Fifty years ago, Japan was almost a mythical land to the Western world; what little was known of it was through the medium of the Dutch, who were allowed to trade in the single port of Nagasaki. What we Japanese knew of the outer world was also derived mostly from them, and from such books as were brought into the country by them. In 1853 came Commodore Perry, and demanded that we should open up our country to the commerce of the world; we were but ill prepared for such a course, but it was not in our power to resist the demand, and unwillingly enough the Shōgun's government was obliged, notwithstanding the strong opposition of the Imperial Court and of the conservative elements in the country, to contract a treaty of commerce with America, which was speedily followed by those with other nations.