1853
　　On the 9th of April, 1853, I received a request from Commodore Perry to accompany him to Japan as interpreter, he wishing to have me ready by the 21st on which day he intended to sail. On his reaching Canton, I had an interview with him, and learned that he had made no application to the Secretaries [of ABCFM] at Boston respecting assistance of this sort, nor informed them of his intentions; he said that this never occurred to him, for he had repeatedly heard in the U.S. that I wished to join the expedition, and would be ready on his arrival in China to leave. Dr. Bridgman [Elijah C.Bridgman:1801~1861;an American missionary to China, ABCFM]1 was with me at this interview, and we spoke of various topics connected with the enterprise taken in hand to improve the intercourse with Japan, from which we inferred that this first visit this year was intended to chiefly ascertain the temper of the Japanese in respect to the propositions which would be submitted to them. At any rate no hostilities were determined on, except, indeed, to repel an attack or actual aggression, for many vessels of the squadron had not reached China yet, and he wished to make an experimental visit first. He added that he had refused to employ Von Siebold [Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold:1796~1866] as interpreter because he wished to keep the place for me, —doubtless a compliment to me, but not very wise in him, so far as efficient intercourse [to] with the Japanese went.
　　In conclusion, I told him that unless I could get some person to take charge of my printing-office, I could not possibly leave Canton. At the next meeting of the mission, held April 20th, it was concluded that Mr. Bonney [Samuel William Bonney:1815~1864;an American missionary to China, ABCFM] leave his station at New Town and find somebody to take the house if possible, and take charge of my printing-office while I was absent; he intended, if possible, to get Mr. Beach or Mr. Cox, if not both, to occupy the house, but in this he failed.
　　I went to see Com. Perry the next day, and told him that I would go with him till October, and could not be ready to leave before the 5th to 10th of May, in consequence of the various matters necessary to be attended to. It was recommended to him to get a lithographic press in order to assist in promulgating the wishes of the American people & let the people know what we had come for; to this he agreed, & I purchased an iron press of Mr. Lucas for $120, which I hope will be a good outlay. I stipulated too, that I should not be called on to work on the Sabbath & should have comfortable accommodations on board ship. Moreover, I stated to the Commodore that I had never learned much more than to speak with ignorant Japanese sailors, who were unable to read even their own books, and practice in even this imperfect medium had been suspended for nearly nine years, during which time I had had no one to talk with; he therefore must not expect great proficiency in me, but I would do the best I could. In my own mind, I was almost decided not to go at any rate on account of the little knowledge I had of Japanese literature and speech, and am now sure that I have been rightly persuaded by friends to go. It is strange to me how attention has been directed to me as the interlocutor & interpreter for the commander of the Japanese expedition, not only from people hereabouts but from the United States; while we are here, speculations as to the propriety of leaving Canton in this capacity, a letter comes from Plattsburgh, desirous Sarah to come home with the children, for that her friends had heard that I was to be absent two years to act as interpreter in Japan. I certainly have not sought the place, nor did I expect more than to be consulted as to the best mode of filling it.
　　On Monday evening, we had a pleasant meeting at my house at monthly-concert, where all were present; the expedition to Japan was particularly commended to the prayers of all interested in the furtherance of the Gospel. Dr. Hobson [Benjamin Hobson:a British medical missionary;London Missonary Society]2 read an extract from the “Chronicle” respecting the change in the policy of the Queen of Madagascar, showing that the persecution suffered by the Christians there for many years was to cease, & full liberty likely to be granted them thro’ the powerful influence of the heir-apparent: & the son of the prime-minister, both of whom had become favorable towards Christianity. Mr. French [John Booth French:1822~1857;an American missionary;Presbyterian Board] remarked that this association at this meeting of Japan & Madagascar, reminded him of the last monthly-concert he attended in America, at which they were both brought to notice, and particularly prayed for; & the happy change in the last made him hope that a favorable result might follow this attempt on the latter. May God in his infinite mercy grant that this expedition be a means of advancing the latter-day glory, when the heathen shall be the people of Christ, and then I shall be rejoiced that I have gone with it. At any rate, a beginning must be made in breaking down the seclusion of the Japanese, and I hope this attempt will be blessed to that end.
　　All my preparations being made, & my teacher appearing with his baggage, I left Canton, May 6th, in the steamer for Macao, to join the “Saratoga”, and sail to Lewchew. I was greatly annoyed in getting aboard to find that the lithographic press & materials were not there; but it came down by fast boat before sailing, for I found that Capt. Walker would not sail till Tuesday, in consequence of the want of bread, and Mr. Bonney forwarded it on Friday evening. I spent a few days at Macao very pleasantly, and on the forenoon of Tuesday, the 10th of May, I set foot on board ship, & sailed on the evening of the 11th, nearly sixteen years since I left in the Morrison for the same region. Of my fellow-passengers there,
　　Mr. King [Charles W. King:b. 1808 or 1809;an American merchant in Canton]3, Mr. Gutzlaff [Karl Friedlich August Gutzlaff:1803~1851;Netherland Missionary Society; married twice to English ladies], Capt. Ingersoll [Captain D. Ingersoll:an Amerian sea captain of the ship Morrison], and three of the Japanese, are dead. It was mentioned by Com. Perry that I had a strong inducement to go with him from having been in that ship, as the inhospitable treatment received by the “Morrison” was to form one of the reclamations of the present visit. How vast a change has happened in the politics of China since that cruise, in opening her principal ports and commencing a freer intercourse with her people; when we returned in Aug. 1837, not a port on the Chinese coast was accessible, and nothing known of their capabilities.
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