Edward Everett: Washington, D.C. Feb. 26, 1853. [2] pp. Copied in Morrow's hand. Folded. This letter of instruction, from Secretary of State Edward Everett, describes the duties assigned to Morrow for the Perry Expedition, involving the exchange, distribution, collection, and care of plant specimens, seeds, and agricultural implements and the keeping of "a full and accurate Journal." [Printed on page 1 of Cole.]

Original autograph draft of Journal of Dr. James Morrow, in the Department of Agriculture, Connected with the United States' Expedition to Japan, in the Years of 1853 and 1854 under Commodore Perry. Various places, including China and Japan. Feb. 26, 1853 - Nov. 10, 1854, but probably inscribed in the U.S. in 1854-55. [213] pp. on loose folio leaves, for a total of over 52,000 words. Given the general consistency of paper, ink, and handwriting, and the lack of heavy corrections, it appears that this draft of the journal was made from original on-site entries following the expedition. Numerous changes in wording and format, however, exist between this draft and the journal submitted to the government circa 1856. That final, official copy of the journal was published by the University of North Carolina Press in 1947 and is held at the National Archives. "On the whole, Dr. Morrow kept his journal methodically as directed by the Secretary of State. Working as he was under handicaps with respect to the care of plants and seeds, the doctor used his diary as a prospective defense should he ever be charged with negligence. As a matter of fact, he was extremely conscientious. Since so many of our records of the Perry expedition to Japan have been written by naval men, the journal of a civilian and a scientist trained for observation, assumes special interest and value" - Cole.

Shimoda and Hakodate. April 22-29, [1854]. [18] pp. of pencil notes on 12mo.-sized leaves, totaling approximately 1,600 words. Apparently examples of Morrow's original pencil notes for his journal, composed in Japan during the second half of April 1854. The entries for April 22 and 29 appear in the later drafts of the journal, but in heavily revised form; the entries for April 23 and 28 were never included in later drafts. All of the entries contain observations on local plants, gardening, and agriculture.

Lists of agricultural specimens and implements. China and Japan. 1853-54. Approximately [45] pp. on loose leaves of various sizes. [30]pp. in bound journal. Very good. Approximately seventy-five pages of lists of agricultural tools and plant seeds, cuttings, and live specimens, both brought from the U.S. to Japan and collected in Japan and China for transport to the U.S. Morrow appended twelve of these lists in a final, revised form to the official draft of his journal, printed by Cole in Part Six of A Scientist . . . . Seven of those lists are present here, generally in a rougher form and occasionally in duplicate. Part Seven of Cole's publication prints a number of additional lists (in Appendices I-XIII) taken from "The Morrow Papers," which include the present documents. All of these additional lists are still present in these papers, together with six lists or combinations of lists never before published. One group of these lists, inscribed in pencil on 12mo.-sized leaves, records the contents of three boxes of seeds bound for exchange with Japan from the U.S., mentioning over 150 plant species and the amount of seed being transported for each species, as well as a list of twenty kinds of agricultural tools. Additional documents offering extensive and previously unpublished information on materials Morrow acquired in Japan include a pair of lists, one dated May 12, 1854, in Shimoda, Japan, the other dated May 20 in Hakodate, recording dates of purchase, quantities, and costs for over 100 packets of seeds, plant specimens, agricultural implements, and other materials (from cookware to Japanese paper) acquired by Morrow in Japan.

Japan, 1854. Six leaves of documents in Japanese, with occasional notes in English. Inscribed in contemporary ink manuscript on Japanese paper. Leaves measure between 6 1/4 x 8 inches and 6 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches. Folded. Near fine. Presumably lists of agricultural goods and specimens.

Various places. Dec. 7, 1853 - May 12, 1854. Two manuscript receipts (plus one duplicate) of seed specimens, signed at Shimoda, Japan, by James Morrow and on board the ship Competitor by Commander Moses Howes, Jr.; one receipt for cash disbursed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, signed on board the ship Powhatan by Morrow; and one order for rice and Japanese paper, signed at Shimoda by Morrow.

ALS to Commodore Perry. China?, ca. late 1853. [1] p. folded. Printed in Cole as Appendix XVI: "A Letter from a French Scientist to Commodore Perry" (p. 257). The letter accompanies seed specimens and plant cuttings from China as the expedition departs for Japan.

ALS to James Morrow. U.S.S. Vandalia, Yedo [i.e., Tokyo] Bay, Japan. April 8, 1854. Folded. Lightly gnawed at outer margin, not affecting text. Very good. A duplicate copy of a letter by the surgeon of the U.S.S. Vandalia certifying Morrow's work as assistant surgeon on the ship from June 7 to Aug, 26, 1853. Signed by the surgeon and by John Pope, Commander of the Vandalia.

ALS to Edward Stubbs. New York. March 2, 1855. [1] p. Folded and docketed in manuscript. A letter from Franklin Pierce (not the President) of the U.S. Despatch Agency in New York to Edward Stubbs of the U.S. State Department: "Sir.... I have caused all the Store Houses to be examined, also the records of articles received at the Navy Yard here from Japan, but cannot find the missing box spoken of by Mr. Morrow. Can Mr. M. inform me by what vessel and when it was received here?"

ALS to James Morrow. Washington, D.C. March 3, 1855. [1] p. Folded. With original envelope. This note transmits the New York Despatch Agent's question (in the above letter) regarding the missing box from Japan.

ALS to James Morrow. Washington, D.C. March 3, 1855. [1] p. Folded. With original envelope. Printed in Cole as Appendix XIX: "A Letter Concerning Classifications of Dr. Morrow's Botanical Collections." The letter requests that Morrow deliver the specimens he collected in Japan to Professor (Asa) Gray for classification. [COLE, p. 260.]

ALS to William L. Marcy. New York. March 6, 1855. [1] p. Docketed in manuscript. Folded. Morrow's retained copy of his letter to Secretary of State William L. Marcy reporting that the missing box containing hardware and cuttings from Japan (see above) has been located at the Naval store room in Brooklyn.

ALS to James Morrow] Charleston. June 26, 1855. [1] p. Folded. With original envelope. Printed in Cole as Appendix XVIII: "A Letter Concerning Oriental Fowls Given by Dr. Morrow to a Breeder." This letter acknowledges the receipt of fowl, presumably from China or Japan, sent by Morrow to Hugh Wilson, a South Carolina breeder. Wilson plans to mount the birds and make their discovery known and asks Morrow for additional details regarding them. [COLE, p. 259.]

ALS to the United States Congress. Np., ca. 1856. [12] pp. Ink faded but legible, else very good. Printed in Cole as Appendix XX: "Dr. Morrow's letter to the Senate and House of Representatives" [Cole, pp.260-68]. A draft of Morrow's memorial to both houses of Congress petitioning for compensation for his efforts on the Perry Expedition. The memorial was introduced to the House on May 28, 1856 by Thomas L. Clingman of North Carolina, "reporting the unanimous and favorable opinion of the Committee on Foreign Affairs" [Cole, p.xxii]. The House passed a bill for the relief of Morrow in August of that year, and after some debate in the Senate over a similar bill and an amendment that would have lessened the pay, the Senate approved the bill as passed by the House on Feb. 16, 1857. The bill was signed into law by President Pierce and announced two days later, and Morrow "was thereby to receive nearly $3000" (p.xxiii).

Original marbled boards of Morrow's journal, with some blank paper leaves.