Page:A handbook of modern Japan (IA handbookofmodern01clem).pdf/147

Rh 1825-1829. Dr. Von Siebold (Dutch) in Yedo. 1827.      Beechey (British) in "Blossom" at Loo Choo Islands. 1837.      The "Morrison" Expedition in Yedo Bay. 1844.      Letter from King William II. of Holland. 1845.      American whaler "Mercator" in Yedo Bay. British frigate "Saramang" at Nagasaki. 1846.      Dr. Bettelheim in Loo Choo Islands. Wreck of American whaler "Lawrence" on Kurile Islands. (United States) Commodore Biddle's Expedition in Yedo Bay. 1848.      Wreck of American whaler "Ladoga" off Matsumai, Yezo. Ronald McDonald landed in Japan. 1849.      United States "Preble" in Nagasaki harbor. British "Mariner" in Yedo Bay. 1853.       Shōgun Iyeyoshi died. Commodore Perry in Yedo Bay.

It needs only a few words to summarize this period which includes the final days of the two-edged policy of exclusion and inclusion, which forbade not only foreigners to enter, but also Japanese to leave, the country. It would not even allow Japanese ship-*wrecked on other shores to be brought back to their native land, as several futile attempts mentioned above attest. Nagasaki was the only place where foreign trade was allowed, and there only in a slight degree with Chinese and Dutch. The events of this period are almost all vain attempts to open Japan. Two important events concern the Loo Choo Islands,