Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-05-05
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT ny THE CHAPLAIN OF THE /



HATAS.
The Journal of Commerce publishes long letter fro1
Rev Henry Wood Chaplai on the Powhatan, froI
which We extract the following interesting particulars
Leaving Hong Kong the last day of the year, We al
chored in the harbOr OF Yokohama January lth, whe
Commodore Tattnall Immediately sent word to Jeddo
Mr. Harris our Minister OF his arrival and readiness
receive the Japanese Ambassadors board his ship
lie them TO Panama On Saturday, the l4th Mr.. Har
ri. come down TO consult with the Commodore and Sc
that all necessary arrangements were made while to
wards evening japanese steamer came alongside, an
anchored near the Powhaan which had brought down tn
Ambassadors for the purpose OF Inspecting the ship
leir own accommodations They did not come O
board till Monday noon, when they were recelved wit
a salute and shown all possible courtesy aud attention
by the Commodore and Capt. Pearson aud all the othe
officers
They came without ostentation or parade and hougl
dgnifed showed proud carriage, but rather seemed
little didcnt and tmid Us they stepped upon the quar-
t.reck the Commodore and Captain aud all the officer
in full uniform waiting to receive them, and the compa
nv of marines under Capt Taylor presented their bgh
arms while the band soon discOursed patriotic na
tiOnal airs.
Extremely courteous and careful Of all conventiOna
Iropreties they would have been panied aud mortified
lad they found themselves violating unwittugy any soca
usages OF our oan Soon however, they began to lin,
themselves at home in the warm welcome and universe
attentions they received and alter careful examination
the arrangements for their accommodation and that o
their numerous suite and directions for what remained
necessary to be done, they left with an apparent cas-!
feeling which agreeable 10 the officers of the shI
~ to themselves.
The Commodore and Captain most cheerfuy made al
possible sacrifice of their convenience and comfort
in behalf of the Ambassadors Captain Pearson giving NJ
the whole of his large cabin for their special USE wh
Commodore Tanal gave up his tore cabin, with the eS
cepton of the port state rOom which is occupied by
ID A.; ;,,1 al hn, t,;lt,
Kong on each side Of the quarter-deck, and two imme
daley in front OF the Commodores cabin with four
der the hurricane deck for the accommodation Of h,
inferior officers and servants; still, an addition wa
found necessary of another cabin on each side OF tn,
uuarter-deck, which made forthwith. Ia the mean
lime arrangements made by the Japanese Govern
ment to send of their own steamers, carrying tel
guns 10 San Francisco to meet the Powatan there
in company with il proceed 10 Panama At their Owl
request has been put under command of Lieut. Brooke
ate of the T. s. surveying schooner Fenuimore Cooper
which was wrecked near OkOhama, the last summer
though all the officers and men are Japancse.
Friday morning, Feb. 1T, leaving Yokohama, two
boats brought MS to the Ioadsead OF Jcddo where
rhored about five miles from the wharf, the shallOwnes
OF the water making this necessity for all large vessels
The next day Commodore Tana made a call upon Mr.
Harris who n once communicated with the Japanes,
Prime Minister who assured him that the ambassador
would be ready leave the 10th instant, having
been found impossible to complete all the necessary
raugcmens by the first day 0 February had previous
" arranged Every thing, therefore, decided
the japanese goyernmenwas found true to its engage
ments Mr. Harris said it would be- whenever it hat
made them.
