Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1860-03-17
Ghf Rolpnesian.
IOFFICIAL.l


pOndence previous to the reception, on the 9Th instant
by their Maesties the King and Queen. of their Excel
ences the Princes Ambassadors of the Emperor of jap
an, sent by his Imperial Majesty with credentials to
his Excelleney the PRECEDENT of the United States.
We further publish the particulars of their reception
in which Sovereign with that and high courtesy
which characteristic of his Majesty received their
Exceencies, with the grand honOrs if they had
been accredited to himself thus happily combining with
the highest honOrs to them the highest respect to the
Emperor who sends them, and to the President Of the
United States to whom they are sent.
This being quite in the history of this King
dom, the public will read with interest the extracts
which subjoin, showing the fOrmalties with which
ambassadors coming accredited to the sovereign, are
received at the highest of imperial and mouarchical
courts and showing what treatment they entitled
while only passing through the dOminOns of friendly
sovereign.
TRANSLATION, BY Mr.. WyHie, from the Baron
Charles de Martens's Diplomatic Guide, Vol. p l27
"At the solemn audiences which an ambassador or
Nuncio of the Pope obtain the commencement or ter
minstion of their mssiOn the following, with few
notifications the usage followed in the great courts
of Europe:
"At the day and hour indicated for the solemn audi
ence the introductOr of ambassadors repairs in
mOny to the hotel of the embassy, in of the carra
ges of his sovereign, drawn by six horses. In TINT
carriage he places the ambassador, and then takes his
place in front of him. He conveys him, at slow pace
to the palace of the monarch. escorted by detachment
of cavalry. The suite of the ambassador close
afterwards in their carriages that of the ambas
sadOr himself, also drawn by six horses imme-
diatey after the carriage of the sovereign. Having
arrived at the court of honor of the palace he descends
from the carriage, at the grand entrance where he is
soemny received by the high dgnitaries of the court
he ascends by the grand stair, followed by all his suite,
and always accompanied by the intrOductor.
sThe sovereign, sitting or standing. under dais,'
and surrounded by the princes of the blood by the
grand officers of the crown, and by the first functiOna
res of the state receives the ambassador whO
panied by all the persons of his SUITE approaches the
monarch making three The sovereign then
rises, and having himself uncovered, while again
ering himself he makes a sign to the ambassador to
himself and to take his place the seat assigned
to him. The ambassador while taking his seat, covers
himself aud commences his audience address while he
audes his letter of credence, he takes it from the
hands of his first secretary of embassy, of the gen.
tIemen attached to his suite and presents it to the
sovereign in passing to the minister of foreign affairs
The discourse is almost generally in French When it
is ended the sovereign replies to it, his min
lister of foreign relations to it after which the
ambassador rses urcOverng HIMSELF and he retires in
the same manner as he was introduced The ceremony
being finished he reconveyed his hotel in the
manner as he was brought from it
audience of the sovereign, to be admitted to audi
euce of his spouse of the heir presumpye Of the crown
and sometimes also to that Of other princes and prn
cesses of the BLOOD who reply directly to the comp
ments which he presents to them, answer
be made by the grand master" (uaits).
The minister of foreign affairs after the presentation
visits the ambassador first, only in quality Of min
lister of foreign AFFAIRS but also in the name Of his
sovereign as return of the visit of presentation which
the latter cannot make in person.
"Hhatever may be the rank of q minister sent to
foreign court, his first Duty arriving at the place Of
his residence, is to notify the minister, secretary Of
state of foreign AFFAIRS or cause him to be notified of
his arrival
By the common assent of monarchical governments,
the sons and the brothers of emperors and Of kings take
precedence of ambassadors