Japan and China are isolated and without intercourse with other countries; hence the President directed me to attend to or watch the state of affairs in China also.

If I write in my name to the agents of England and France residing in Asia and inform them that Japan is ready to make a commercial treaty with their countries, the number of steamers will be reduced from fifty to two or three.

It appears that the English think the Japanese... are fond of opium, and they want to bring it here also.

Since the invention of steamships distant countries have become like those that are near at hand.

By means of steam one can go from California to Japan in eighteen days.

The President of the United States thinks that for the Japanese opium is more dangerous than war.

We were sent to this country by the President, who desires to promote the welfare of Japan, and are quite different from the ambassadors of other countries.