laid down correctly. Vulcan Island is conspicuous for its lofty, conical summit, the sides of which are streaked with deposits of lava. It was covered, from the brink of its sea-worn crags, with the most luxuriant vegetation. To the east of it was another island, not given in any chart, and the Commodore accordingly took the explorer's right, and named it "Mississippi Island." A cluster of very peculiar pointed rocks, rising like broken obelisks to the height of a hundred feet, received the Susquehanna's name. The Plymouth and Saratoga were also honored the first with a large isolated rock, the second with an island-both of which we claim the merit of discovering.

The features of this group are grand and imposing. The shores of these islands are mostly precipitous, presenting few accessible points, and being nearly circular in form, enhance the effect of the lofty summits into which they rise. I counted eight around us at one time; 'some bold and strongly defined, from their vicinity; others distant, blue, and floating in a vapory atmosphere, like the phantoms of islands. We could not discern any dwellings upon them, but it is probable that they are partly inhabited. We passed through them all before sunset, and still steering southward, hoped to have caught a glimpse of Fatsisio, which could not have been more than twenty-five miles distant; but night set in, and the vessels were put upon their course for Loo-Choo.

For the next two days, we ran in a south-westerly direction, aided by a strong east wind. The Saratoga was cast off in Lat. 30° N., and left to make her way to Shanghai, where she was ordered to winter. The Mississippi also cast off the Plymouth, which was directed to sound and survey along the

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western side of Ohosima (the island supposed to have been discovered by the Preble), while the Susquehanna would cruise along the eastern side. Commodore Perry's intention was to spend two or three days in fixing the position and dimensions of the island, and in communicating, if the nature of the coast would allow, with the inhabitants. We looked forward to the visit with interest, as there is no account of any vessel having ever touched there. It is not often that the traveller meets with a large community of semi-civilized people, to whom the European race is unknown.

On Wednesday, July 20th, however, a typhoon came on from the east. Our topmasts and topgallant-masts were sent down, and we scudded along with only the trysails set. The Susquehanna rolled in a most extraordinary manner, and the great pivot-gun on her poop, was so secured with lashings, and bindings of every description, that it resembled an immense cast-iron babe in swaddling-bands. For two days the storm continued to rage with much violence. Both our fore and main trysail-gaffs were carried away, and the Mississippi lost two of her boats. We stood off and on for two days, but the sea continued so rough that the idea of proceeding to Ohosima was finally abandoned, and we made for the harbor of Napa, in Loo-Choo, where we arrived on the 25th. Thus ended the first campaign of the United States Expedition to Japanconcerning which, it will ever be to me a source of pride and satisfaction, to say: Pars parva fui.

NOTE. The result of the Expedition to Japan is now known all over the world. Commodore Perry returned to the Bay of Yedo in February, 1854, his squadron augmented by the steam-frigate Porchutan, the sloops-of-war Macedonian and l'andalia, and the store-ships Lex

ington and Southampton. He anchored before Kanagawa, a remote suburb of Yedo, and after various interviews with a Council of five Princes of the Empire, appointed to confer with him, concluded a treaty of amity and commerce between the United States and Japan, at the village of Yoko-hama, near Kanagawa, in the beginning of April. By this treaty the ports of Simoda, in Niphon (about 120 miles from Yedo), Hakodadi in the island of Jesso, and Napa-Kiang in LooChoo, are opened to American vessels for the purposes of trade. The squadron visited both the former ports, and the officers of the Expedition were allowed perfect liberty to go on shore, mingle freely with the inhabitants, and make excursions inland to the distance of twenty miles. The success of the negotiations was as complete, in fact, as the most sanguine friend of the undertaking could have desired, and reflects great honor on the skill and prudence which marked the course of Commodore Perry. As my connection with the Expedition ceased after our return to China, I shall not attempt a history of its second and fat more interesting campaign-a complete account of which the public will soon possess in the national work now being published under the supervision of Commodore Perry.

Negotiations. with the New Regent-Capt. Hall's Account of Loo-Choo-Napoleon's Incredulity-Its Correctness-Verification of the Japanese Chronicle-The Three Castles-The Government of Loo-Choo-Provisions for the Squadron-Duplicity of the Officials-The Markets Deserted-The Spies-The Telegraph and Daguerreotype in Loo-Choo-Demands of Commodore Perry-The Regent's Reply-The Commodore successful-A Scene in the Market-place-Chase and Capture of a Spy -The Coal Depot-Exhibition of Loo-Choo Industry-National Contrasts-Steamship Line across the Pacific.

DURING our second visit to Napa-Kiang, on our return from Japan, Commodore Perry opened negotiations with the new Regent (the old one having been deposed during our absence), for the purpose of procuring privileges, which would enable him to make the island a permanent rendezvous for the squa dron during its stay in the East. In order to grant his requests, it was necessary to depart in some degree from the exclusive principle, which the Loo-Chooans have either borrowed from, or had forced upon them by Japan; and consequently, while knowing our strength and their weakness-they avoided a candid opposition, they know how to assume an attitude of passive resistance, which was far more perplexing. The ap

parent insincerity of their declarations, the shifts to which they resorted, and the deception they attempted to practise upon us taught the Commodore, finally, the only effective method of dealing with them, and gave us a better insight into their real character than has fallen to the lot of any explorers who visited the island before us.

I cannot here avoid allusion to the well-known work of Capt. Basil Hall, who has given the most full and detailed ac count of Loo-Choo which we possess. He was commander of the Lyra, which, with the frigate Alceste, visited the island thirty-five years ago, and remained about six weeks at NapaKiang. He had considerable intercourse with the natives, whom he paints in the most glowing colors, as models of primitive simplicity, innocence and goodness, such as are to be found in ns other part of the globe. He announces as facts, that they were ignorant of the use of money, that they had no arms, and that wars were unknown in their history. When Capt. Hall afterward mentioned these things to Napoleon, at St. Helena, the Emperor shook his head incredulously, and exclaimed: "Point d'armes! point de guerres!—impossible!” He was right; and the Captain, on these and many other points, was thoroughly cajoled by the Loo-Chooans. When we first arrived they told us the same things, yet we soon found that they were familiar with money and arms-especially tle former-and Klaproth's translation of the "Ran To Sets," a Japanese chronicle, gives an account of their wars. Their wonderful innocence and simplicity prove to be the disguises assumed by a marvellous cunning, and their alleged goodness of heart is illustrated by a Government which makes luxurious drones of a small class, and abj. ct slaves of all others.