Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1859-02-24
A CRUISE IN JAPANESE WATERS,

tie, and were it not for a fear that they may be
continued beyond the capacity Of ordinary news
paper columns, and thereby compel u.s. reluc.
family to do, what the New York Ledger pays
for doing, " leave off in the middle" we should
be tempted to commence at the beginning, and
give our readers the whole of good thing
But as it is we will publish part Of one chap
ter, not so much for the narrative part, as for
the pleasant incidents introduced.
The promised visit of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Of Nangasaki to his Excc,lency the British Am.
bassador, took place in the afternoon. The
Acknowledgements was most anxious, not only
10 see the Ambassador Of whom they had heard
much in Japan, and whose advent in pacific
character they little expected, but he wished to
examine aud report upon the yacht " Emperor" +"
/ 1t was arranged after the visit to Lord Elgn
the Lieutenant should proceed to inspect her.
escorted by Leuenrnt-commander Ward On
all previous occasions that British men-oEwar
had visited Japan, or that high officers of the
two nations had exchanged civiIitjeS, our usual
custom of saluting with guns in honor Of their
rank had been avoided, in obedience Of japan
csc port-0rders. Even on this occasion, Lord
EIgin had requested the senior officer, Captain
Barker, not to pay him the usual token Of res
pGct, in Difference, as we conclude, to the wishes
Of the japanese authorities. Suspccting. how
ever that the japanese officials might after all
be inclined to stretch the point, when compIi-
mcnts to themselves were in question, it was ar
ranged that the Lieutcnant-govern should be
asked if he would like salute, and if so, it was
Immediately to be fired. He not OILY wished
to be salut@d, but knew the number of charges
he was entitled to by our European code [
need not say that the ReUlbuton was firing
away almost as soon as the wish was expressed );
need not hesitate to pay their own, or foreign
officers the proper marks Of respect We after
wards learned that the American and Russian
! flag officers had recently, in the same port, been
firing saues in honor of the anniversary Of the
American Independence, and Of each other
1t was suggested that it would give us great
pleasure to salute the japanese flag with twen-
ty.onc guns, as men-ol.war usually do on visit.
ing friendly power. Oar visitors approved Of
the idea amazingly; but on making the inquiry
aa to whether the forts or ships would return
the suIute with an equal number Of runs IA sine
Qua nan in all International salutes,) they re-
piled" Return salute-how ?-why :" We
explained that if England saIutes Japan, Japan
must return the compliment. "Ah," said the
;nierprcter, japan cannot do that. Japan
cannot saute the Government has given no au-
thority to do So" Then please tell the Gov
ernor that England cannot salute until japan
does"
The Licutenant-rovcrnor then proceeded to
lunch with his Lordship. After lunch, the Yacht
was visited, and the authorities expressed them.
selves highly delighted with the completeness
and beauty OF every p1,' y" -',o vessel and pro-
/ mis- ed to send up to Y edo most favorable rcPor'o
| of the piG to his imperial majesty the Thl-ko0n
of Japan.
Eyerv one in the squadron asked at least
once WHY, of all things to be found in Great
Britain. the Government should have selected u
vncht--about the only object that it was utterly
.;mnossinle the Tui.koon should ever use Any
onc who has taken the trouble to read the brief
est account Of Japan, could have told you that.
Yodo was said to be unupproachabe for vessels
and even if the yacht, drawing twelve feet OF
water, could touch the quay, the Ialkoon at
Iedo (lke the spiritual Emperor al Nl'@coJ was
forbidden to quit ms palace, ana SO c0o'o never
see her. except WIN a sny'G'ass from MS tcrrac
IS, two miles on % lar as an excuse , ,or go %
ing to ledo was concerned, any present wit,
instructions to denver IL at 'nal place. WGulo WSL
certainly have answered t"e purpose W mel
one saw how foII oi lntG'i'Sence al, me h'g"e'
classes IN Japan were|ho% capable OF 1pPFcC'
otiog the sk',I ana mecnanG'sn e"PIoyeo !" ~ any
Of the marveIs OF scien'Ihc aoouF ureat DFl'alI
contains-it was a subject ofregret that s'T'"
schooner with b'rdS,cye maple panels an, a
veYe, cushions-Very handsome 10 oouo'' ou
quite matched by most r'yer-OoatS IN h"g'o0.l
or Americac-shouId Raye Gce4 the oG6ly spec,
'L;m
skill ,...,.. or,ho pn.s;,r norr rno b.,
1 i,JI'VJ Ioc toL;oJ in ~ obaro of noStv of scor
pea" ,s,I 3 o'I"u Indnd , r"n tho rrna,n p EsyoJ
DuiV I"o,S n5 ha "' mnnh Y to saw @ nf the nnirn