The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-02-16

ElgnJ days after my arrival had pub
lie audience of the Tycoon, (not ,Tio
Coon, Of which more anon,) when made
an address to his Majesty, received hi,
reply and delivered the letter. The cere
mony, so far as l was concerned, was pre-.
ci2ely that of any European Court; three
bows as | entered and the Same on leav-
ing. stood during the whole audience
and wore new, unsoiled shoes. In the
chamber, only six members of the Coun-
Gil Of State and three titular brothers Of
the Tycoon were present; they were
PROSTATE on their faces. In the adioin-
ing room some three hundred or four
hundred Of tho Princes and higher off
GERS of State were present. The "Cap-
missimo" or dress of ceremony is differ
ent from other occasions, but, except the
breeches, there is nothing worthy Of par
ticular note. The breeches arc quite a
yard longer than the leg, and when the
wearer walks they trail out behind, which
gives him the appearance of walking OH
his knees. They wear black laced cap
which cannot be described in words, but
is something like the cap worn by the
Sintoo priests, which you saw when in
Japan. The Tycoon wears a black laced
cap Of an inverted bell shape. He was
clad in robes Of yellow silk. Not sin
gle pearl, diamond, or jewel, or any gold
or silver Except the small gold ornament
of the sword) was visible. All was plain
as possible, and from its very simplicity
was most striking. None of the golden
roofs, fretted ceilings and gilded columns
which olden writers describe as being
seen by them, were seen by me. The in
terror woodwork of the palace was un-
painted. Three days after my audience
| had a business interview with the Min
ister of Foreign Affairs. This was very
long and highly interesting. From this
time am constantly engaged in giving
instruction to the Japancse-on the laws
Of n0tions-on Politicadb li!jls 4. JEeG869lg EeG869Rlg rnc
resource of country with all the matters
that naturally flow. from or are conpected
with these important subjects. The pres
ent state of Europe and America came
in for its share of attention.
The labor has been almost beyond be-
lief; for as l gave them new ideas, for
which they had no descriptive terms, |
had to convey the true meaning by va
riety of illustrations, added TO which Mi
riama, who was the interpreter, was quite
ignorant of the Dutch term used for much
Of the foregoing, so .hct ne had first to
be instructed. Sob, mes almost Ges-
paired of c3er succeeding IN conveying
my meaning, but ! ,ersovered and am re-
warded for my lnjol and patience beyond
my most sangtline expectations, for have
succeeded in making commercial treaty
that efcctually opens japan to q free
comme,se with the U. S. You are aware
that l am not permitted to divulgo the
particulars of my negotiations until the
treaty has been ratified. On one point, |
may venture to state to you, and that is
on the subject of religion. The treaty
secures to Americans in Japan the free
exercise of their religion, with the right
to build churches. 1t also declares the
customs of trampling upon religious en-
blems to be abolished. | think you will
consider the treaty as whole, rs salts
factory as that made by Mr.. Cushing
with China. No one SO well knows as
YOU do the serious obstacles TO the max
ING treaty with this singular people.
1t should also be borne in mind, that
have only arguments TO use; | used no
threats; l had no force to point 10 as ir-
resistiblo arguments; and lastly that |
was entirely alone with q single exception
of Huesken, Dutch interpreter to the
Consulate, for l did not even bring my
Chinese servants with me. | am proud
to have thus connected my name with
your great work of 1854. 1t is an hon
or have always coveted, but l had not
the most remote idea that l should sue
coed in less than twenty months after my
arrival in japan in attaining this object Of
my ambition.
For more than a year after my arrival
/ used tho name or title Of Zio-goon, to
designate the ruler of japan, so also, when
speaking of the residence Of their "Spir.
itual Emperor" as they called him,
named it Mako. 1t shows the perfect
system of concealment of this people
that during all this time they never in
formed me that both the terms were er
roneous, and il was not until q short time
before started for Yoddo that they in
formed me that the title Of their politica
ruler was Ty-cooh-ie-"and not Zio-goon
which means 'generalissimo, so also mi