At the visit of your excellency last year, his Majesty, the former Emperor, was sick, and is now dead. Since his Majesty, the present Emperor, has ascended the throne, the many occupations demanding his care, in consequence thereof are not yet finished, and there is no time to settle other business thoroughly; moreover, his Majesty the new Emperor, at his accession to the throne promises to the Princes and high officers of the Empire to observe the laws. It is therefore evident, that he can not now bring about any alteration in the ancient laws. Last Autumn at the departure of the Dutch ship, the superintendent of the Dutch trade in Japan, was requested to inform your government of this event, and a reply in writing has been received. At Nangasaki, the Russian Ambassador recently arrived to communicate a wish of his government; he has since left that place, because no answer would be given to any nation that might communicate similar wishes. However, we admit the urgency, and shall entirely comply with the proposals of your government, concerning, wood, water, provisions, and the saving of ships and their crews in distress. After being informed, which harbor your Excellency has selected, that harbor shall be prepared, and this preparation, it is estimated, will take about five years. Meanwhile a commencement can be made with the coal at Nangasaki by the beginning of the next Japanese year [10th of February, 1855]. Having no precedent with respect to coal, we request your Excellency to furnish us with an estimate, and upon due consideration this will be complied with, if not in opposition to our laws. What do you understand by provisions? and how much coal? Finally, anything ships may be in want of, that can be furnished from the productions of this Empire shall be supplied; the prices of merchandise and articles of barter to be fixed by Kuro-kawa Kahei, and Moriyama Yenoske. After settling the point before mentioned, the treaty can be concluded, and signed at the next interview. Seal attached by order of the Imperial Commissioners. (L. S.) MORIYAMA YENOSKE. Kayei, 7th year, 1st moon, 26th day. [February 23d, 1854.] The commissioners expressed themselves prepared to commence discussions upon the various points contained in the letter from the president, presented last year, and also to receive any further propositions that the commodore might wish to make—that in the determination of the emperor to make some modification in their laws of seclusion, he relied upon the friendly disposition of the Americans toward Japan; and as such negotiations were entirely novel to them, they would trust with confidence to the commodore’s superior experience, to his generosity, and his sense of justice.