Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-04-21

/ SN0N'A'N' 10 u WI Bhu ohlB VI wv NN'~i
in Holland and sent to the Emperor oi
Japan as present by the Dutch King, and
has full complement of officers and seven.
ty men, Her flags are, at the mizzen
white flag with red ball in the center,
and at her main a white lozenge ground in
a circle Of red 1t being the first arrival OF
a japanese man of-war in a Christian port
in several centuries, it was looked upon by
those on board as a great event. The YES
sci was in charge of Lieut. Brooke, U. S n,
the Japanese, though good sailors along
their own coasts, not claiming knowledge
enough to visit our shores with safety.
The objct Of the trip was to accompany the
Powhattan, which left Yeddo on the 10th
of February, and 10 return with tidings of
the safety of the grand Embassy.
The japanese proved abont as much Of
curiosity at San Francisco as the city
and people were to them The correspond
ent of the Times thus describes a visit on
shipboard and the conduct of the rare and
singular visitors on land
The Admiral, Kemouratonkame-w
by the way, is no sailor, but Provincial
Governor, of the rank of Commodore, and
was selected for this mission that our high
and mighty men Of war might feel that
they talked with their equals when they met
him-sat on the floor of his cabin as we en-
tered, enjoying the attentions of hair dress
er The Captain, (Katsintarroh) was in
but poor health He looks marvelously
like Col, Fremont, talks English intelligibly,
and has the reputation, at home, of being
great astronomer The officers all wore
two swords ofpolished steal, with milk-white
shark-skin covered handles. Except for
their elaboratey dressed hair and their en-
brodered sandals, in their uudreSs they look
ed not very unlike the uniformed officers of
our navy.
The marines were clothed in dark blue
frocks each with his rank and the style
of his service written on patch between
his shoulders, and in blue flowing trowsers
The sailors looked much like Cinnamon, but
all were cleanly, active, curious, and polite.
To the A mericans on board, the after cabin
and servants in abundance had been sur
rendered on the voyage, which was 81 days
long, to the American sailors, who had
helped work the ship the Admiral came
down literally with the coins, as a present
on leaving. There were no idols on board,
of course, no hints toward any religious
faith though prayers in the forecast le, our
people say, they had often heard Chairs
and tables were no part of the furniture
They fed on cured fish, rice, vegetables and
tea. The chopsticks stood instead of knives
and forks.
Some Of the officers came on shore under
guidance Of Lieut.. Brooke, & on Saturday
night, eat Christian dinner at hotel, and
experienced@the luxury of ice-creams.-
When invited to bath, they declined, on
the ground that the Admiral must procede
them in any such privilege.
Next day was Sunday. Our city officials
know scarcely what to do. If they invf-
ted the distinguished Pagans to Church, it
might alarm their sensitiveness, for they
have had a national experience of Jesuits;
if they ignored all church going, it would
scarcely be the thing for Christian citv's
fathers. At last four OF the Supervisors.
headed by their President Teschemaker
were rowed off to the corvette-were an
nounced as of rank enough to talk familiar
ly with even the Admiral, were graciously
saluted and then invited the strangers to
see the city under their escort. The Ad-
miral agreed, but it took half an hour to
manage the order of the going. The Ad-
miral, proposed to take bis own boat and
certain Of his men he invited Teschema-
ker to ride with him, but would not hear
of the proposition that "his men" should
go too. Lieut.. Brooke had hard Job of
it to convince his Honor that of Tesche
maker was no better than "his men," to
wit, the other Supervisors. Finally. the
Admiral and the President were rowed off
together, and "the men" of the two off.
cals dispatched in another boat. On land
ing, cur President politely leaped out a.
head, to help the Admiral out, and had
narrow escape of giving offence by thus
taking the precedence. The two, walked
up side by side mutely the others, in care.
full order Of rank-the democratic crowd
humoring the strange notions of etiquette
by opening for the noble gentlemen to pass
to their carriages. Here another half hour
was spent getting the right order of rank.
Then up to the International parors. For
tunately our modest little Irish Governor
Downey was in town. Hearing what was
up, he went over to honor the occasion.-
Entering with a single companion, it took
all the faith the strangers could command
to believe that little man in a black coat.
with no retinue, could be genuine Gov
ernor When it was fairly comprehended.
and the interpreter had turned classical
japanese into broken English and sundry
Californian Executive compliments into
japanese, the Admiral expressed desire
that the Governor would order a dry-dock
prepared to give the corvette thorough
neutrality-suspicious. so clearly that no
interpreter was needed to render it. that
the Yankees should not be out of pock-
ct for their courtesy in this business. His
Excellency with straight face, sgnifed
that it should be done as promptly as
the lumber-schOouers now occupying the
dry-dock could be got ready to launch
While these two high grands thus consult
ed, the other officials, returning to the car
riages were being conveyed through the
principal streets, in sight of the couching
lions, past the churches and hotels. around