The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-15

understand my motive and sure il has increased
their respect for me
The roads we're all repaired and clearly swept
on the whole Of my route before | passed bridges
were put IN order and many new ones built
all travel on the road stopped so that / did
not see those crowds of travellers priests, nuns, &c.
&c, described by kempfer the shops in all the towns
and Villages closed except cook shops and tea
houses aad tue inhabitants clad IN their holiday clothes
kneit ON mails spread in front of their houses not q
sound was heard gesture Indicative of curiosity
seen all was respectful silence, The people
derci to cast down their eyes passed. too
high even to be looked ut but this order only par
tily obcyed for the dear daughters Of Eve would have
peep regardless of consequences The authorities of
the towns and villages met at their boundaries and
salutcd me by kneeling and Knocking head =; they
then led the way through their little Jurisdictions and
took leave by similar prostrations.
To you, who know so well, trust need not say
that these ceremonies and slavish obscryances but i'll
agreed with my simple habits and that they utterly
repugnant to my sincere republican principles But what
couli dof knew that the ultimate of the real
object Of my mission to Yedo did in fact very much de-
pend on the state and ceremony which observed
my Journey and which would attend my entry into Yeo
Such being my feelings and opinions did not on the
one hand demand any of these honors nor the other
refuse them when offered to
On Monday, the 30th of November made my entry
into Ycdo. My followers put their camissmos, or
dresses OF ceremony decorated with any quantity of
eagles
/ shouLl not have known when passed the line
which separates Sinagana from Yedo had the spot not
been pointed out to me- the houses form continuous
street for miles before you reach the actual bound
AIRY of the city From the gate by which entered the
city to my quarters about miles. The streets
of Yedo divided into sections of 100 yards by gates
and palisades of strong timber This enables the police
to isolate any portion of the city, any line running
through it, and thus prevent the assembling of crowds
mobs When approached gate it was opened, and
the rear had passed through it closed.
The gates of all the streets also kept closed
could immense crowds beyond those gates but the
people actual line of march those only that
occupied the buildings the route Notwithstanding
all this the number that assembled was prodigious.
The centre of the way kept clear and the crowd kept
back by ropes stretched along each side of the street The
assemblage was composed OF men, women, and chill
dren, of all ranks and condtionshe women being the
larger number. 1 estimated the two lines Of people
that extended along the way from my entrance into the
city TO the place provided for my residence TO have been
full 800 000 Yet in all this vast concourse did not
hear word, except tue constant cry of the Harbnge,
&ta sdtf
You may think it impossible that silence could have
been maintained among large number of women,
but | assure you it was SO
The house prepared for situated within the
ionrth circle OF the castle, arstociatc portion of the
city, and large enough to accommodate five hundred per-
sons, in the Japanese
On my arrival warmly welcomed by my good
friend the Prince OF Snano, who showed the various
provisions that had been made for my accommodation
and comfort and which included chairs tables bed
steads &c. &c, of which used by the japanese
Tue following day the Prince of Tamba visited me in
great state. He said he came as especial ambassador
from the Emperor to congratulate on my arrival,
and to ask after my health After receiving these
piments and making suitable reply the Prince point
ed to large box which he said was present to me
from his Majesty found the box contained FIVE large
traya OF bon-bons, weighing one hundred ponnds
subsequently visited tho hereditary Prince Of Hota,
chief of the great Council of State and Minister for For
eign Affairs. The visit pleasant one, and the
rangements for my audience completed gave the
Prince copy of my intended speech to the Emperor
and before left he gave copy Of the reply the Emperor
would nuke to mic. by this arrangement. the speeches
being both translated beforehand would be enabled
to dispense with the presence of Interpreters at the audi
On the Monday week after my arrival / set out
for the Palace My train blazed out in silk dresses
aud guards their breeches rolled up to the mid
die Of the thigh. You must know that the wearing of
breeces in Japan Is mark Of high rank, or, il worn by
Inferior that he is In the service Of of the highest
rank that the wearing Of breeches here is much
coveted it is said to be in certain quarters in America
and that here, well as in America the article is type
emblem Of power authority. A flag, made of
japanese crape carried before This flag is the
first foreign banner that carried through this
great city aud mean to preserve ii precious relic
The distance from my residence to the Palace
two miles. On arriving at the bridge, over the third
moat ditch, all my train left their horses and nuri-
mons and proceeded on foot continued in my norri-
mon and carried over three moats, aud through
many fortified gato ways up TO the gate of the Palace it.
self received at the entrance by two chamber
ains, who having ''Snockcd head, conducted Inc to
an apartment where found chair for my use Tea
bon bons and other refreshments then offered to
large number Of the Princes came to be presented
to me At length told the Emperor ready to
receive passed through large hall in which some
800 10 400 Of the high mobiles Of Japan all dressed in
their court dresses, were knceling and silent aud
notionless statues and from this hall entered the
audience chamber AT this moment chamberlain called
out, in loud voice, "Merrcan Ambassador, and the
Prince of Snano threw himself down and crawlcd along as
walked IN Mr. Heusken, my secretary, who carried the
Presidents letter. halted ut the entrance | advanced
up the room, making three bows proceeded and
halted at the head Of lines Of men, who were pros
trate their faces those my right were the fve
members of the Council of State with the Prince Of
ttsu at their head and those ON the left were three
brothers Of the Emperor.
His Majesty seated chair placed on a dts ele-
waited some three feet above the floor OF the chamber He
dressed in yellow SILK and black lackered cap
that utterly dcfcs description After short pause
made my address to him. and after similar pause he
replied to me in clear and pleasant voice. When the
Emperor had finished Mr. Hcusken brought the Presi-
dents letter to me removed the silk cover striped
red and whte,) opened the box, and displayed the wr
ting to the Prince of Bittsn, (who stood up then
closing the box, handed IL to the Prince, who placed it
on lackored stand prepared for the purpose Mr. Heus
ken having returned to his place. and the Prince being
again PROSTATE, the Emperor bowed 10 me, smiling
pleasantly at the time This ended my audience
and baeId Of the room making three bows as re-
tired
The usual dress of the Japanese mobiles is of silk but
the court dress is made of yellow grass cloth
and for coronct they black ackered affair that
looks like distracted nght-cap did not single
gem, jewell ornament OF any kind the person OF
the Emperor, those of his courers, who comprsod
the great nobility Of Japan.
From the audience chamber was taken to another