, 1860-05-21
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY.
Of The En- mba4sudors by the
lre~fdent aud Heads Of Depart-
ncSlI&s


WASHINGTON, May 18th, 1860.
The Japanese made their visit to the Presi'
dent to. duy in great state. The scene at Will
lard's wcs quite interesting, the whole street
being crowded With spectators. Alter the pre-.
para.ions had been completed, the Chief En-
bassador, accompanied By Capt. Dupont, made
his appearance, dressed ia the most imposing
manner, descended the steps, when he was IN
staniiy surrounded By his officers. who guarded
linn TO the open carriage, in which he took
eeas, the servants Of the expedition kneeling
while he passed them. His body. guard imme'
diutely placed Themselves on each SIDE and be-
hind the coach. positlcns which they held during
tue subsequent march to the Presidents House,
and the cuach moved forward to give place TO
that Of the second ambassador. Tho appear
auce Of the Prince at the door WIS the slEnalto
the military, who, at the word Of command,
air. The second Embassador thtn appeared,
flowed By lis suite, and similar ceremonies at
wtre observed IN the case Of the principal, we're
ecue through with for the second, and 50 with
I'll those whose rank entitled them to seats in
the coaches. Each coach as it received its dis
tingushed occupants was surrounded By
body guard oil Japanese, one Of whom bore at
his side s1aE or banner. according to the
rank OF his master; the others wearing t"o
swords each. When the Embassy lad all taken
pluces in the coaches, the order was given to
march, and the military keeping their position
ard extending the entire leogth Of the process:
sun on either side came to q front face and
Possibility Of any such intrusive manifestation
Tn the part Of the throug Of outside spectators
MS trsntpired On the occasion Of the march
from the Navy Yard TO their quarters. In this
nanuer the procession moved up the Avenue,
tue band play ing lively air, followed BY thou
kuods Of persons on oil hands. The scene IS
the procession passed the United States Treas
ury was exceedingly impssing. The balconies
il front Of the Treasury building were crowded
with brilliantly dressed ladies, with their male
escorts. The windows and hou8etops On all
lands were completely covered With spectators.
While the distinguished visitors preserved a
most sober and digniied demeanor, neither look
gar'lcss of and Indifferent 10 the crowd.
When the procession reached the Presidents
House, the gales were flung open End as soo1
al they passed through, were instantly closed,
mud the crowd being entirely precluded from
entering during The ceremonies which were 10
folor upon their Introduction to the Chief Of
tue Nation. Long before the appointed hour Of
twelve, the east room was completely filed with
the distinguished Of the land now in Washing
.ou City, for the most part attended with fair
and elegantly altired ladies', who composed half
The Spectator guests Of the President. Present
nmoEg them we're nearly all the members Of
Congress- many foreign Ministers--not in their
court cos,umea, howeyer-and between eighty
and ninety u. s. army and navy officers, Lieut.
General Scott ut the bead Of the former, and
Commander Shubrick at the head Of the latter.
All i'll tleir rich uniforms. 4 few moments be-
fore 12 the great door swung upon its hinges,
ind the President entered, tlanktd by the Sec.
1etary Of State On bis right aud the Secretary
of tile Treasury at his left hand, md followed
By the rest Of the Cabinet. This cortege nd
yanccd to and took position ut the east end Of
.Ae opening made for the due performance Of
the ceremony.
At the very instant The clock struck u H.,
The great double doors Of the east room swung
noisclessly on their hinges, and those in view
of il CAV sht lheir first glimpse Of the Japanese
Emaus.y. There were three Ambassadors on q
line III the centre. On their right hand stood
the Secretary Of State, Hho had retired to &C
company Them in their entrance behind hin,
Mr. Portmau and behind the right hand Japs.
ncse Commissioner stood the chief Japanese in.
tcrpretor to tue Embassy. Some distance in
the rear Of the Embassy stood one of their
high officers, probably the Chief Censor. On
their left haud stood capt. Dupont, the chief Of
fhc Nuvat American Commission having the
Embassy in charge here. The right hand Com
all richly atsircd in heasy brocade silk mantles,
orer full flowing pantafoons Of the same mate.
rial, the culors Of which were sober green and
brown. o. their heads they wore caps or orna-
nlcnts Of bead work, resembling not little the
Morocco travelling bags Of women, now ahe so
fashionable arpsndages Of American ladies'
arms. The:c we're kept in place BY fiat silk
cord c1teding down undsr the chin. Each Am
bussGdor uud the Censor wore two Japanese
swords.
In bslf minute after the opening Of the
doors the Embassy gravely, noiseless'y and
slowly approached tue position Of the President
and Cabinet, every oae present being breath
1e:ely still. They stopped twice iu their ap:
APPROACH, boring low each time, aud the fresl
dent each time himself bowing simultaneously
to them. On reuch1ug his position the Enbasa"
propriate address, to which tha President neat
y responded.
Al The conclusion Of The reading the Presi:
lent banded to him the copy of the address, and
TOOK each Of them cordially By the hand seria-
tim. 4 brief reply was next made on t1loir be-
huf By The right hand Ambassador through
their Interpreter and Mr. tortE,au, aud again
al. including the President, bowed low. The
Cabinet we1c then one BY one introduced to
Interpreter; previously announcing the oiliclsl
position Of each as he WAS presented to them:
Lieut.. General Scott was next in turn intfodu ed
10 them, and then Speaker Pennington, similar
explanations a. TO their rank and position be.
inE nude. Then four Of the Enbasss's chief
Ulcers entered. bowing low twice a. they nd
yanced and took positions behind their Chiefs,
the President box:ng to them in return. They
did rot how ever offer to shate his hnnd. their
ttiouetc not allowing auy but their chief officials
to participate iu tlat familiarity with 80 high
tunctoaary as the chief ruler Of a great nasaor.
Here the ceremony ended. The Embassy and
! -pd their attendants retiring from the apart
.,.ut waking back1 ards while in the Prsi
drut,s nresci-ce ana ho~ing low as before