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.

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

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.

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

Any nation that refuses to hold intercourse with other nations must expect to be excluded from this family.

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

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.