_July 13._—Some little suspicion of treachery ashore; much conference going on among chief mandarins. Boats were sent from the ships to go and sound off the mouth of the appointed place, to see whether any of the ships could get in sufficiently near to cover and protect the landing of the boats; orders issued prescribing who were to compose the landing party; some will have to stay on board the ships; poor fellows! Bad day for Japanese to-morrow, if they attempt with us the treacherous game that they played upon Golownin:— “_The Americans must not quit their wooden walls._”—LONDON PRESS. _July 14._—Bright and beautiful day. Much activity and preparation for the landing; boats being lowered away, percussion-caps distributed, and twenty rounds of ball-cartridges delivered to each man; officers rigging in undress uniforms, and arming mostly with cutlasses and Colt’s six-shooters. Quartermasters fastening American ensigns on pikes. General orders received early in the morning. The Susquehanna and Mississippi will anchor in the position assigned them. The Plymouth will retain her present position, and the Saratoga to get into her berth if possible, but not to get out of range of the forts and town. The ships will watch the proceedings on shore, having their guns primed and pointed, and their remaining boats alongside, with arms in them, ready in a moment to shove ashore, if the commanding officers think there is need of them. The boats which carry the officers, sailors, and marines on shore, are all to have anchors, and after landing their respective crews, are to haul off about fifty feet from shore and anchor, keeping their men at their arms and watching the proceedings on shore, and if they are called on shore the officers of the boats will land with all but two men, who are to be left as boat-keepers; bread and water in the boats. At daybreak the Susquehanna and Mississippi steam-frigates tripped their anchors, dropped down, and anchored immediately across the entrance of the bay where we were to land, to protect and cover the landing, having springs on their cables, that their broadside of guns might be trained on the shore. The sloop-of-war Plymouth commanded the town of Uraga, and the Saratoga, that of Humai, and the forts surrounding it. At nine o’clock, our boats armed and manned, went alongside of the flag-ship, where were the boats of the Saratoga and Plymouth. After some delay the boats moved ashore. The captain of the Susquehanna and officers, leading; Captain Walker of the Saratoga and officers next, then the Mississippi’s boats, in the first of which I was, under Lieutenant Taylor. Following in line came the remaining boats of all the ships, with sailors, marines, two bands, &c.