Of the advent of the Jesuits in Japan, three hundred years afterward, and the simultaneous commencement of commercial intercourse by the Portuguese; the butchery of the Christians at Simbara, (which, to their eternal infamy be it said, was assisted by the Dutch,) and the expulsion of the Portuguese; of the subsequent and continued intercourse of the Dutch; and the repulse of other Europeans and Americans, at later times, in their attempt to open a trade, down to 1837, there is no room to speak in these pages. In the introduction to the “Voyages of the Morrison and Himmaleh,” by C. W. King, the first of which ships was fired upon and driven from Japan in 1837, the history of foreign intercourse is given in a succinct form; or more elaborately in book i. of Macfarlane. The population of Japan has been both over and under estimated; absurdly by the Russian captain Golownin, who estimated that of Yedo alone, from what he heard, at eight millions. It can be but intelligent speculation after all; and is no doubt most accurately stated when it is put down as somewhat exceeding that of Great Britain. The best information I could gain, as to the population of the city of Yedo, on the occasion of the Mississippi’s third and last visit to Japan, was that it numbered between fifteen and sixteen hundred thousand. I can not better close this hurried chapter than by giving short extracts from two prominent English writers, published before our sailing from the United States, and containing their speculations and reflections, which it is well to contrast subsequently, with the result of the American expedition. The first says:— “In every case we earnestly hope that the American expedition may be conducted with firmness, but also with prudence and gentleness. Should our very enterprising and energetic brethren begin with a too free use of bowie-knives and Colt’s revolvers, the history of their mission will all be written in characters of blood; slaughters and atrocities will be committed, and an interesting people will be plunged back into complete barbarity. Though unable to contend in the field even with a small disciplined force well provided with artillery, and good artillerymen, the Japanese, if we are correctly informed as to their character, will brave death and die in heaps. We would not make any positive assertion, but we apprehend the Americans will find that little or nothing can be done by negotiation. Should force be resorted to, the best means of proceeding would probably be to take possession of one of the smaller islands, or of some peninsular or promontory that might be easily fortified on the land side. A line of intrenchments sufficiently strong to keep off any native force, might soon be made, and easily strengthened afterward. On this strong basis negotiation might probably be carried on with a better chance of success.” The latter says:—