The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-11-19
L III f DISPATGsH.
FRIDAY MORNING .......... NOVEMBER 10. M
Tne hritish Entry into japan
In.eEesting Scenes.

gin, the British Minister, into Jeddo, the Japan
ese capitol, from which the Americans under
Commodore Perry at their first sls.t were exciu.
ded Lord Eigin notwithstanding the remon-
strances Of the Japanese, determined to 20 up to
Jedte, aAd take with him the frigates Retribution
and Furious. There was some difficulty nbout
anding the channel. The letter from which we
copy, ssys:
Captain osborn, however, protesting his readi.
noes TO explore the unknown waters at the bsad
OF the bay, and TO approach as near the city a.
possible, Losd Eigin seemed determined not To
lose an opportunity Of establishing precedent
likely TO be SO importantin In future intercourse
with Japan, and TO the astonishment of both Kus-
SLAMS and Japanese, the British ships deliberately
passed the sacred limit without communicative
with the shore, and few minutes after were caus
tiousy feeling their way round long spit of land
which runs far out into the bay and offers some
danger TO the navigator. Az instinct for deem
water must have guided the ships along the chan
nell which afterwards found to be Sufficiently
narrow aud tortuous but last all doubts as to the
feasibility the enterprise we're by the ap
peafance OF several large, square. rigged Japan-
| csc vessels at anchor, the draughf of water of
which was . guarantee for our own. Behind these
rose gradually out of the waters of the bay line
of insulated forts, which marked the defeuces of
Jeddo, while an extensive suburb, running along
the western shore, formed a continuous stree. as
far as the eye could reach. The ships ultimately
achored in three fathoms of water, about a mile
| and a half from this suburb, and the same dis.
anee from the ffne islands forts, above mentioned
which situated on q sand bank, the interyer,-
ing channels being always covered with water,
about mile beyond these forts and PARALLEL to
| them lay the main body of the city; the wooden
height, on which is situated the Castle OF the
Tycoon, forming conspicuous object. The arrival
of the British squadron in waters which the
Japanese had sedulously represented as being too
shallow to admit of the approach of large ships
filed them with dismay and astonshment, :, boats
followed each other, with officials Of ascending
degrees of rank 10 beg them TO return to Kama.
gawa; and finally urgent representations were
made to the Ambassador on the sut ject. The
pleas generally pat forward we're amurinr and
Characteristic :-first,it was said the ancbors ge
was dangerous, hut the presence Of their own
squadron was referred TO evidence to the
contrary; then that it would be impossible to
procure and send of supplies but it was protested
that ii necessary We could do without these. The
merits and comforts of Kanaga3a were expatiated
on in vain the paramount duty was the delivery
of the yacht at Jeddo, and to deliver the yacht
there it was necessary TO remain at the present
anchorage. 70 sooner was this settled than the
Japanese in their usual way became perfectly re.
conciled to the arrangement, sent off supplies
with great Willingness, land began TO prepare q
residence shore for Lord Elgn and his staff
1t appears that Count Putiatine had been de.ayed
for ten days negotiating on this sutect at Ksnsp
gawa, and only succeeded in taking up his resi-
pence at Jeddo on the same ..day that we cast
anchor before the town. He had made the juur.
ney overland from hanagawa distance of Is miles
The landing of British Ambassador in state at
the capital of the Empire Of Japan was only in
keeping with the act Of unparalleled audacfy
" bch had already been committed in aucLoring
British ships within the sacred limits of it's har-
Dor. japanese officials were sent off to superin.
tend the operation, but they little expected to
make the return voyage in one of her Maiesty's
gun boats, with thirteen ships boats in tow. amid
the thupder of saiutes, the Rspir;tisg strains of
naval tand and the fiutter of hundreds of flags
with which the ships were dressed. Close nader
the green batteries, threading its way amid busts
of huge masted, broad stsrned junks, the Little
Lee surrounded by her gay fiotiia, steamed stead.
iy and not until the water had shoaied to Z feet.
