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THBPerry's Opening of Japan, Abstract Cruise of the USS Macedonian
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Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
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About Auction
LiveSep 8, 2017 - Sep 9, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (427)
- Lot Description
Manuscript titled "Abstract Cruise of the USS Macedonian bearing the broad pendant of Com. Joel Abbott in the years 1853, /54, /55 & /56." 2pp, 7.75 x 12.5 in. The chart that follows has "Sailed from / When / Arrived at / When/ Miles Sailed / Passage (in Days and Hours) / Remained at / How long (Days, Hours) / Lat. / Long."
The ship (the second of this name) was built at what would become Norfolk Navy Yard as a 36-gun three-masted frigate. She would launch in 1836 and patrol for pirates in the West Indies and off the African coast. She had one civilian cruise to carry relief supplies to Ireland during the famine, then returned to navy service. She was converted to a sloop-of-war in 1852 and assigned to the East India Squadron under Captain Joel Abbot's command. With the other nine ships in Commodore Matthew Perry's squadron, she entered Edo Bay, Japan, February 13, 1854. In the abstract, this is noted as Ieddo Bay.
She left Loo Choo on January 31, 1854, arriving at Ieddo Bay on February 13. She remained there for just under two weeks (13 D, 10 H by the chart) then sailed to Yokohama, arriving February 29, just 9 miles away. She remained at Yokohama for 40 D, 22H, then returned to Ieddo Bay on April 10. The next day, she sailed for Indonesia making stops on several islands, arriving at Formosa (Taiwan) July 11; from there she went to Manila, then Hong Kong. Then spent about six months going back and forth to various harbors on Hong Kong (Whampoa). In April 1855 she went to Shanghai, where she remained for 142 days. She sailed around the region for a while, finally leaving Java on April 23, 1856 to St. Helena in late June, and thence back to Boston in August.
The final summary is also interesting - "In Port 2 Years, 2 months, 23 days. / At sea 1 year, 1 month, 1 day./ Miles sailed 48,447 / Deaths on board 26." Docketed on verso.
Matthew Calbraith Perry (1794-1858) served in the War of 1812 and Mexican American War, but is probably best known for his expedition to Japan in 1854. He is better known to Navy historians as the "Father of the Steam Navy," for his advocation of converting sail to steam. He also helped develop training systems for officers and the curriculum at the Naval Academy.
Millard Fillmore (President 1850-1853) gave Perry the mission to open Japan to trade, if necessary, by "gunboat diplomacy." After some bluffing in the summer of 1853 in Edo Bay (firing blanks from the cannons, for example), Perry was able to present a letter to the Japanese, and promised to return the following year for a response.
He returned after only six months, this time with ten ships and their crews. He spent a month in negotiations, finally signing the Convention of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854. Perry signed as American plenipotentiary, but did not quite understand the position of Hayashi Akira, the Japanese signer. Perry assumed he was a representative of the emperor, rather than the Shogun, the de facto ruler, who Akira represented. Perry returned to the US in 1855, and retired shortly thereafter, his health failing quickly. He was able to publish a three-volume report on his expedition after his return, however.
Condition
Slight toning on outer panel when folded. Otherwise, excellent.
All hammers and strings are present and in working condition. With age cracks to veneer.
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