On the 13th of February, 1854, he made his appearance a second time in Yedo bay with a fleet of seven ships, viz., three steam frigates and four sloops-of-war. Three additional vessels were to join, and did join, the fleet in Yedo bay. So that when the fleet was all mustered there were ten fully armed vessels, comprising such an array as had never before appeared in Japanese waters. After some haggling about the place where the negotiations should be conducted, it was finally settled that the place of meeting should be at Kanagawa, near the village (now the city) of Yokohama. Here after much deliberation and discussion, proposals and amendments, banquets and presents, a treaty was agreed upon. The signing and exchange took place on the 31st of March, 1854. It was immediately sent to Washington for ratification. As this was the first formal treaty(271) made with any western country we give a synopsis of its provisions. Art. I. Peace and amity to exist between the two countries. Art. II. The port of Shimoda to be opened immediately and the port of Hakodate to be opened in one year, and American ships to be supplied with necessary provisions in them. Art. III. Shipwrecked persons of either nation to be cared for, and expenses to be refunded. Art. IV. Shipwrecked and other persons not to be imprisoned but to be amenable to just laws. Art. V. Americans at Shimoda and Hakodate not to be subject to confinement; free to go about within defined limits. Art. VI. Further deliberation to be held between the parties to settle concerning trade and matters requiring to be arranged. Art. VII. Trade in open ports to be subject to such regulations as the Japanese government shall establish. Art. VIII. Wood, water, provisions, coal, etc., to be procured only through appointed Japanese officers. Art. IX. If at any future day privileges in addition to those here enumerated are granted to any other nation, the same to be allowed to Americans. Art. X. Ships of the United States not to resort to other ports than Shimoda and Hakodate except in stress of weather. Art. XI. Consuls or agents of the United States to reside at Shimoda. Art. XII. The ratification of this treaty to be exchanged within eighteen months. ------------------------------------- As might have been expected, as soon as this treaty with the United States had been signed there was a rush of other nations to obtain similar terms. Admiral Sir John Sterling, acting in behalf of the government of Great Britain, negotiated a treaty which was signed at Nagasaki on the 15th of October, 1854. Admiral Pontiatine negotiated a similar treaty for Russia, which was signed at Shimoda on the 7th of February, 1855. A treaty with the Netherlands was signed on the 30th of January, 1856.