David P. Barrows

Pardo de Tavera for the use of rare volumes from his library

Mr. Manuel Yriarte, Chief of the Bureau of Archives,

David P. Barrows.

Manila, Philippine Islands, March 1st, 1903.

Fifty years ago, Japan, which had rigorously excluded all intercourse with foreign nations, was forced to open its doors by an American fleet under Commodore Perry

The Japanese Government in every way began to adopt measures for the transformation of the knowledge of the people.

The leaders of the country awoke to the necessity of a study of western countries and their great progress, especially in government and in the sciences.

fleet under Commodore Perry. At that time the Japanese knew nothing of western history, and had no knowledge of modern science. Their contact with the Americans and other foreigners revealed to them the inferiority of their knowledge. T

Japan had at her service a special class of people known as the samurai

The young men of this samurai class threw themselves earnestly and devotedly into the study of the great fields of knowledge, which had previously been unknown to the Japanese. At great sacrifice many of them went abroad to other lands, in order to study in foreign universities.

Schools were opened, laboratories established, and great numbers of scientific and historical books were translated into Japanese