Hildreth's "Japan as It Was and Is": A Handbook of Old Japan, Volume 2 (of 2)Hildreth, Richard
History
Hildreth's "Japan as It Was and Is": A Handbook of Old Japan, Volume 2 (of 2)
Hildreth, Richard
Japan -- History
[107] Had the Japanese been readers of the London newspapers, they
might have found in the following paragraph, which appeared in the
“Examiner” of January 21, 1843, fresh motives for persisting in their
exclusive policy: “MISSIONARIES TO CHINA.—One of the largest meetings,
perhaps, ever held in Exeter Hall was held on Tuesday evening, convened
by the London Missionary Society, to consider the means of extending
and promoting in China the objects of the society. Wm. T. Blair,
Esq., of Bath, presided. Dr. Liefchild moved the first resolution,
_expressive of thanksgiving to God for the war between China and
Great Britain_ (the infamous opium war), and for the greatly enlarged
facilities secured by the treaty of peace for the introduction of
Christianity into that empire. This resolution was seconded by the Rev.
Dr. Adler, and was carried unanimously.” I have met with nothing in the
letters of the Jesuit missionaries, nor in the Jesuit missions, that
can be compared with this specimen of Protestant zeal.
[108] His instructions cautioned him not to do anything “to excite a
hostile feeling, or distrust of the United States.” The official papers
relating to this expedition, and to the subsequent one of the “Preble,”
will be found in “Senate Documents,” 1851-1852, vol. ix (Ex. Doc. No.
59).
[109] Dr. Bettelheim is at this moment in this country, anxious to
be employed as a missionary to Japan, for which his experience,
derived from a nine years’ residence in Lew Chew, gives him peculiar
qualifications. His treatment there was characteristic. The authorities
were anxious to get rid of him, but afraid to send him away by force,
while he was determined not to go. The inhabitants were ordered to
keep away from his house, to sell him nothing beyond a supply of food,
and to avoid him whenever he came near; while officers were appointed
to watch and to follow him wherever he went. See “Glyn’s Letter” in
Senate Documents, 1851-1852, vol. ix No. 59. There are also two curious
pamphlets on the subject, written by Dr. Bettelheim, and printed at
Canton.
[110] The same officers probably, designated by Kämpfer as deputies
of the governor, called by Thunberg, Banjoshū, and by the more recent
Dutch writers, Gobanjoshū.
[111] See also “America in the East” (Griffis) and “The Intercourse
between the United States and Japan” (Nitobe).—_Edr._
[112] By Siebold, in “Moniteur des Indes,” vol. ii, p. 346, in his
“Essay on the Commerce of Japan.”
[113] The official documents relating to this expedition were printed
by order of U. S. Senate, 33d Cong., 2d Sess. Ex. Doc. No. 34.
[114] Japan, p. 197. Perry, to judge by his letters (Dec. 14, 1852,
May 6, 1853), did not place much reliance on the aid of the Dutch.
The British Admiralty showed their good will by furnishing the latest
charts and sailing directions for the Eastern seas.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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