Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan was one of the major expeditions of political discovery, so to speak, of the 19th century. This primary source, edited and with many contemporary illustrations and several maps by several historians and archivists associated with the Library of Congress, is a redaction of a personal account of the journey written by a 16-year-old purser's clerk of the USS Mississippi, William Speiden, Jr and covers the years from 1852 to 1855--and the voyage from Philadelphia to Valparaiso, including the centrally important visit to Japan and the establishment of diplomatic relations between it and the USA. The journal is clearly written and provides much useful information on the mission in general as well as descriptions of the people and geography of places on route through the lens of an American sailor's perceptions. Many details on the social life and history of a naval warship round out the account. Illustrations include sketches by the author and other members of the expedition as well as art collected in Japan and China. Annotation ©2014 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)