aud the Japanese had ceased to remonstrate or
even to wonder, from sheer despair did she drop
anchor, and the procession of boats was fJrmed
the four paddle box boats. each with "a pound
hewitzer in her bows, enclosing between them
the Ambassadors barge, the remainder of the
ships boats, with captains and officers ali in full
dress leading the way. The band struck up sGod
save the Queen" as Lord Elgin ascended the steps
OF the official landing place, near the centre of the
city, and was received and put into his chair by
sundry two-sworded personages, the rest of the
mission, together with some officers of the squad
rou following on horseback. The crowd which
for upwards OF mile lined the streets leadr
ing to the building fixed on the residence
Of the embassy, dense in the. extreme:
the procession was preceded by policemen in har-
ieouiu costume, jingiing huge iron rods OF office
hung with heavy changing rings to wara the crowd
away. Ropes were stretched across the cross
streets down which masses of the people rushed
attracted by the novel sight, while every few hun
dred yards were gates parttionng Oh the different
wards which were severaily closed immediate
ty on the passing of the procession, thus hopeless
Iessly barring the further progress of the old
crowd, who strained anxionsly through the bars
and enved the persons composing the rapidly
forming nucleus. During Lord Eisin's stay OF
eight days shore nearly all the officers OF the
sGnadrou had an opportunity Of paying him a
visit His residence portion of a temple
situated upon the outskirts of what was known as
the Princes Quarter in other words, it was the
knightsbrdge OF Jeddo. In front of it was
street which continued for ten miles, as closely
packed with houses and az densely crowded with
people as it is from Hyde Park Corner to Mile End
At the back of it stretched vide and somewhat
dreary aristocratic quarter containing the resi-
depcea of $50 hereditary princes each petty soy.
ereign In his OWE ght, many of them with half
dozen town houses, and some of them able to ac>
co,nmcdate in these same mansous 10 600 retain
ers. Passing through the spacious and silent lex
cept where party of Eoglish were traversil
them street. We arrive at the outer moat Of the
castle; crossing il We are still in the Princes
Quarter, but are astounded as we reach its further
limit at the scene which now bursts upon ua-a
magnificent moat, 20 or 50 yards broad faced with
smooth green escarpment as many feet In height
above which IuD5 massive wall, COMPOSED of
stoues Cyciopian in their dimensions This ia
crowned in its turn by lofty palissde Towering
above all, the spreading arms OF giant cedars
proudly display themselves, and denote that with.
in the imperial precincts the picturesque is not
forgotten. From the highest point of the fortif
cations in rear OF the castle a panoramic view is
obtained of the vast city, with Its two million aud
half Inhabitants, and an area equal to, If not
greater than that of London. The castle alone is
computed TO be capable of containing 200 souls.
But the party on shore did not coufine itself 10
exploring the city alone; excursions Of 10 miles
into the country were made in two different d.
rections, and but one opinion prevailed with re-
spect to the extraordinary evidences OF civilization
which met the eye n every direction. Every cot
tage. temple and tea house was surround by
gardens laid out with exquisite TASTE ana the most
elaborate neatness was skilfully blended with
grandeur aud design. The natural features of the
country were admirably taken advantage Of and
long ride was certain to be rewarded by roman.
tic scene, where tea house was picturesqueiy
perched over waterfall, or O temple reared its
carved gables amid groves OF ancient cedars. The
tea house is national characteristic of Japan
The traveller, wearied with the nooEday heat,
need never be at loss to find rest aud refresh.
ment. Stretched upon the softest and cieanest of
mating. imbibing the most delcately favored |
tea, nhalng through short pipe the fragrant to-
bacco OF Japan, he resigns himself to the minis |
trations of bevy of fair damsels, who glide rapid
iy aud poiselessly about, the most jealous aud |
skilful OF attendants. !
In their personal cleanliness, the Japanese pre.
sent smarked contrast to the Chinese; deformed |
objects meet the eye in the crowded streets, |
Gu taueous diseases seem almost unknown. In |
Nagasakf, towards evening, large portion of the
mae aud female population might be seen inno-
Gently clubbing" at the of the streets Iu
Jeddo they frequent large bathing ments.
the door of which is open to the passer-by, and
presents curious spectacle, more especially ii |
the inmates OF both sexes ingennously rush to il
to gaze at him as he rides busbingly past. Bat 1t
would not be possible to eondense within the lime
its OF letter the experiences and observations OF
residence in the capital of an empire about which
the information at home 10 80 very scanty, and
which presents probably greater variety Of in- |
teresting aud curious matter to the stranger than
any other part of the world Suffice IL to be
recorded as our general impression that, in its
climate, its fertility, and its picturesque beauty,
Japan is not equalled by any country |
on the face Of the globe; while, As II to
harmonize with its snrpassipg natural endow- |
ments, IL 10 peop ed BY race whose qualities are
IL ~nd dxwSn daacr tpffn