At Canton he took on board Dr. S. Wells Williams as chief interpreter, received a considerable addition to his squadron from the East India station, and pressed on to Japan. Early on the morning of July 8, 1853, the bold promontory of Idsu rising loftily through the mist out of the sea indicated that the Bay of Yedo was near at hand. Everything was stir and bustle on shipboard. The commodore's report says that signals were given to the squadron, and instantly the decks were cleared for action, the guns placed in position and shotted, the ammunition arranged, the small arms made ready, sentinels and men at their posts, and, in short, all the preparations made, usual before meeting an enemy. As they entered the beautiful bay, the rising sun dispelled the mists, and revealed a charming panorama of busy shipping and lovely landscape, with the majestic snow-capped Fujiyama towering in the distance.
Moving steadily and quietly forward, with all sails furled, the squadron kept on its way, heedless of signals from junks and boats swarming the waters, passed the forts, and not until well within the bay did the vessels drop anchor off Uraga. It was the first time a steam vessel had ever been seen in Japanese waters. The Susquehanna, the flagship, was a new steam frigate of the most advanced type, both in model, machinery, and size, recently launched with much enthusiasm at the Philadelphia navy yard. As the vessels came quietly up the bay in the face of a strong head wind, with no sails set, and belching forth from their funnels volumes
M. C. Perry, published by Congress, vol. i. 65, 69; Matthew C. Perry, by W. E. Griffis, Boston, 1887, p. 306.
