Results of the Embassy Visit: Steam Communication with Japan Begins

One of the significant results of the Perry Expedition, the visit of the Japanese Embassy and the ratification of treaties and agreements was increased commerce. The following is from the May 12, 1860 edition of The Polynesian, published in Honolulu, quoting a news story out of San Francisco:

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH JAPAN. –A company of gentlemen of this city, possessed with the means, have it in contemplation to establish a line or propellers between this port and Japan, by way of the Sandwich Islands. They have collected together all the statistics possible to obtain in regard to the trade present and prospective, between the two countries, and seem to be satisfied that the enterprise will prove a paying one, that is, if the money to build the vessels can be obtained at New York rates of interest.

W.R. Garrison, Esq., of C.K. Garrison & Co., is one of the gentlemen having the matter under consideration, and will soon proceed to New York, for the purpose of laying such data as may be obtained before merchants and steamship men there. The present impression among those having the matter in hand is that it will prove successful.

For our part, we can see no good reason why a line of say three propellers of moderate size should not prove a paying investment. The trade between this port and the Sandwich Islands, together with that of Japan, is amply sufficient, we judge, to freight at least two vessels a month; in addition to this, the passenger trade would be considerable. The project has our hearty wishes for its success, and we doubt not it also has the earnest wishes of every Californian. –San Francisco Paper.

1860: The Japanese Visit Castle & Cooke's Hardware Store

Recently, I was reading Amos Starr and Juliette Montague Cooke: Their Autobiographies Gleaned from their Journals and Letters, by Mary Atherton Richards.

On page 450 there is a transcript of Mr. Cooke’s journal referencing the arrival of the Powhatan and a visit by the Japanese:

“Mch. 6, ’60 –This morning the U.S. Steamer Powhatan, Josiah Thrall, has come in our harbor with Japanese ambassador attended by a retinue of about 72.”

“Mch 9, ’60 – 4 Japanese called into the store & bought a pocket knife.”

“Mch 10, ’60 – This afternoon we have shut the store, for most have gone on board the steamer Powhatan, but I have written two pages to Mother. Yesterday I paid to Capt. Holdsworth $200 being 10% on two shares of Haiku Sugar Co. The same for A. Wilcox.”

The Polynesian Reports: Japanese Embassy and Currency Exchanges

Japanese Embassy and Currency Exchanges

The Polynesian. Honolulu: Saturday, March 10, 1860, Page 3.

The arrival of the U.S. steamer Powhatan with this Embassy, which is destined to produce such an important effect upon the trade of the world with this powerful, industrious and hitherto comparatively unknown nation, has been a topic of conversation in business circles.

The question of currency still continues a vexed one, and more difficult to settle than the five-franc and American half dollar on here. The relation of gold to silver, which existed at first upon the opening of trade, being so much less than that of the European standard, was eagerly seized upon by foreign traders, and large amounts of money were made on the interchange of treasure; but the Japanese have now raised their standard more in unison with that of the Outsiders, and put a stop to the efflux of this precious metal.

We learn that Mexican dollars have been adopted as a medium of currency, and with the aid of a Japanese government “chop” stamped on them, after the fashion of Spanish authorities in Manila pass in trade. On the return of the Embassy we have no doubt but the same preference will be shown to the American dollar.

The Polynesian Reports: The Ball at Dr. Guillou’s

The Polynesian. Honolulu: Saturday, March 10, 1860, Page 2.

Last evening Dr. Guillou gave a ball at his residence in Hotel Street, in honor of Admiral Tattnall and the Officers of the U.S. Steamer Powhatan, now in port. It was a gay and brilliant affair, and will long be remembered.

The decorations of the rooms were exceedingly tasteful and chaste, being festoons of the national American colors studded with silver starts throughout. Three complimentary portraits adorned the principal room; George Washington, within the folds of his country’s flag, His Majesty the King, within the Hawaiian flag, and Her Majesty Queen Emma, within a shield of evergreens and roses. The refreshments were ample, sumptuous and recherches. And there was nothing wanting that the experience, taste and attention of the host and his lady could provide for the enjoyment of their guests.

Their Majesties the King and Queen and H.R.H. Prince Kamehameha honored the ball with their presence. Some of the Japanese dignitaries were also present and appeared to enjoy the gay and novel scene before them with great pleasure.

To judge by the great number who did themselves the honor of attending the ball, Dr. Guillou is the most popular man in town; to judge by the result, it was a great success. Besides the great personages already mentioned, and Admiral Tattnall and the officer of the Powhatan, to whose honor the ball was specially given, it would be easier for us to enumerate those of good society who were absent, than to attempt the faintest outline of those who were present.

The Polynesian Reports: Arrival of the Powhatan

(Picture credit: Asian Art Museum)

The U.S. Steam Frigate Powhatan
The Polynesian: Saturday, March 10, 1860, Page 2.

The above steam frigate, bearing the broad pennant of Flag Officer Josiah Tatnall, arrived here on Monday last from Kanagawa, Japan, having on board the Japanese Embassy to the United States. The Powhatan, we understand, is bound to San Francisco, where she will undergo some repairs at Mare Island, rendered necessary by hard service and bad weather encountered during her cruises in the Chinese and Japanese waters. From San Francisco she will proceed to Panama with the Embassy, which will thence be transferred to Aspinwall and embarked on board of the U.S. Roanoke for some port in the U.S.