la the meantime the japanese busily engaged il
bringing on board whateye they wished for the fitting NJ
OF their rooms and articles for their food many Of whcl
are peculiar Japan especially roots, some OF which
two or three feet long and in size equal to large carrots
Rice the main article little bread and meat ia
a. can see being provided, much fish woul,
be expected while there is no end TO the sweet meats
little dishes and nice things they take with them, o
whose name aud nature am uniformed. galley, o
kitchen was constructed forward for their exclusive
whose interior araug meats all OF their deys
ing and execution. Mats brought on board and Gu
70 the size OF the different rooms IN the cabins
which are fully three inches thick while for bedding they
mainly use their winter coaks made Of silk cottoi
cloth aud stuffed with cotton 10 the thickness OF two
ordinary bcdquts the being large enough for One
body and the garment long that head and feet can b
wrapped up together. Besides innuperaLle boxes TO
tlrr own use thirteen dozen or fifteen feet long
about foot aud a-alf squaTs were brought filed viii
presents from tie Emperor OF japan TO the Emperor
the United States, the japanese call the President
unable unable to comprehend the import Of our demo
cratic term. So completely every inch OF holds an,
rooms of all kinds crowded with Japanese articles that h
officers OF the ship required to take nothing on boar
which they could keep in their private
have heard OF the "iniiute dyi-ibIy OF matter, bu
never Of the infinite eNpansiyenes OF space, ILL., driver
to their wits ends saw the poor officers crowdng int
their little cells what might have done something toward
filling NOahs Ark
Saturday February Ito, Mr. Harris, Commodore TAFT
nall, Captain Pearson, First Lieutenant johnson al,
ag-Iieuteuaut Trenchard accompanied by Mr. Hcusi
interpreter paid visit according TO previous arrange
ments, to the Prime Minister aud other heads of th
State departments, within the Imperial Castle wher
they were received with the highest honor aud treate,
TO a sumptuOus entertainment
About two o'clock, all the arrangements having beel
completed, the Ambassadors approached the PowharI
in their own junk when orders were given to all lh
officer, u appear the quarterdcck TO receive then
with all the honOrs The great guns spoke heart!
welcome which was waited back over the immense city
and perhaps heard ia the Imperial Palace, when,
the time strange sight appeared the top of th
oremasthe japanese flag, great snu IN the heavens
dostiug the breeze fom American ol-war, it
company with the Stars and Stripes aud the Commodore
broad blue penngnt
TIE AMBASSADORS AND SCnE.-The following are th
and rank o the members Of the Embassy giyeI
ne by one of The Interpreters:
THE ANHASsA Ab0Hs list Simme BeIien, no Kane. .,
Mumgake Awagc, no Kane.
COUNsELoR -Ogure BungO, no Kane.
TREASURER R-bOrila Okaaro.
OFFICERS Or TnE FIRST RANE ATTACHED TO THE ANRAs
sApoBs-Naruse Geusiro, Sahara Jhugoro.
OfrcERs OF THE FIRST RASH ATTACHED TO rHE CoUS
sTLoE--Hetaka Keisaburo, Osakabe Tetstaro.
USnER OFFICERS ATTACHED TO THE AMBASSADOR
Matsmoto Sannojio Yosida SlgOsaimOu.
UNDER OFFICERS or rnE Observation-Disclosures Suuju
ro Tuge Ilosingrro.
Standard bearers, cooks and servants 81 Total -
The japanese Government had designed sending lar
ger reuue following out their own ideas aud uslges
regard TO the honors due to high officials and the State
from which however they were dissuaded at the las
hour By our Minister Mr. Harris who assured both th
Government and the Ambassadors that Il smaller reti lu
would not only be better accommodated on board on
ship but greater respect in country whose inst
tuton and uslges like ours; to which they yielded
ready assent
The first Ambassador is only 30 years old though h
looks like of 10 30 years The second Ambas
sador is all Of 55 aud the Counselor Of about the sam
age. All Princes, but not hereditary and amonj
the most distinguished statesmen of the empire. In thei
manners and bearing while there is visible setrespec
and modest dignity there could be nothing smp
and free of seliconce display aud arrogance. 1t ha
been most incorrectly stated in some Of the letters from
japan that one members of the embassy
yor or Spes upon the conduct Of the Ambassadors thai
which nothing could be further from the truth lear
from the interpreters The individual designated th
Counselor was the unuckily called the Sy
whereas he simply selected from his wisdom and ex
perence to be the adese of the Ambassadors in what
ever matters might require consultation in the circum
stances OF their untricd position.
The japanese send no bonze" or Buddhist priest to
company the mission do see idol or picture o
the least symbol of their religion among them. Evident
ly the japanese attach the smallest importance aud sa
credness to their religion however expensive and orna
their temples since less than seven have recent
been expurgated of their idols at Kanagawa only within
the distance of three four miles and that by the orde
of the govern ment and given up for the of Euro
peans aud Americans, among whom three America
missionary families. Even the priests take all yer
quietly, who have been expelled with their idols.
will close by adding, that the words 'No Hume" Iii
orally mean "0f the Gods" the line of EnperOrs ono
claimed descent from the Gods and still claim it.
the course of time, the phrase to be secuarizeC
losing all its ancient meaning, and being used as It'll