The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-18

ny weighing American COIN against gold
against gold and silver against silver.
And that minister shall be sent TO the United States
We remained at Simoda until the 5th August after
turning from kanagawa, during which time We a
great deal OF the people and learned much more OF them
nom Mr. Harris. This gentleman who has been AT
Simoda for two years, and who is of remarkable
observation, has collected interesting and reliable
information in regard to those almost unknown people
than contained in all the books written about Ja
pam lie has been twice to Jeddo had several interviews
with the Emperor and constant association with the
bles He has also been in company with the wife Of Ki
nano-no- -kami, Of whom he speaks In high terms.
asked him If she any rer than the wives of the
chants whom every day saw and he replied yes but
that II the latter had been exposed to the
weather than she, they would be equally fair. 1t was
his impression that all japanese sprang from the
parentage which Is opposed to the views of writers
who proclaim the nobility to be ruling caste Upon
another occasion asked him when he thought they
would send minister TO the United States and he
piled that the exact time had not yet been determined
upon bat that he thought that by spring would
be on his way. They asked me, he continued, If the
United States would provide steamer to carry him far
the ssbnus of Panana, and told them that could
not answer positively, but that thought they would
They very anxious TO send one and remarked to
that 1t would only be return of the kind feeling which
the United States had eyinced in already sending several
to JAPAN, ..... .a ...
asked him if there was any japanese of ability amoh
the nobility who would be likely to fill such post with
credit, and he replied Yes several - and spoke Of the
Prince of Higo of the most prominent then ask
cd further if HSo-no Kami of large wealth ;
If he would be likely to make grand display, &C., &C.
to which he replied that the government would, of
course, pay his expenses, but that to his making a
display, he thought he would travel from New York to
Washington with his suite of twenty thirty with lit
tic regard to show and parade had been evnced when
he visited us at kanagawa from Jcddo There anoth-
thing which he told me that surprised greatly He
said that it very mistaken idea that the people of
Japan in favor of intercourse with foreigners while
the nobility and Emperor were opposed to it it was Just
the contrary. Upon occasion, when the Prince had
advocated certain liberal foregnpolcy measure cards
had been posted threatening the death of the officials who
should bring it about In fact he said, it not for
this opposition on the part of the people, the government
would at once throw Japan open to the world it was
however, they obliged to proceed with extreme
ton.
have already mentioned that Mr. Harris has been to
Jeddo twice, and that he had the Emperor in his
palace We speaking of this fact upon OCCASION
when asked him what the Emperor looked like,
and if he lived in grand stylei
In reply he said that it the fashion in Japan
ask one how old hc was and how many children he had
he had easily satisfied himself upon these and similar
points. The Emperor was thirty-sx years DID, had
legal wife, and many secondary he desired AS
for his palace and style of living the former very
large and comfortable, but extremely plain, while the
latter could not certainly cost him than five hun
drcd dollars year, his clothing included. 1t was a
great mistake which early writer's had made when speak
ing of the magnifcence of the court of Jeddof any
listed, he, Mr.. H. , had never anything of it.
asked him II there really two EmperOrs in ia
pan, if the celestial merely myth, kept up
to deceive the people
hOh, yes !! he replied 'that Ia, there lives at Naco
In the stctes retirement the nominal Emperor of Japan
He has two titlesTen-sin Son of Heaven and Mkado
Emperor He hos twelve legal wives and as many
secondary he desires aud is believed to die
They acknowledge that his body peses and is buried
but insist that his spirit passes into that of the body which
succeeds him, and that he is thus kept among them.
They say that Japan is peopcd solely by his offspring
and venerae him accordingly their father.
Every who approaches him must kneel, even the
ikoon, Great Ruler who lives at Jeddo and who is
generally called Emperor 1t is the law of Japan that
this Tai Koon shall visit the Son of Heaven in every
years. but the former does not like to kneel
him. he has been gradually throwing cold water upon
custom, until he does not go at ALL He contents
himself with sending high officer year to act for
him. This Tai-koon Great Ruler, his title implies
is virtually the Emperor He is not all powerful how
ever though the most powerful in Japan the laws
being as binding upon him upon the meanest of his
subjects. He of very liberal views, and asked
earnestly to form of government habits and
TOMS &c. OF course gavc him great idea of
try, though not at the expense of those of Europe He
to See however, that destined at distant
day to be powerful STILL and feels towards us ac-
cordingly was asked upon occasion it, in of
any difficulty with England France, would not give
them the benefit of good Offices This speaks as
plainly Of the nature of their feelings towards acts
could. ..... ... ........ .f...-a.. 49,.