On Tuesday salutes were exchanged with the Battery on Punchbowl Hill.

The Powhatan left Japan on the 13^th of February last, and has had much stormy and bad weather on the passage. When north of these islands, she changed her course and run down here, to take in additional supplies of coal, water, etc., to last her to San Francisco. It is thought that she will remain here another week.

We acknowledge the following list of officers on board, kindly furnished us by Mr. B.F. Gallaher, the Purser:

Flag Officer: Josiah Tatnall.

Captain: George F. Pearson.

Lieutenants: James D. Johnston, Stephen D. Trenchard, Wm. W. Roberts, Alexander A. Semmes, Charles E. Thorburn, Robert Boyd, Jr.

Fleet Surgeon: W. A. W. Spotswood.

Passed Asst. Surgeon: Chas. H. Williamson.

Assistant Surgeon: John W. Sanford, Jr.

Purser: B. F. Gallaher.

Chaplain: Henry Wood.

Marine Officer: Captain A.S. Taylor.

Chief Engineer: William H. Shock.

First Asst. Engineers: Wm. W. Rutherford, Richard C. Potts.

Second Asst. Engineer: George W. City.

Third Asst. Engineers: Wm. H. King, E.R. Archer, Wm. W. Dungan, George S. Bright.

Boatswain: Edward Kenney.

Acting Gunner: Henry Fitzosbourne.

Carpenter: Joseph G. Thomas.

Sailmaker: Augustus A. Warren

Commodore’s Secretary: T. A. Nicholson.

Captain’s Clerk: Leonard W. Riley.

Purser’s Clerk: Chas. P. Thompson.

Master’s Mates: Chas. R. Betts, Augustus Stebbins, Gilbert M. L. Cook.

Update: Japanese Suit of Armor and Josiah Tatnall... in Georgia?

After I posted my blog post yesterday about the Japanese suit of armor Commodore Josiah Tatnall brought with him on the U.S. Steamer Powhatan I decided to contact the Georgia Historical Society.

Nora Lewis, director of Library and Archives of the Georgia Historical Society, responded with the following:

Dear Mr. Mead:

Thank you for your interest in the collections of the Georgia Historical Society. Unfortunately, the Japanese suit of armor was lent, in the 1960s, to a museum that ultimately went out of business and it was never returned to the Georgia Historical Society. As far as I know, no one has ever been able to track it down and it is considered lost from our collection.

I'm sorry I don't have better news. If you ever hear anything about it's current location, please pass that information on to us.

Best,
Nora Lewis

I sincerely appreciate the prompt attention Ms. Lewis provided. Though locating this historical artifact will be difficult at best I hope to find it.

I also found this direct reference to the armor suit and its donation to the Georgia Historical Society at this link. The date of the report is February, 1861.

The Polynesian Reports: Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma Hold Court

Past Week: The Court

The Polynesian (Honolulu): Saturday, March 10, 1860, Page 2.

On Friday last, the 9^th inst., it pleased His Majesty the King to hold a Court at the Palace for the reception of the distinguished visitors lately arrived from Japan, on board the U.S. steamer Powhatan.

At 1 ½ P.M., His Majesty’s carriages having been places at their disposal, Flag Officer Josiah Tatnall, commanding the United States East India Squadron, accompanied by the Commissioner of the United States near this Court, Hon. J.W. Borden, and Captain Pierson and Officers of the steam frigate Powhatan, arrived at the Palace grounds, and were received at the lower gate by the Companies of His Majesty’s Household Troops on duty, and at the stairs of the palace by the Honolulu Rifles, under command of Capt. J.H. Brown. The Admiral and suite were then introduced by Mr. Wyllie, the Minister of Foreign Relations, and presented by Mr. Borden to His Majesty, who was pleased to offer them a welcome and express his gratification at meeting with the gallant Admiral.

As soon as the reception of the Admiral and the officers of the Powhatan was ended, His Majesty’s carriages and the Guard of Honor were sent to the Japanese Ambassadors, who arrived at the Palace with their suite a little under 2 P.M., and were received with the same military honors as the Admiral; and the four principal gentlemen of the embassy, occupying distinguished ranks in the Japanese Empire, were presented by Admiral Tatnall and Mr. Borden to His Majesty, who welcomed them to his Court, and expressed his desire to make their stay in this place agreeable. In reply, the Ambassadors expressed their acknowledgments for the courteous attentions paid them by His Majesty. The conversation being held in Dutch, Mr. Banning, of this town, acted as interpreter of His Majesty, who spoke in English.

His Majesty was attended by all the high dignitaries and Chiefs of the Kingdom, and by all prominent officers under the Government present in Honolulu, as well as by many private gentlemen who had been permitted to witness the presentation.

The King having retired, Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by her ladies, entered the throne room and was pleased to receive Admiral Tatnall, Captain Pierson and officers, the Japanese Ambassadors, who were presented in the same order and formality as before.

Her Majesty having enquired how the Ambassadors liked the country, they expressed their perfect satisfaction with whatever they had seen, and their gratitude to both the King and Queen for their kind attentions to their wants and also for the honor of this audience.

The reception over, the Ambassadors were conveyed back to their residence with the same honor as when they arrived, as were also the Admiral and his suite.

To-day, at noon, His Majesty’s Minister of Foreign Relations, R.C. Wyllie, Esq., will return the visit of the Ambassadors, on behalf of His Majesty, at their residence.