The implicit obedience to their laws, under whatever circumstances, by the Japanese, was shown at the wrecking and sinking of a junk, that drifted afoul of the Diana and was stove. Two of her crew only clung to the Diana, the rest stolidly sunk with the junk. Those saved were asked the cause of this strange conduct on the part of their late comrades. They said it was, that their laws forbid them going on board of a foreign vessel; nor did they know what would be done with themselves for it.
If it be the best government, which governs least, that is not the government of Japan; like the law of gravitation it is always in action: its Briarian arms are everywhere, and its subjects are a community of Arguses. When storm is on the deep and its mariners are clinging to their long tillers and shuddering at the yawning sea, each lightning flash of heaven shows them an etiolating hand, that will crush them, if they dare leave their craft, until half engulfed.
The English and French squadrons visited Nangasaki, and negotiated their treaty there; though their freedom of movement was greatly restricted. Their masters were only allowed to land on a small barren island to rate their chronometers; during the conferences some of their officers were taken to task by the Japanese for spitting on their matting.
The cruise of the United States steam-frigate Mississippi under the command of a fine officer and estimable gentleman—Sydney Smith Lee, during the years 1852, ’53, ’54, and ’55, was one full of interest. She is the third war-steamer, that ever circumnavigated the globe, and during her cruise sailed a distance more than twice its circumference. She visited places, too, unusual.
The writer wishes that the time had been afforded him to give an outline of the terrible typhoon, which she encountered in the North Pacific ocean on the 7th of October, 1854—how we saw two Mondays, or two 16ths of October, come together in the same week—Honolulu—California—Taboga—stay at Valparaiso—the brilliant dash of the old ship, with a chasing gale, into the straits of Magellan: of her subsequent run through them “amid snow and glacier”—the firing of the “22d of February” salute, which was heard by the Patagonian—Rio Janeiro, &c., but this would make our narrative of undue length.