The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-18
NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN
AAfERICANsAND ENGLISH VISITS.
GLIMPSES OF THE COUNTRY.
VISIT OF THE PowHATAN,
Lcorroaponaenos q laa Nsr Yor. IIstala. a.l

miles, and we accomplished II in ssty.seyen hours--a
fine run
We anchored in that sheleress port the 25th and
about 10 communicate with Mr. Townsend Harris
when he himself suddenly alongside The Missis
sippi which had been sent ahead from Nagasak
also here but he nevertheless seemed greatly delighted
TO see the flagship. This was soon accounted for 1t
seems that hS had new treaty already made oat and
wanted the Commodore to take him around into Jeddo
bay in the ship to have 1t signed OF he was
gratifed.
On the 9th We, consequently found ourselves again
underway, bound for the anchorage off the city of Kan
situated in the bay of Jedo and distant seven
teen miles from the city of that name.
In addition TO Consul General Harris and his secretary
Mr. Henry HucsIins had passengers tho vice gov
of Simoda and large suite all of whom were the
guests Of the Commodore. The day beautiful one,
and Kanagawa is only seventy miles from Smoda we
made the passage in less than hours As APP
preached the mouth of the magnificent bay of Jeddo we
left the active volcano of 0ho-Sma our right and
followed the beautifully cultivated coast line our
left n.
Almost in the mouth of the bay we passed the popnlous
city of Uraga also left off which anchored
hundreds OF junks, awaiting examination before conn-
uns ON to Jeddo. Uaga is, ii seems kind Of custom
house for all ports situated along the shores of the exten
sive bay. .. a
We steamed swiftly through these junks without pre-
tending to stop for the several government boats which
threw themselves in way for friend the vice
governor stood upon the port wheel house. waived his
fun and shouted loudly, 'Amerkin Knnacawa Z, and
passed The old fellow had been drinking
sherry with the commodore champagne with the captain
and constanta in the wardroom that he shouted with
unusual energy and the officials in the boats readily
recognized him their superior they waived their fans
in return and motoned us ahead. This was a great
trip for our Japanese friends who could tire ad
mrng the working of the engine and of commenting
upon great speed
Shortly after passing Uraga we sighted Kanagawa and
an hour later found ourselves safely at anchor half way
between that city and another called Yoluhama they
being situated npon the opposite shores of the bay of
fokuhana which is itself indenation of the larger
bay OF Jeddo. The vice governor and suite went
Shore and of the attor continued to Jedo with
letter informing the Emperor of arrival and request
ing that high officials might be sent down to sign the
treaty Mr. Harris has succeeded in making himself SO
completely at home with these people that this letter
sent just as similar would be forwarded in any
other part of the world We awaited an answer the
commodore very properly keeping all on board, MS
neither Kanagawa Yokuhama were open ports
On the morning Of the 29th we awoke to be informed
that Japanese steamer had arrived and anchored near
usduring the night from Jeddo and that the order was
to DC prepared to receive In uniform the high officials
who might come from her at any moment. We, there
fore, ate early breakfast and got into our rigging
AT ten a. M, they came alongside and found ali hands
ready to receive them. These high officers numbered
two and their suite about twenty After they had been
board about five minutes another boat was repored as
approaching which proved to contain the captain and
officers of the steamer. We received them also and
ushered them into the commodore's cabin where a cold
lunch backed by punches and wines awaited U.S. will
stop here moment to remark that the name of their
steamer was the Quankomarr Flying Sea Horse and
that she was present of two years standing from the
Dutch. As they found that japanese brains were
equal to managing her, they ordered another of which
the reader has already read being at Nagasaki From
all that we could and hear there is now no longer
doubt but that they steamer well any one
else,
The two high officers were Higo-no Kami and Cnano
no-kami, {" Kami'' meaning prince, and mo" of
princes of Hgo and Cinano respectively and they were
both Intelligent, and one Higono Kami, fine looking
man The consul slapped them the back, and they
slapped him. and as the lunch unexceptionable we
had anything but unpleasant time After it was all
over, the cabin given up to them, the cosul his
secretary, and Moryama the interpreter and an hour
later they returned to the Flying Sea Horse Mr. H.
now isformed us that everything settled and that
they were to return at p. m to sign the treaty In
the mean time several of took boat and went on
board of the steamer. suppose that the first time
that foreigners visited Japanese steamer of war
We were of course politely received by the captain who
took down into the cabin where the two princes were
taking their after their visit There were regaled
upon candies ten, sponge cake sakie, &C. and finally
shown around the vessel We found her lust like any
other steamer-the engineers appearing to be up
to everything, and her rigging and sails in good order
Upon leaving we were presented with box of candied
ginger, which figured largely upon tea table for the
next week Its contents excellent superior TO the
Chinese preserves and equal to any made 10y European
confectioners. >.em
-Four, p. m, arrived and brought with it the same
party who had been board in the morning They were
received In the same way after which the Princes and
Moryama were shown into the cabin and the others at
tended to in the ward Our constantine suffered for
the next hour, and myself of it minus Colts
revolver presented to the captain The delight which
he evidently experienced sufficient repayment He
at once took it on deck to get permission accept it,
and was terribly frightened whom Cinano Kam cld
him that he could not receive It unless it presented
by the commodore consul. The former at once re-
licyod his anxiety by becoming the donor.
The treaty being at length signed all collected on
the poop to witness the grand fnolf Our heavy guns
were loaded with full charges, the American and Japan
flags hosted side by side the FORE and salute of
twenty guns fired at intervals of few seconds
1.-The Emperor will hear your guns in Jeddo and know
that the treaty is signed" remarked the Prince of CT
And then several more bottles of champagne were
opened and the day ended The Flying Sea Horse at
steamed away for Jcddo and the next morning saw
us also under way for Smoda, with the vice governor
and suite returning with AS again passed the
smoking peak of Ohosima, met the Russian frigate
Ascod, bearing the flag of Admiral Count Poutian who
WAS bound to Kanagawa upon similar errand-treaty
making. How he succeeded we have yet heard Now
for word about treaty, which goes home by this
mail.
OF course cannot pretend to give everything it pro-
ves for has been allowed to read IT, but what
follows got from Mr. Harris himself with the under
standing that The Herald welcome to publish IT,
Among other things therefore, it is agreed that there
shall be no trampIing upon the cross in Japan
that Americans shall be allowed reside iu such ports
as opened to build churches and to worship their
God that japanese also shall DO granted religious free
dom
That the Of six per cent for reconage paid by
the American purchaser of Japanese goods shall be dis
pensed with
That this treaty shall take effect from the 4th of July