Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 183

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VII.

189

then double the usual time, and two commissioners-one Dutch, Doeff's pre- decessor and patron, Wardenaar; the other English, Dr. Ainslie-to examine and settle the affairs of the factory.

To the Japanese, these ships upon being visited appeared simply two more Americans, hired by the Dutch; and although to the factory deputation there seemed a something mysterious about them, it was not till Wardenaar landed and explained to the president and the warehouse-master that Holland was no more, the European provinces being incorporated with France, and the foreign colonies surrendered to England, that the state of the case was understood. Neither, in- deed, was it properly understood then, for the first of the facts stated Heer Doeff refused to believe, and consequently to acknowledge English authority.

The question between sir Stamford Raffles and Heer Doeff, who was assuredly bound by the act of his superior, governor Jansens, is perhaps somewhat com- plicated by the English governor, like the Russian embassador, not having lived to know the charges brought against him. It is one not to be investigated without the examination of official documents, and even then the discussion would be mis- placed here, being irrelevant to the peculiarities and nationality of the Japanese. It may suffice to point out the improbability of Heer Doeff's statement, that not only no proofs were given him of the facts alleged, but that none were even sent the following year, although he had grounded his disobedience upon the want of such proofs-even of European newspapers.

Be this as it may, Heer Doeff resolved to remain opperhoofd, keeping the factory Dutch, and the trade in his own hands. The animosity against the Eng- lish, originating in the suicides occasioned by the adventure of the Photon, placed power in his hands, and he used it skillfully for his own purposes. He was obliged, however, to seek the aid of the interpreters, as in all underhand proceedings.

Heer Docff invited the five chief interpreters to Dezima, and in Wardenaar's presence communicated to them that gentleman's statements, his own disbelief of all beyond the conquest of Java by the English, and the fact that the ships then in the harbor were English. The Japanese were confounded at the idea of public vicissitudes foreign to their experience, and terrified at the weight of responsibility impending over the authorities of Nagasaki, who had again been duped into suffering the intrusion of English vessels. Willingly, therefore, did they agree to the scheme by which Doeff proposed to avert such consequences. This was to suppress the whole history of the conquest, and to state that a suc- cessor had been sent him, in case the Japanese should object to the further pro. longation of his already unwontedly prolonged presidentship; but that the go- vernor of Batavia wished, if not disagreeable to the governor of Nagasaki, to continue him yet a while as opperhoofd, that he might profit by a few years of trade, after so many blank seasons. This arranged, Doeff proposed to buy the cargoes of the ships, negotiate their sale and the purchase of return cargoes on his own account with the Japanese, and finally sell the latter to the English

commissioners.

The strong representations made by Doeff and the interpreters of the hatred entertained by the Japanese towards the English, of the conflict and bloodshed that must ensue upon revealing the truth, evils they had not been sent there to provoke, induced the intended president, the commissioners, and the captains of the vessels, to submit to Doeff's terms. The stratagem succeeded; the vessels

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