they could not resort to Japanese harbors in distress or for water and supplies. It was a still greater cause of complaint that the shipwrecked sailors were inhospitably and cruelly treated. Their complaints were being heard at Washington. Added to this, the commercial demands were becoming urgent. The discovery of gold in California and the sudden development of the Pacific coast possessions led to a projected steamship line to China from San Francisco. To this end ports of deposit for coal and other supplies in Japan were felt to be a necessity. Hence the growing conviction had crystallized into a resolution on the part of the government that extraordinary effort must be made to force the opening of one or more Japanese harbors and induce the empire to adopt a more liberal policy toward foreigners.
The subject had long attracted the attention of thoughtful people, and various suggestions had been made with that end in view. Among others, Commodore Glynn, who in the Preble had secured the release of the last crew of shipwrecked sailors, and had returned to Washington, held a conference with President Fillmore, and submitted to him written suggestions for such an expedition. The subject was one in which Mr. Webster, again Secretary of State, had taken a deep interest. Cabinet councils were held, and it was decided that a strong squadron should be sent to Japan, and that in a more formal and decided manner a demand should be made for hospitable treatment to American sailors in distress, and for some modification of the existing regulations as to intercourse and trade.
Commodore Aulick was selected for the important
