little copper, and which they were very eager to obtain, for furs and skins, principally. For a tin dish, twenty skins, and for a copper kettle, fifty skins were obtained. Each skin was worth about a noble. Several weeks were spent in traffic, along the coast of North Carolina, at Pamlico Sound and other parts, and in September they returned to England, having made a very profitable voyage, and, as would be expected under the circumstances, setting forth the virtues of the country, in their report, in glowing terms. It is hard for people to be in ill humor with that which is the occasion of profit to them. To the merchants of England goodly promise was held out in the abundance of valuable peltry, of which there was but a very insufficient supply in Europe, and moreover in the unbounded wealth of the soil," the most plentiful, sweete, fruitfull, and wholesome of all the worlde;" in the "above fourteene severall sweete smelling timber trees," needed by England for constructing her ships; in the growth of "sassaphras and divers other medic

inable hearbes and trees," then deemed of the highest account in physic; in the luxuriance of the vine, furnishing the Indians with wine which they could have drank through the whole year, but for want of casks to keep it in winter. Even the precious spices and drugs, were promised to enrich their trade, the water drank by the Indians on the failure of wine being "sodden with ginger in it, and black sinamon" as well as different herbs. All these were to be obtained so cheaply, too—and to encourage further this profitable intercourse, the natives were represented as "most gentle, loving, and faithfull, voide of all guile, and such as live after the manner of the golden age."

Enthusiasm rose at once to a high pitch, and Raleigh was easily enabled. to fit out his second expedition in 1585, of seven vessels and 108 emigrants for permanent colonization. Sir Richard Grenville, the naval head of the enterprise, followed Amidos and Barlow in the West India route, the object in taking that course, being with those and others after them, not as has been stated, that they feared to attempt a more direct course, but to make captures of the richly laden ships, bound homeward to Spain from her colonial possessions. Roanoke Island, at which the former adventurers had traded, was reached, some barter carried on, a settlement formed on the Island, and the search for gold commenced, arrangements being made with the Indians to provide them with regular supplies of food, at regular stations on the journey inward. The Indians failed of their contract, and the explorers were obliged to eat dog-flesh on the way back.

England had, at this time, four objects of interest in America, to each of which her attention was strongly directed, all having a commercial reference, and all (except two) directed to different points, viz:-1. The Newfoundland fishery, the oldest of these objects, which had grown up very fast since Gilbert's first voyage, and which the English now attempted, ineffectually, to make exclusive, capturing several vessels of other nations loading there with fish and furs, in 1585. To encourage this fishery and also shipbuilding, as well as to multiply seamen, a statute enforced by heavy penalties the rigid observation of church regulations, forbidding flesh on one hundred and fiftythree days in the year. 2. A northwest passage to China and India, for the discovery of which a company existed in London, which sent out Capt. John Davis, in 1585, who entered the straits on the west side of Greenland, which still bear his name. By this route, of the existence of which no doubt was felt, it was hoped to rival Portugal in the trade of the East, if not to monopolize it altogether. 3. And at present, the leading object, the plunder of the rich Commerce of Spain with her American colonies. Sir Francis Drake, to whose care this branch of the English interest in America was, at this time, mainly confided, took St. Augustine, Florida, in 1585, extorted a heavy ransom from Carthagena, in New Grenada, and sacked and pillaged St. Domingo, acquiring a booty, in all, of £600,000 during the year, a much more profitable result than seeking wealth in Virginia. 4. And last, colonization, which completely failed in 1585, the famished settlers of Virginia going back to England with Drake, who chanced to visit them on his return from his marauding expedition. The first and third of these were considered paying enterprises-the second and fourth had been only, except as to some incidental benefits, losing attempts.

But Raleigh was not yet discouraged. In 1587, (while Davis was on his third northwestern voyage,) he dispatched another expedition of three ships with 150 emigrants. This colony was destroyed the next year, by starvation