New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-16
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY.

We have, to-day, intelligence of the arrival atSan
Francisco AMBASSADORS sentfrom Japan TO give
assurance by their presence here of the perfect &C.
tablishment of friendly relations between their Gov
erDment and that of the United States. The tele-
graphic dispatch states that the Embassy consists OF
two Princes of the highest japanese rank, aud two
others, of nearly equal eminence. This double del
egation is strictly in accordance with the national
custom. The Government of Japan is duplicate,
spiritual Emperor occupying the first nominal sta
ton in the land while temporal ruler, called the
Tycoon, holds in his hands the real authority. In
their diplomatic intercourse with foreign countries,
the movements of the Japanese havs-all been con-
Quoted by two officials, one representing the order
of nobility established by the temporal chief, the
other acting on the part of the more ancient order
which originated with the spiritual dynasty, andpos-
sessDg the right of censorship over his colleague into
whose charge, generally, the principal management
Of affairs 10 cobfded. In addition to these four
Princes are number of officers Of lower grade,
interpreters and so forth, numbering in all seventy
two persons.
This is the first Embassy ever sent by the Gov
eminent of Japan to any Christian Power. 1t is
true that in the year 1884 two young Japanese
mobiles, attended by two counselors, after long
voyage of two years and half by way of Macao in
China, Msacca, Goa, the Cape of Good Hope,
Lisbon, Madrid, Alicante, and LeghOrn, arrived at
Rome, as ambassadors to Pope Gregory Kill, by
whom they were received with great ceremonies.
But they were sent no. by the Emperor Of Japan,
but by the Kings of Bungo and Arima and the
Prince of Omuru, who ruled over territories of
limited extent in the neighborhoOd of Nagasah,
and who, together with considerable portion Of
their subjects, had been converted by the Portu-
guese Jesuit missionaries TO the Catholic faith.
At this time the power Of the Japanese Emperor
was by no means so firmly established as at present.
The Japanese Islands had been found by Xavier,
who first visited Japan in 1912, divided into numer-
GUS princpalities, which, though they acknowledges
nominal subordination to one Imperial head were
substantially independent and engaged in perpetual
wars with each other. The consolidation of the
japanese empire was first commenced BY Nobun-
aDga, a successful military usurper, who ruled from
1867 TO 1882, and il was carried out and completed
by his successor, Faxiba who took first the title
"
Sauna. 1t was during the absence Of the embassa-
doris to the Pope that this latter prince rose to
power; shortly after which, in 1887, he issued an
edict for the expulsion Of the Jesuit missionaries,
followed up by series of prosecutions which re-
suited finally 10 the extinction Of the new religion,
and in the closing of Japan against all Christians,
the Dutch only excepted, who were allowed lin
tied trade, and to maintain for that purpose small
factory under severe restrictions, on the little isl
and of Desima, in the harbor Of Nasasaki. Thus
things remained, in spite of several attempts on tho
part of the English and Russians at the opening Of
an intercourse, till the arrival in the Bay Of Yeddo
of our squadron, under Commodore Perry, in 1853.
The negotiations which he instituted have resulted
in the opening Of the principal ports of Japan, in
Guiding that Of the capital itself, not only 10 u.s.
but to the other principal maritime nations. The
apprehensions and reserve of the Japanese, or
rather of the Japanese rulers, have gradually worn
away. The obstacles ut frat put in the way Of
trade have been gradually removed, and though
commerce 10 much restricted by tho small number