Wednesday, December 5, 2012

CHINA AND JAPAN , by LT James D. Johnston, U.S.N. (1860


CHINA AND JAPAN , by LT James D. Johnston, U.S.N. (1860)

James D. Johnston, lieutenant, U.S. Navy, executive officer of the Steam-Frigate Powhatan, wrote an account of the trip of the Powhatan to open diplomatic relations with China and to transport the first Japanese ambassadors to the United States less than seven years after Commodore Matthew C. Perry forced his way into Japan in 1853.

These were also the last years before the Civil War, before Southerners such as Johnston entered the Confederate Navy.

This book is now annotated to show what was meant by passing references which were much clearer at the time it was written, and also to trace events in the lives of the participants after the voyage.

The preliminary part of the book includes a table of contents explaining what the various chapters listed below actually cover. Or just start reading the book from the beginning.

"...with thanks, by order of the Emperor, to His Majesty King Kamehameha IV..."


Source: The Polynesian: Sat., Nov. 16, 1861.

Depatches from Jedo, or 5th and 31st August last, from the Government of Japan, through His Excellency Townsend Harris, the Minister of the United States, with thanks, by order of the Emperor, to His Majesty King Kamehameha IV., for his kind reception of the Japanese Embassy, and with valuable presents to His Majesty in acknowledgement of that kind reception were received at the Foreign Office yesterday. 


The First United States Vessel to Japan

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: May 19, 1860.

The first United States vessel to Japan was the ship Franklin, of Boston, belonging to James and Thomas H. Perkins, and commanded by James Devereaux, of Salem. Felt says that this ship sailed Dec. 11, 1798 for Batavia and Japan, and reached a port of the latter country on June 17th of the next year. Returning, she arrived back at Salem May 10th, 1800.