This book is a collection of documents and facts that provide insight into the origin of the mission to Japan authorized by the United States government in 1851. It also sheds light on the Treaty concluded by Commodore M.C. Perry of the U.S. Navy with the Japanese commissioners. This work is a valuable historical reference for those interested in U.S.-Japanese relations and the history of diplomacy. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.