Continuing our look at The Japan Expedition as the manifest destiny of the United States of America and one Commodore Perry, that led to the opening up a trade agreement between the two countries and eventually to the dissolution of Japan's isolationist policies.
From the November 20, 1852 edition of the Plattsburgh Republican in Plattsburgh, New York comes a news/opinion news piece I am sure you will find interesting.
Just remember… the United States is looking to set up trade relationships with both China and Japan, amongst other Asian nations… peaceful trade trade relationships.
Although the content of the newspaper article is now within the public domain, I can not present an image of the actual newspaper clipping I am utilizing for data.
The Japan Expedition
The long talked-of expedition by the United States government to open the ports of Japan to the commence of the country, (says the New York Herald,) is at last about to start for Jeddo, under command of Commodore M.C. Perry.
We have received positive information from an authentic and reliable source, that the squadron detailed for this expedition will sail on or about the first of December proximo (Ed. Note: "of in the following month").
We have also received from the same source the following exhibit of the effective force of the squadron:—
Vessels Guns Men
Vermont, 8000 tons 96 800
Mississippi, steam frigate, 1,700 tons - 375
Susquehana, do. 2,500 tons - 350
Princeton, do. 1,200 tons - 190
Allegheny, do. 1,100 tons - 190
Saratoga, sloop of war, first class 22 190
St. Mary's, do. do. 22 190
Vincennes, do. do. 22 190
Razee frigate, Macedonian 22 450
Brig of war Porpoise 10 120
Storeship, Southampton, 32 lb. guns 4 -
Do. Lexington, do. 4 -
Do. Talbot, do. 4 -
Total number of men 3,045
To the above total of the ship's companies are to be added 700 marines, which with the complement of the storeships, officers, scientific corps, and others attached to the expedition, will make an effective force of 4,000 men and 880 guns, mostly heavy ordinance.
The steamers are ache to mount a couple of heavy Paixhan shell guns of the largest calibre, and placed on revolving trucks, so as to sweep the horizon.
These guns are intended to be used for the discharge of shells of 68 and 120 lbs. each, and long 42's, making 22 guns to each steamer.
Each ship is provided with two brass 24-lb field pieces, to be used for shells or canister shot.
One of the steamships, the Talbot, has already sailed, with extra machinery for the steamers, and shells, shot, and other ammunition.
The Mississippi, now lying at Annapolis, will be the flag ship of Commodore Perry.
The raze Macedonian is to carry twenty 8-inch and to 10-inch shell guns, the latter mounted on railways.
The storeship Southampton is ready for sea at the Brooklyn Navy Yard; the Lexington, at the same yard, is fitting out; also the Vincennes.
The Macedonian has her guns on board; she is now taking in shot and shell.
The sloops of war and the brig Porpoise are to mount long 82-pounders.
The Vermont will mount long forty-twos on her lower deck, long thirty-twos on her second tier, and short eighteens on her upper deck. She is fitting out at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
The expedition is to carry out a magnetic telegraph, a lomotive (Ed. note: I assume it should read 'locomotive') and railway cars, and many other productions of modern civilization, that are doubtless intended to "astonish the natives."
Well… it certainly is refreshing to know that newsmen in the past also made 'typographical errors' (typos).
As for 'Jeddo', that is what people though was the proper spelling for 'Edo', the capital of Japan now known as Tokyo.
I also admire the way the Plattsburgh Republican newspaper mentioned the New York Herald newspaper early in the article. So… is it implied that the New York Herald only had a small mention when discussing the opening of Japan's ports, or should we assume a broader stroke of writing from the Herald. The Republican is clear, but is not clear, as to which newspaper is actually presenting the original piece.
The (Ed. Notes) are my own, and are added to offer an explanation.
This article, and several more I have been lucky enough to view, came from the Newsbank/Readex database of Early American Newspapers (www.readex.com) and were sent to me by Vinny.
More articles on The Japan Expedition to follow.
Cheers,
Andrew Joseph
From the November 20, 1852 edition of the Plattsburgh Republican in Plattsburgh, New York comes a news/opinion news piece I am sure you will find interesting.
Just remember… the United States is looking to set up trade relationships with both China and Japan, amongst other Asian nations… peaceful trade trade relationships.
Although the content of the newspaper article is now within the public domain, I can not present an image of the actual newspaper clipping I am utilizing for data.
The Japan Expedition
The long talked-of expedition by the United States government to open the ports of Japan to the commence of the country, (says the New York Herald,) is at last about to start for Jeddo, under command of Commodore M.C. Perry.
We have received positive information from an authentic and reliable source, that the squadron detailed for this expedition will sail on or about the first of December proximo (Ed. Note: "of in the following month").
We have also received from the same source the following exhibit of the effective force of the squadron:—
Vessels Guns Men
Vermont, 8000 tons 96 800
Mississippi, steam frigate, 1,700 tons - 375
Susquehana, do. 2,500 tons - 350
Princeton, do. 1,200 tons - 190
Allegheny, do. 1,100 tons - 190
Saratoga, sloop of war, first class 22 190
St. Mary's, do. do. 22 190
Vincennes, do. do. 22 190
Razee frigate, Macedonian 22 450
Brig of war Porpoise 10 120
Storeship, Southampton, 32 lb. guns 4 -
Do. Lexington, do. 4 -
Do. Talbot, do. 4 -
Total number of men 3,045
To the above total of the ship's companies are to be added 700 marines, which with the complement of the storeships, officers, scientific corps, and others attached to the expedition, will make an effective force of 4,000 men and 880 guns, mostly heavy ordinance.
The steamers are ache to mount a couple of heavy Paixhan shell guns of the largest calibre, and placed on revolving trucks, so as to sweep the horizon.
These guns are intended to be used for the discharge of shells of 68 and 120 lbs. each, and long 42's, making 22 guns to each steamer.
Each ship is provided with two brass 24-lb field pieces, to be used for shells or canister shot.
One of the steamships, the Talbot, has already sailed, with extra machinery for the steamers, and shells, shot, and other ammunition.
The Mississippi, now lying at Annapolis, will be the flag ship of Commodore Perry.
The raze Macedonian is to carry twenty 8-inch and to 10-inch shell guns, the latter mounted on railways.
The storeship Southampton is ready for sea at the Brooklyn Navy Yard; the Lexington, at the same yard, is fitting out; also the Vincennes.
The Macedonian has her guns on board; she is now taking in shot and shell.
The sloops of war and the brig Porpoise are to mount long 82-pounders.
The Vermont will mount long forty-twos on her lower deck, long thirty-twos on her second tier, and short eighteens on her upper deck. She is fitting out at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
The expedition is to carry out a magnetic telegraph, a lomotive (Ed. note: I assume it should read 'locomotive') and railway cars, and many other productions of modern civilization, that are doubtless intended to "astonish the natives."
Well… it certainly is refreshing to know that newsmen in the past also made 'typographical errors' (typos).
As for 'Jeddo', that is what people though was the proper spelling for 'Edo', the capital of Japan now known as Tokyo.
I also admire the way the Plattsburgh Republican newspaper mentioned the New York Herald newspaper early in the article. So… is it implied that the New York Herald only had a small mention when discussing the opening of Japan's ports, or should we assume a broader stroke of writing from the Herald. The Republican is clear, but is not clear, as to which newspaper is actually presenting the original piece.
The (Ed. Notes) are my own, and are added to offer an explanation.
This article, and several more I have been lucky enough to view, came from the Newsbank/Readex database of Early American Newspapers (www.readex.com) and were sent to me by Vinny.
More articles on The Japan Expedition to follow.
Cheers,
Andrew Joseph
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