of this theft might produce, the diplomacy was resorted to of telling the Japanese, when presenting the wine, that it was an American custom to present cake in the evening; by which time, another one had been made, and was sent ashore. On the last day of March, the ships having gotten back from Simoda, and made their report as to that harbor, the commodore had his last official interview ashore, with the commissioners, at Yokahama, Kanagawa, when after much difficulty, and talking, and debate as to the wording, the following treaty was signed:— The United States of America and the Empire of Japan, desiring to establish firm, lasting, and sincere friendship between the two nations have resolved to fix, in a manner clear and positive, by means of a treaty or general convention of peace and amity, the rules which shall in future be mutually observed in the intercourse of their respective countries, for which most desirable object the President of the United States has conferred full powers on his commissioner, Matthew Calbraith Perry, special ambassador of the United States to Japan, and the august sovereign of Japan has given similar full powers to his commissioners, Hayashi, Daigaku-nokami, Ido, prince of Tsus-Sima, Izawa, prince of Mimasaki, and Udono, member of the board of revenue. And the said commissioners, after having exchanged their said full powers, and duly considered the premises, have agreed to the following articles: ARTICLE I. There shall be a perfect, permanent, and universal peace and a sincere and cordial amity between the United States of America on the one part, and the empire of Japan on the other part, and between their people respectively, without exceptions of persons or places. ARTICLE II. The port of Simoda, in the principality of Idzu, and the port of Hakodade, in the principality of Matsmai, are granted by the Japanese as ports for the reception of American ships, where they can be supplied with wood, water, provisions, coal, and other articles their necessities may require, as far as the Japanese have them. The time for opening the first-named port is immediately on signing this treaty; the last-named port to be immediately after the same day in the ensuing Japanese year. [_Note._—A tariff of prices shall be given by the Japanese officers of the things which they can furnish, payment for which shall be made in gold and silver coin.] ARTICLE III. Whenever ships of the United States are thrown or wrecked on the coast of Japan, the Japanese vessels will assist them, and carry their crews to Simoda, or Hakodade, and hand them over to their countrymen appointed to receive them; whatever articles the shipwrecked men may have preserved shall likewise be restored, and the expenses incurred in the rescue and support of Americans and Japanese who may thus be thrown upon the shores of either nation are not to be refunded. ARTICLE IV.