, 1854-07-22

indifferent but wonld meet the japanese
Commissioners at Yokohama, of the pres
eut anchorage Of the flag ship, ten to TWEEN
" miles from Craga. Captain Adams re-
iciued the squadron on the oath Of Febru-
ary, and the following day the Japanese
OMcers visited the flagship, to settle the
place Of meeting, when the Commodore,
amongst other things, told them that, hav-
Ing been entrusted with so many ships,
which were seventeen thousand miles from
home, he was reasonably anxious about
their safety, and experience had proved TO
hin that Uraga did not offer so seeure an
anchorage as where they now lay. Some
discussion ensued but finally it was ar
ranged that the meeting should be held at
Yokohama. ..
Eleven days afterwards the meeting took
place; and i'll the interval, entertainments
were ,inierchanged by the American and
japanese officers. At one of two given by
Capt. Buchanan, the Governor Of Uraga
rs we have seen in Keying and other high
Chinese officials, at once fell in with foreign
obseyrances in tonsting and spcechifying
Captain Buchanan proposed the health of
the Emperor of Japan, which was drunk
standing with all the honors," and was ac-
knoWledged by the Governor of Uraga,
who, in return, similarly proposed the
health of the President of the United Stats
The japanese took their liquor freely, espe-
daIly champagne and liqueurs, greatly ad-
miring the glassware that contained them;
and expressed a hope that the time was at
hand when they would be at liberty to visit
foreign countries in steamers and ships Of
three Ihasts. s,....
ItHas during this interval, that an officer
Of The squadron approached YedO, and if
hsdid not actually enter it, at least was
near euough to Judge of its appearance,
sod 10 ascertain, what, however, q survey
Ing party had done before, that close TO
Tie shore there Is five fathoms water, so
thatitcan be approached by large ships
The city is in the form Of crescent, and
siAnds on on extensive plain with mag
ni6cent background of mountains and
wooded country, but it seems to possess no
striking public buildings, while the dwelling
houses are generally of one story, and
therefore present nothing imposing in their
appearance except their vast number, and
the space they occupy The population Of
the capital has however, been greatly ex-
aggeratsd, for though it ia certainly great,
the Japanese officers themselves placed
Yedo third among the cities of the world,
London, they said being the first, and Pa
ris the second.
On the Sth, the preparations were com
pleted fol. the reception of the Commodore
who, by the by, insisted on the removal Of
the sereen.work which extended from the
shore to the hall, and which shut out the
public gaze. Between ii end l2 o'clock,
the marines having been mustered by Ma
jOr Zeilin, 90 boats, belonging to the squad
ron, manned by armed seamen. and under
command of Captain Buchanan, conveyed
the cortege to the shore, and waited the
arrival Of the Commodore and snile, con-
listing Of Captain Adams, DIR. Williams,
the Interpreter, and the Secretary, Mr.. o.
Il. Perry, who landed about noon, under a
salute Of II guns from the Macedonian
The men in the boat standing up, End the
oheers on shore being uncovered. The
procession then moved forward, the band
playing Hail Columbia" and the "Presi-
deut's March,"
On entering the hall, the Commodore
was received by four Commissioners ap-
pointed for the purpose, They we're:
LIST. Ha5nshi, with the title of Dia-
gaku no Kama, or Prince Councillor.
I'd. lido, Prince Of Tsus-sima, (the group
Of Islands lying between Corea and Japan. J
ID. Idzuma, Prince Of Mimasaki, "a
Pfincipality lying west Of Miaco -
Aa9 0dono, second assistant of the
board Of Revenue,
The party being seated, the flag of ia
paHwas run up on board of the Powhat-
an, and saluted with 81 guns from the
launches, after which another salute Of II
guns was given to the japanese High Com
missioner, who, through the interpreter,
Pfesented his compliments and welcome to
ne Commodore and his officers, and par
hcnlarly inquired about the health Of the
iormer, y At sign given, the servants in
attendance brought in laquered stands with
tea aud saki, sweetmeats and other con-
serves, and placed one beside each officer
The regalement seems to have been much
the same as that which in China generally
precedes the transaction of business with
foreign officials, and while it was going on,
there was time to take a note of the place
Of meeting. The hall, which had been run
up with great celerity, was about fifty feet
long, forty vide, and twelve high, and sur
rounded with magnificent Jsponicas, some
o. them thirty feet in height and IN full
Noon. Seats and tables about two feet
hlgh, covered with red cloth, extended the
Wholelength of the apartment. The floor
was covered with white mats about three
ieet long by two wide, and the place was
ee9tea BY highly ornamented brazicrs pla4
sea On beautiful Japan stands. The pill
~ auRpporting the erection were ornamen-