The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-03-08

embassy, and during the afternoon of Monday
they came on shore. His Majesty the King, with
that public spirit and hospitality for which he Is
20 well known, Immediately engaged the vacant
Dudoit premises, and fitted them up, furnishing
them with the best furniture that could be OBJ
tanned, for the use Of the ambassadors, during
their stay here. The Queens carriage and horses
appear also to have been placed at their disposal,
as We have seen the ambassadors riding about in
it. This special attention u these japanese dig
nitaries, on the part Of our sovereign Is certainly
rraiseworthy, and can only leave on the minds
Of these visitors the most pleasant recollections OF
Hawaii and her King.
1t must BET matter Of pride 10 every American
that his, country has been the first 10 induce the
japanese to break through their ancient notions,
and recognize the existence Of nations of equal
strength and Importance. Except what they may
have learned from returned japanese and Others,
the rulers of Japan have hitherto been unable to
comprehend that there are nations advanced far
beyond them in every sphere of civilization. To
disPel this ignorance, caused by the policy Of ex-
clusion pursued by that government, the visit Of
this embassy TO the United States will do more
than anything else. 1t Is instructed TO record
and report for the information of the Emperor,
all that is seen. 1t is amply provided with secre-
taries, artists and draughtsmen to report every
thing, and Illustrate their progress with views
and sketches. 1t : easy to imagine how eagerly
their return will be looked Cor by their country
men, and with what intense interest the report of
their expedition Will be read. If published, as
in other countries, the sensation it would pro-
duce, would far eclipse that of either DR.. Kane's
or Captain M'Clintock's voyage TO the Arctic.
But, as the policy of the japanese government
has been, from time imnemorial, to keep the
masses in profound ignorance Of foreign coun-
tries, it is not likely they will depart from it in
this instance, but that the information will be
kept only for the use Of the government.
There can be no question but that the visit of
this embassy will result favorably in opening
Japan TO foreign intercourse, though it may be
years before it has that effect. 1t will be impos-
sible for these ambassadors to return to their
country without obtaining new ideas about for
eigners, and perhaps reporting favorably of the
knowledge, wealth and skill of the American
people, as compared with their own And it is
more than likely that they will recommend the
removal of every obstacle in the way Of trade and
travel with the United States, and perhaps
Europe. This must rapidly increase the trade
with that people, which is now springing up,
and which meets many obstacles. The Empire of
Japan has u population of 40, O00, 00O-one-third
larger than either the United States or England.
To supply this population with the products of
European manufacture, will in time create Il
trade as extensive, perhaps, as that now existing
with China.
The United States government pays the entire
expense of the japanese embassy, both in going
to and returning from Washington. This will
be no small item, but the fact that it is the first
foreign embassy that has left Japan, and also
that she is the only nation that has succeeded as
yet in inducing the japanese to send out Il for
eign embassy, will give her an honor, which will
more than compensate for any outlay required
for it.
The following extracts from a work on Japan,
will possess some interest now
"The government of Japan is despotic, and like
some others in Asia, is shared by ecclesiastical and
military sovereigns. The mik0dO, or lord of the
or court of mako, is the nominal head of the
; 1pire, has almost divine honors and excrts religious
RUE, and was anciently invested with all the author
but IN the 18th century, a dGi SiOguE, or the
commander in chief, was appointed, one of whose sue
in 1888, assumed the rank ola second Emperor:
since which period the SicsuR has maintained the ac-
tual sway, the ddiTi sovereign being consulted by him
regarding relations with foreign Powers. The
SiOguH, who resides at Yeddo, is assisted by Il coun-
ell of five hereditary princes, and by a senate which
the legislative body, and decides in all civil and
criminal cases. \ kind of feudal system prevails;
he princes, of whom there are about 200, governing
different districts, are obliged to maintain troops in
TO move at the order Of the SiOguR. The
executive duties are performed by boards,-those
IF taxation, commerce., public works, police, criminal
Justice, military affairs, and religion. Japan is divi-
led into s provinces, GS departments, and 622
districts, the governors of which are termed dairi,
high named" and hold their offices direct from the
sovereign or dqi-miO, "well named, - who are
appointed by the siogun. The laws are very rigorous;
many popular rights and customs, however, appear
o exist, and the japanese are certainly less corruptly
and less shackled by ancient usages than
he Chinese. The ancient religion is the sin-tu,
whose priests were said to be descended of the sun,
mt the majority Of the population are adherent of
introduced into Japan about the 9th
century Of our era, though some profess the doctrines
{ COnfucius. The japanese are Of the Mongolian
and are stout and well made. They have a
written literature, some science. and a taste for music.
heir languagei is different from that Of the Chinese"
1.-THE proof Of the above entire article, has been
cad over in our Office by Namura Gohatsiro, one of
he interpreters of the embassy; who has noticed sew
raj errors and suggested alterations, which have
made. We state this fact TO show that our
isitOrs are intelligent. The interpreters can read
nd write English very readily