We entered the bay of Yedo in the morning of the 13th of February, the Susquehanna towing the Vandalia; the Powhatan, the Lexington; and the Mississippi, having more towing-power from greater face of wheel and immersion of paddle, the Macedonian. As before, the batteries were ready, and guns shotted; but instead of proceeding cautiously, as on the occasion of our former visit, the line of ships ran directly past their forts and into their inner bay, not stopping until reaching what had been called “American anchorage,” on our first reconnoissance, about ten miles above the port of Uraga, off the island of Natse. The storeship Southampton had arrived there some days before. We had scarcely anchored when some Japanese officials came off to the flag-ship to welcome the commodore and officers back to Japan. They verified the intelligence we had received through the Russians before leaving China—that of the death of the emperor _Minamoto Jyekosi_, and the accession to the throne of his son, with the title _Minamoto Yosisaki-sei-tai-seogun_. It was very soon discovered from them, to our surprise, that their government was prepared to return an affirmative response to the demands and requests contained in the letter of our president. They informed the commodore that a building had been erected, and preparations made to receive him at Uraga, where they said was a high functionary who would deliver to him the imperial answer to the president’s letter, and begged that he would move his squadron down to that place. The commodore, through his captain of the fleet, peremptorily refused to accede to this request, on the ground that the anchorage there was too much exposed at that season of the year; and requested them to inform their government that a suitable place for his interviews with those appointed to confer with him, must be selected in the vicinity of the then anchorage of his squadron, otherwise, if he moved at all, it would be to ascend the bay in the direction of Yedo. Several days were allowed to elapse before the Japanese consented to change the location for the negotiations. The weather proved quite rough, but the boats of the squadron, under that most admirable officer and gentleman, Lieutenant W. L. Maury, continued to make soundings and cross-bearings in the direction of the city. On one day the weather proved so rough, that the surveying-boats and their parties, unable to get back to their own ships, remained with the Southampton all night, which vessel had been moved further out and higher up to triangulate upon.