I have just obtained a copy of your “Expedition to Japan and the China Seas,” and have read it with intense interest. I hope it is no vanity in me to say that no one _at present_ can so well appreciate and do justice to your work as I can. You seem at once and almost intuitively to have adopted the best of all courses with the Japanese. I am sure no other course would have resulted so well. I have seen quite a number of Japanese who saw you when you were at Simoda and they all made eager inquiries after you. M—— Y—— is at Simoda, and has not forgotten the art of lying. Please present my respectful compliments to Mrs. Perry and to the other members of your family, and believe Yours most sincerely, TOWNSEND HARRIS. As Perry predicted, the Japanese yielded to Mr. Harris who, a few days after he had sent the letter given above, went to Yedo, and had audience of the Shō-gun Iyésada. He afterwards saw the ministers of state, and presented his demands. These were: Unrestricted trade between Japanese and American merchants in all things except bullion and grain, the closing of Shimoda and the opening of Kanagawa and Ozaka, the residence in Yedo of an American minister, the sending of an embassy to America, and a treaty to be ratified in detail by the government of Japan. Professor Hayashi was first sent to Kiōto, to obtain the Mikado’s consent. As he had negotiated the first treaty it was thought that with his experience, scholarly ability and eminent character, he would be certain to win success, if anyone could. Despite his presence and entreaties, the imperial signature and pen-seal were not given; and Hotta, a daimiō, was then despatched on the same mission. The delay caused by the opposition of the conservative element at the imperial capital was so prolonged, that Mr. Harris threatened if an answer was not soon forthcoming, to go to Kiōto himself and arrange matters.