Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-12-10
foreign Nems.
OUR TREATY WITH JAPAN.
HOW AND WHEN IT WAS SIGNED.
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Ledger.


Mcssrs Editors MIR. Townsend Harris
L $. Consul General to Japan. has just con
cluded most important treaty. We hat
been at anchor here one day. and it was thu
2Gth ult. Toward night Mr. Harris and hi,
Secretary came on board as the guests of thu
Commodore Shortly after midnight ther,
was a great hubbub alongside, and it sooi
became known that the Vice Governor of 81
moda was also on board with his suite as on
guests during the round trip to Kanagawa. 90
Kanagswa is the port at which Commodore
Perry signed our last treaty, and now at day
light of the 9th we were going there on
similar Grand Daylight came, steam anC
the anchor up, and away we went at the rat'
of ten knots. The Nice-Govcrnor and suit
could scarcely comprehend this speed, an,
looked with admirng wonder at the regula
working of the ponderous engines. An houl
passed. and upon our right we had the smok
ing volcanic island of Chosima, while upor
our left opened the magnificent bay of Neddo
Turning our back upon Chosima, we steered
boldly in between the hoadands of the bay
and shortly passed the city Of Uraga upon
the left-hand shore OF that city we passed
swiftly through a large feet Of junks. the
crews Of which gazcd at us in evident wonder
government officers of Uraga, who in their
swift sculling boats, threw themselves in our
path, often at the risk OF being run down
They shouted. gesticulatcd, and did every
thing in their power TO make US stop but
the only satisfaction they got was from our
Japanese guests. who. enivcncd by frequent
potations ard our rapid progress, stood upon
the hurricane deck with u.s. waved their fans
81 A Auk tl as
we dashed quickly by
Arrived within few miles Of kanagawa,
we suddenly found ourselves sticking fast in
the mud Fortunately the tide was rising,
and we soon backed off and anchored in sew
en- fathoms, after run of less than seven
hours, and within three miles of our port
One Of the Vice Governors suite at once
went on shore and started for Ycddo He
carried the information Of our arrival, and an
invitation to several of the Princes. Mr..
Harriss friends. to come down and visit him.
The next morning our courier returned and
Informed us that the letter bad been delivered.
and that Cinauo-n3- Kami, and Higo-no-K ami
would soon follow him. On the morning Of
the 29th we awol,c to find that a Japuuucse
steamer had arrived from Ycdio during the
night. and to be informed that we were to be
might visit the ship at any moment They,
however had the good sense to put off their
visit until $50 A. NJ. at which hour we had
prepared leisurcly for their reception.
They came alongside in two boats--them-
selves and their immediate suite in the first
and their attendants in the second. Cinano-
no-Kami came over the side first. lie was
an old man. and had been the Consurs daily
companion during his months residence at
Yeddo. OF course he was warmly received.
Next came Ilgo-no-Kami, a man of probably
thirty-fve years, of commanding mien, and
of the finest Japanese face have yet seen.
He was followed by "Moryama Ienoski,'
the intelligent interpreter, who figures so
largely in Commodore Perrys account of his
visit Finally came the suite, and then the
attendants, in another boat. The whole party
moved gracefully aft, and assembled the ladder
leading to the poop deck whho a salute o
nineteen guns was being fired in their honor
Moryama speaks English quite fairly, anC
Dutch perfectly. Mr.. Heuskins, the Consul
Secretary. also speaks Dutch and Englisl
alike, and thus were ideas interchangod. |
seems that the treaty had all been arranged
some months back at Yeddo, so the onl
thing to be done now was to read it over an'
sign After we had shown them the ship
and RECALLED them with cold lunch in IN
cabin therefore, the latter was given up t.
MIR. Harris, his Secretary the two Princes
and Moryama, who remained closetod togeth
er for an hour or more. Then the doors wer
opened, and the latter returned to thoi
steamer with the understanding that the
were to come on board again at 4 P. NJ, an
sign the treaty.
At $50 we sent our boats for them, and a
the time appointed arrived, they were along
inc Punctual fellows are these japanese
everything with them is system, and move
Ike c!ock-work The nations of the Yves
might well initiate them in this respect e.
Another "closeting' took place, and at tn
md Of another hour the doors were agai
thrown OPEN Our third treaty with Japa
had been signed during that time--a treat
which will accomplish more than everythn
which has been done heretofore. The sign
ing having been officially announced, IN
American and Japanese flags were hoiste
side by side at the fore, and a national saut
Of 81 guns fred from our heavy she'll guns.
"They will hear this salute at Neddo,
said the Consul. land it will have its effect.
A. for the Princes, they eyinced the creates
satisfaction at beholding our flags side /
side, and finally took their departure in I'll
highest spirits. In the meantime thor steam
or had been getting up steam, and they wei
no sooner on board than she tripped her "a,
Choir and padded away to Ycddo. The ne,
morning we also left, and reganed our pre-
ent anchorage the same afternoon. Durir
our return trip Mr.. Harris talked as plea
antly as usual. lie is certainly the most Of
serving man ] ever saw, and undurstaur
thoroughly the Japanese character Al
our success NTH THIS people Is Curing 10 him,
his tact, TO his long residence in the East,
his sound Judgment, and to his pleasa
smile and consistent frmRess.
Let US now get as much Of the treaty
Mr. Harris felt authorized to make know
Among other things, then, it provides
Firsty-That the tax of six per cent
coming our money into theirs, now paid
the American purchaser Of Japanese expor
shall be dispensed with.
Seoondly-The annual practice of "tram
ling upon the cross" which has existed
Nagaskie only since about the year 1920,
to be continued no more after the fourth
July next, and our ministers and families
reside a. Yeddo
Tairdly-The provisions Of the treaty
take effect from and after July 4, 1853. T
opening Of some new ports forms an exec
ton to this article.
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