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Notices of Japan, No. VII.
MARCH,
The Japanese government endeavored to profit by the captivity of the Russians, both to instruct and improve the interpreters in that language, and to acquire astronomical science, of which they hoped to learn more from naval officers than from merchants. Amongst the learned men sent from Yedo for this purpose was Doeff's friend, the astronomer Takahaso Sampai, who was likewise, according to the opperhoofd, a commissioner appointed to act with the governor of Matsmai.. As Golownin, who calls him Teské, and speaks of him with affection, seems unconscious of this branch of his mission, it may be suspected that even the philosopher upon that occasion played the part of metsuke, or spy.
Nearly two years from the seizure of Golownin elpased ere such a disavowal of Chwostoff and Davidoff was obtained from competent Russian authority, as would satisfy the court at Yedo. When the disavowals and explanations were at length admitted, and the prisoners allowed to reëmbark in Golownin's own ship, which had carried on the negotiation between the two empires, the cordial joy and sympathy of the Russians' Japanese friends are described as really affecting. Golownin, upon his departure, was charged with a written document, warning the Russians against further seeking an impossibility, such as permission to trade with Japan. The warning seems to have been respected, as no
subse. quent attempts with or upon the sonthern Kuriles are mentioned.
The English attempts at opening a commercial intercourse with Japan are the next and last to be narrated. The first of these was too slight to give offense, and may be briefly dispatched. Soon after Capt. Stewart's last visit to Nagasaki, another strange vessel was reported to be off the bay. She was visited by the accustomed Japanese and Dutch deputation, and announced herself as a British merchantman from Calcutta, sent thither to endeavor to open a commercial intercourse between India and Japan. The cross was omitted in her flag, in compliment to the prejudices of the latter nation. The captain's request for leave to trade was refused, and the ship ordered away.
The next British vessel that visited Japan was the Phaton. Her intrusion into the bay of Nagasaki, as has been explained, had no connexion with views of traffic; but its unfortunate result left a hatred of the English name rankling in the hearts of the Japanese, very unpropitious to subsequent amicable or mer cantile relations. Various additional measures of precaution were ordered, of which the demand of hostages from every strange sail prior to her entering the bay, as mentioned by Siebold, is one.
The British merchants made no second effort to trade with Japan; but in the year 1811, Batavia was attacked by an English armament, and governor Jansens capitulated for Java and all its dependencies. One of these dependencies the factory at Dezima undoubtedly was, the president, as well as the inferior officers and members, having always been appointed and sent thither by the governor of Batavia for the time being, with whom the opperhoofd corresponded, and to whose authority he was always subject. The English governor of Java, sir Stamford Raffles, naturally considered the Japanese factory as part of his government, and in the year 1813, proceeded to enforce his authority in that quarter, and thus effect the transfer of the factory and the trade to England. The measures he took for this purpose were the quietest possible; he dispatched two ships, as the annual traders, having on board a new Dutch opperhoofd-now British by allegiance-. Heer Cassa, to relieve president Doeff, who had already held his office more