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106 then independent, and later visited also by Commodore Perry on his way from China to Japan. Ronald McDonald was an Oregon boy, who, "voluntarily left adrift, got into Yezo, and thence to Nagasaki." He is reported to have puzzled the Japanese authorities by stating that in America "the people are king and the source of authority"! This period of seclusion came to an end on July 14, 1853, when the Japanese, contrary to their own laws, received from Commodore Perry the letter from President Fillmore to the Emperor of Japan.

1854. Perry's treaty of peace and amity. British treaty of peace and amity. 1855. Russian treaty of peace and amity. Terrible earthquake. 1856. Fire in Yedo; 100,000 lives lost. Dutch treaty of peace and amity. Townsend Harris, United States Consul, arrived. 1857. Harris in audience with the Shōgun. 1858. Harris treaty of trade and commerce. Elgin treaty of trade and commerce.