The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-22
INTERESTING FROM JAPAN.

INTERESTING FROM JAPAN.
From the Philadelphia Public Ledgerl
We arrived from Nagasaki the 25th ultimo
after passage of CT hours. The distance is over
600 miles. We found the Mississippi at anchor
in the inner harbor and came to near her. hoping
for few days of quiet and long walks back into
the country. Our anchor was scarcely down.
however, when the captain of the Mississippi pulled
alonside, bringing with him our Consul General Mr.
Towsend Harris, and his Secretary, Mr. Henry
Heuskln. The Consul was at once closeted with the
Commodore, and after hour or so, it began to
be whispered around that we were to leave in two
days, for Ieddo Bay, and possibly for Yeddo itself
This was great news, and we talked grandlv for
some hours as to how long we would remain at
eddo, &c, until suddenly another whisper passed
around to the effect that we were only noinp to
Kanagawa to talk about treaty. Kanagawa
seventeen miles this side of eddo and as we could
not land theIe, our trip did not promise to be so
grand after all. We therefore lit cigars and tried
to blow away our disappointment in smoke In the
meantime we had been boarded by several boat
loads of japanese officials, who We're equally soca-
bic and hail fellow well met as had been those of
Nagasaki. We gave them sherry and Constantia to
their hearts content, and after they had made ont
a list of all the fresh provisions that we desired
saw them in their boat and bowed them polite
adeu. After dinner party of us dropped on shore
for Sunday evening walk, and among other places
visited the BAZAAR where everything japanese were
collected for sale. 1t being Sunday, we admired
them and passed on.
1t is now two years since sent our first Con
treaty OF hanagawa made in 1854 s, nv Commo
dore Perry. He was brought here by the L. s.
steamer San Jacnto, and cleft alone in his glory"
to the infinite disgust of the authorities who told
him to 20 away for year, and then come back by
which time they should have house built for him.
Being thus unavodably left upon their hands they
made the best of a bad bargain, however, gave him
a large temple to live in, servants to attend upon
and his secretary as rather pleasant additions to
their society. MessrS. Harris and Heuskin now
began to look around them for amusement. They
found the golden pheasant plentiful among the
neighboring hills, and when satiated with runninr
and long walks, the former turned his eve in the
direction of Y eddO.
After while he received permission to visit that
city in his official capacity, and the first thing that
we know, he has obtained the signing of an mport-
ant Convention, and is again at Simoda This Con-
vention was published in the United States in Jan
uary of this year, and | shall let it pass The
manner in which Mr.. II. and his Secretary went to
eddo is interesting. The Emperor sent him body
guard of l20 men, and had comfortable houses put
up along the road for him to pass the nights in He
also sent him large sedan chair. carried by twelve
bearers, and so roomy that he put a mattress into
it and reclined at full length when he was tired of
sitting. 1t is only about seventy miles from this
place to Yeddo but the country is so rugged
and the roads so bad the first part of the way,
that they were seven days in accomplishing the
distance. Every night they stopped at one of
the comfortable houses, which had been pre-
pared expressly upon his account and after an early
breakfast, resumed their road.
Upon arriving at Jeddo, they were lodged in the
most commodous quarters, treated with the great
est respect and attention, and granted interviews
with the Emperor. The reader is of course aware
that foreigner or Japanese who has heretofore ap-
preached the Emperor, has been required to do so
upon his knee. This custom they were determined
to adhere to in the present case; but, somehow or
other, it had never before been so difficult to "be
the cat" "Who was to speak to Mr.. Il
about it?" that was the question. Finally, ia
panese Douglass stepped forward, and offered to
brace his huge shoulders to the task This gentle
man not the most determined man in Japan;
but then he was upon the most intimate terms of
both social and political intercourse with "the
American Legation" He therefore called upon
Mr.. H., and commenced the attack by begging that
he would not be offended by what he was going to
say.
''Certainy not !' says that gentleman. But he
has an inkling of what is coming, and a look of
sudden and unusual gravity causes Douglass to
tremble Instead, therefore, of broaching the sub
ject-he begs once more that "his Exceency will
rot be offended at something which he (Dougass)
has been ordered to says" and then-coughs, and
looks behind him.
"Certainy not ~ and an increase of gravity in
the Consular face. Corresponding increase of nerv
business on the part of Douglass. Great tableau in
which the American Eagle is supposed to dominate.
Final desperation of Douglass, and outburstng of
the secret.
Mr. Harris listened quietly and kindly to all he
had to say, and then replied with his usual judg-
ment and tirmness of manner. He told him that
he anxious to do everything that was consist
ent with sef-respect to do honor to the Emperor,
but that this thing was out the question, and had
better not be referred to again. ''Were Nippon to
send Minister to my country he said, ''he might
approach our President in any manner he saw fit
He might kneel and knock his head against the
floor, or he might bow to him and shake hands
There allow every perfect liberty; and it is
but right, therefore, that l be allowed the same
here
every well! Very well ~ replied Douglass, half
apologetically. And thus was settled this question
''for erer! remarked Mr. II.
Mr.. Harris says that house has been built for
safekeeping of the railroad carried out by Com.
Perry, and every now and then they take it out,
lay the track, get up steam, and then away 90 a
dozen or more high officers upon circular pleasure
trip. japanese engineers hare charge of everything,
and are never at a loss in the discharge of their
duty. suppose that they will soon have a track
laid from Kanagawa to Yeddo, but doubt if the
railroad will pay in any other part of Japan; the
country is too broken. As for the boat howitzer,
they have had one thousand cast exactly like it,
and mounted them in the forts of their different
ports. And now here is something else that will
surprise you. Upon both Fourths of July that [
have passed here, and once upon Washingtons birth
day, they fired a salute of twenty-one guns with
these howitzers. Mr.. Heuskin and myself lfattended,
with the American flag flying, and the people ex-
hibited the greatest good feeling and enthusiasm.
One might have almost imagined them Americans.
''What have they done with the electric telegraph
that was presented them?" ! asked.
'Little or nothing, think. But l am not GER
ever in the ground work for future intercourse with
the world. Five or six months since, they asked
me- as a great favor to be allowed to send a minis
ter to the United States. My dear Srs' | replied,
do not ask this a favor; It is your right. Send
minister, with as large a suite you choose, and
you may be certain ofA friendly reception" >"
"And would the United States furnish us trans
poftation from here to the Isthmus?' he asked.
'Certainly," | replied, ''and treat you with the
greatest attention and kindness during your whole
stay"
"About what time do YOU think they will send
us Minister?" | asked "and have they any able
men who would be equal to the post?"
GAS for the time, it is not yet settled upon; but
to the fact of one going, that is beyond all doubt
suppose that arithin year from this date Japan
ese Minister and suite of twenty thirty will be
in Washington. HIGo-NokAM (KAMI-prince;
no'-of; rHgo'-Higa: Prince of Higa) is pro-
badly as able man as they have and he is doubt
less the one who will be selected. You will see in
few days fine looking fellow"
Speaking of the stores of the Yeddo, Mr. H
observed that we would be surprised at their size,
| statesmen, each of whom had his dozen or more
shop-boys standing behind him to execute his or
| ders. "Upon entering the immense building you
! see no goods at all" said he. "'They are all stored
! in fire proof buildings in the rear. When a GUS
toner enters and asks for anything, the salesman
orders the shop-boys, the shop-boys apply at the
reproof, the keeper of the freproof checks against
each one that which he takes, the salesman make.
| his sale, each shop-boy returns to the tre-proo
| his part of what remains, and at night the sales
man accounts to his employer for the difference
Thus is business conducted in the large houses o
Japan"