which evidently surprised his excellency." He then said that he would return to the city, and that within four days an answer might be expected from the court of Yedo.
On the morning of that day a party from each ship was set to work to make a survey of the harbor. The governor inquired what these boats were doing, and, on being informed, replied that it was against the Japanese law to allow such examinations. The answer given him was that the American laws commanded such surveys and that the surveying parties were as much bound to obey the American laws as the governor was to obey the Japanese laws. No further objection was made, and the surveys continued from day to day.
The commodore reports that "the following day, the 10th, was Sunday, and no communication was had with the Japanese authorities." Religious services were held, according to the commodore's invariable custom, and all requests for admission to the ship were declined. On Monday a surveying party, convoyed by one of the steamers, moved farther up the bay, much nearer to Yedo. The commodore intimated that such a movement might hurry the answer from the court. This action brought the governor again on board to ask its object, and he was told that if the President's letter was not received during the present visit it would be necessary to return the next spring with a much larger fleet, and the surveying boat was seeking for a better anchorage nearer the city. The governor then went away, promising to return on the day fixed for the answer from the court.
