Weighed; stood over in company. Japan flag in _Rodney_. With _Ocean_ to Osaka. Flag saluted by the French frigate _Dupleix_. Came to off the bar. Self and Captains were presented to the Mikado by Sir Harry Parkes. With Minister, accompanied by staff, we were carried up through the streets, crowded with Japanese. Sir Harry Parkes presented credentials, and we were introduced severally to the Mikado. All the chief nobles were prostrate in his presence, their heads touching the ground. The Mikado appeared to be a lad of sixteen. The streets were lined with kneeling Japanese. [Sidenote: Osaka, May 23.] Japanese princes and great officers visited Rodney and _Ocean_. [Sidenote: May 25.] Weighed under steam. Came to off Nagasaki. Japan may well be called the “Gem of the Sea” from her geographical position, her magnificent harbours and inland sea, the approaches to which might be rendered impregnable. It is a rich country, with mines of coal and iron, fisheries, and a vast maritime population. Japan is coveted alike by Russia, America, and France; and its possession would enable the power holding to monopolise the whole trade in China. The Japanese naturally fear the steady march of Russia towards Japan. They see that in ten years China has yielded to that country 900 miles of coast, all tending towards the possession of Japan, which has harbours open at all seasons of the year, while Russia’s boundary line on the islands off the coast has brought her to the door of Japan. It is apparent that if we maintain a proper position in Japan, in consideration of our vast Eastern trade, England and other nations, not wishing to acquire territory, will always be in a position to preserve the integrity of Japan. America has discovered that Yokohama is the most convenient place for a depot of coal for her 4000-ton Pacific steamers, and the United States Senior Naval Officer informed me that they intended to establish store-houses at Nagasaki for their men-of-war. Russia has already a small dockyard at Nagasaki. The French have been, and are still, constructing docks, and have established, at the Japanese Government’s expense, a small colony at Yokosha, near Yokohama. At present we have as good a footing in Japan as any other nation; our trade exceeds that of all others, and more British capital has been invested. I am urging upon the Admiralty the necessity for building a naval hospital at Yokohama, owing to its salubrious climate, and also a bungalow for the use of the Naval Commander-in-Chief, as there is nothing of the kind on the station. It was proposed last year that I should visit the Gulf of Tartary and the Amoor River this summer. While at Peking in September, got Sir Rutherford Alcock to speak to the Russian Minister, Monsieur A. Vlangali, as I did myself afterwards, requesting him to mention my intention to the Governor at Nicolai.