Matthew Calbraith Perry: A Typical American Naval Officer. William Elliot Griffis

Midshipman’s Training Under Commodore Rodgers19IV.Men, Ships, and Guns in 181228V.Service in the War of 1812.—The Flag kept flying on all Seas38AFRICA. SLAVERS AND PIRATES.VI.First Voyage to the Dark Continent.—Lieutenant Perry goes to Guinea50VII.Perry locates the Site of Monrovia.—The African Slave Trade58VIII.Fighting Pirates in the Spanish Main65EUROPE AND DIPLOMACY.OUR FLAG IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.IX.The American Line-of-Battle Ship.—Among Turks and Greeks72X.The Concord in the Seas of Russia and Egypt.—Czar and Khedive81XI.A Diplomatic Voyage in the Frigate Brandywine.—Andrew Jackson’s stalwart policy.—Perry rehearses for Japan.—Naples pays up91SHORE DUTY. TEN YEARS OF SCIENCE AND PROGRESS.XII.The Founder of the Brooklyn Naval Lyceum.—Master-Commandant Perry99XIII.The Father of the American Steam Navy.—The Engineer’s status fixed.—The Line and the Staff110XIV.Perry discovers the Ram.—The Trireme’s prow restored.—The “Line-of-Battle” changed to “Bows on”120XV.Lighthouse Illumination.—Lenses or Reflectors?129XVI.Revolutions in Naval Architecture.—The new middle term between Courage and Cannon.—Caloric138XVII.The School of Gun Practice at Sandy Hook.—Bomb-guns and the coming Shells146XVIII.The Twin Steamers Missouri and Mississippi.—Iron-clads and Armor156COMMODORE OF A SQUADRON. AFRICAN WATERS.EXTIRPATING “THE SUM OF ALL VILLIANIES.”XIX.The Broad Pennant.—Our only Foreign Colony.—Powder and Ball at Berribee167XX.Science and Religion.—A War of Ink Bottles.—Perry as a Missionary and Civilizer183THE MEXICAN WAR.XXI.The Mexican War197XXII.Commodore Perry commands the Squadron216XXIII.The Naval Battery breaches the walls of Vera Cruz226XXIV.The Naval Brigade.—Capture of Tabasco241XXV.Fighting the Yellow Fever.—Peace251XXVI.Results of the War.—Gold and the Pacific Coast261JAPAN.XXVII.American attempts to open trade270XXVIII.Origin of the American Expedition to Japan281XXIX.Preparations for Japan.—An International Episode294XXX.The Fire-Vessels of the Western Barbarians314XXXI.Panic in Yedo.—Reception of the President’s Letter329XXXII.Japanese preparations for Treaty-Making343XXXIII.The Professor and the Sailor make a Treaty359XXXIV.Last Labors375THE MAN AND HIS WORK.XXXV.Matthew Perry as a Man395XXXVI.Works that follow409========APPENDICES.ChapterPageI.Authorities427II.Origin of the Perry Name and Family429III.The Name Calbraith430IV.The Family of M. C. Perry431V.Official Detail of M. C. Perry433VI.The Naval Apprenticeship System435VII.Duelling440VIII.Memorials in Art of M. C. Perry443========INDEX447

      LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry

The United States Steam Frigate “Mississippi”

Perry at the age of fifty-four

Conveyance at Funchal

Commodore Perry entering the Treaty-House

Signatures and Pen-Seals of the Japanese Treaty Commissioners

Silver Salver in possession of Commodore Perry’s Daughter, Mrs. August Belmont

Medal Presented by the Merchants of Boston

Commodore Perry’s Autograph

      PREFACE.

      Among the earliest memories of a childhood spent near the now vanished Philadelphia Navy Yard, are the return home of the marines and sailors from the Mexican war, the launch of the noble steam frigate Susquehanna, the salutes from the storeship Princeton, and the exhibit of the art treasures brought home by the United States Expedition to Japan—all associated with the life of Commodore M. C. Perry. Years afterwards, on the shores of that bay made historic by his diplomacy, I heard the name of Perry