The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-05-17
THE JAPANESE. EMBASSY.
1Rtere sting Par rticMlars A bout Them. = Thei r
Association with Amer ericnMs. .StramSe
Views, kc.. nc.

Associations with Americans .Stranse
Views, &C.. NC.
The Japanese Embassy in Washington is to
| be presented to the President to. day, and &C.
| cordinx to their etiquette could not show
| themselves in public before the ceremony took
place. Notwithstanding this, they held a
levee for ladies and gentlemen at their rooms,
in Willard's Hotel, Tuesday night, which was
| fully attended. The u. =. frigate Niagara,
which is to take them home again, was put in
| commission on Monday. The Washington
States, noticing the distinguished strangers,
after their arrival at their hotel, says:
They were Immediately surrounded by
crowds, Of both ladies and gen tlemen, who, by
all manner of signs. made many inquiries and
| congratulations. The Japanese seemed to be
| very social. They laughed heartily ut what
they saw, and in fact kept one constant smile
on their faces. They were greatly attracted
by the Jewelry worn by the ladies, which they
carefully examined with great interest. While
those on the inside were enjoying themselves,
the vast CT owd in the streets had their curiosi-
~ also grltified. One of the visitors sat in
the window aud threw handfuls OF japanese
coin lpto the street below, which was scram-
bled for with great interest by the crowd. At
these eager demonstrations he wOnld be great
ly amused. and would repeat the cause of
them.
Some of the embassy retired early, but those
who remained were eagerly beset by all They
were delighted al the performance on a mag
nificent ehiekering instrument, as also at the
various novelties exhibited 10 them in the way
Of silver and gold coins. One OF the artists
made a rapid and very accurate sketch OF the
artist OF one Of the New York illustrated pa
pers. 1t could hardly bt distinguished from
some OF the sketches of our own artists
Most OF them appear to have delicate and
even feminine look, and are all short in
stature
Several of them speak English very well,
and were overrun by the people, who solicited
an exchange of cards. They write their names
first in japanese and then ia English. Some
of them write English very well, and they all
are very easy to learn. They write their own
Language very rapidly, much more so than
Americans can imagine on seeing their gro
tesque characters. They take notes OF every
thing and seem TO have a system of shorthand
in which they report con yersation. All of these
notes and sketches are to be published by
them
The Star of Tuesday afternoon has the fol-
| lowing:
One of the Imperials, last evening, interest
ed and nused for a long time a number OF Ia
dies and gentlemen, who had collected togeth-
er in the main corridor, by his curions exaEii-
nation OF various pieces of money exhibited 10
him, "a We'll AS by pee culiarity Of manner 1t
was difficult for him to conceive how two sill
Yer half dollars were the same, or equal III
value to 81 bank note bill. He seemed to be
able 10 comprehend howI gold dollar might
be the same in value bnt the case OF the Two
silver halt-dOlars appeared to be to him mex
plicable. Afler closely scrutlniZing various
descriptions OF money, presen. of 81 bill
was made to him. 1t was long before he could
be made to believe that this money was intend
ed for him but on this being made clear to
him, he seemed especially grateful. and insist
Ell on having the gentleman who gave him the
money write his name on large sized cara,
which he drew from u side pocket, and upon
which were also several other names. The
gentleman did as desired, when the imperial,
after minutely viewing the name, took out his
pencil and wrote the name i'll his own chiro-
graphy, after which he wrote 1t IN Engllsh,
showing his great power OF imitation by ihe
skill and correctness with which he copied the
Name. Like the Chinese, they always write
in 4 perpendicular line commencing at the top
and ending at the bottom OF the page.
About half-past 10 O'Clock Captain Lee APP
peared, and directed one OF the servants to
conduct this Imperial to his room, as he
stated, it WAS time he should retire This ser
want for some reason, did not perform this
duty himself but went and informed another
of the same class, who approached the lmpe-
rial in a manner which we in this country
would regard rs rather singular and bade him
follow him. The Imperial promptly aud
cheerful!y obeyed, very politely bidding adieu
TO those around.
During the stay of the Embassy in Wash
ingtOn, which will be for Il period OF three
weeks, the Marine Band will play every night
at the quarters in Wizards Hotel
The three elderly bald-headed personages OF
the suite are the Imperial doc tors of the ex-
pedition, and accordingly wear Il very sage de-
meanor in virtue of their high and grave Of
flee. All of the ImperaIs may be distinguished
from those of lesser rank by their wearing
white sandals.
On their arrival at Willard's, the treasurer
of the expedition deposited with the proprie
tors sum OF money amounting to $9e, 900 in
specie, which was duly locked up III the huge
iron safe of the establishment.
Presents pour in upon the japanese visitors
on all hands The articles presen ted are val
liable to them by reason OF their novelty,
even if Of little intrinsic worth; and they ex-
press high qualification at these little courte-
sizes.
| On being in tailed in their sumptuOus apart
| ments at Wizards yesterday. the dignitaries
of the embassy took their otinna dignifats
| seeking Il brief repose Of such loll upon the
rich divans of their parlors as they had proba-
bly, had no previous opportunity OF enjoying
! since embarking from Japan. Zach one OF
| them was duly waited upon by his own ser
wants, who glided nOiselessly to and fro, bear
ing hot in mi ia ature cups to some, peculiar
cigarettes to others, &c. Curiosity, however,
| soon Oyercame their disposition for Quiet, and
| they were visible for hours 1T their windows
| to the very large miscellaneous crowd assem-
bled on the sidewalks to catch glimpses OF
them. The ladies passing seemed to be quite ;is
much the objects Of absorbing but not uncour-
| teous curiosity to Them. than they were to the
| dear creatures themselves.
| Mr. Portman, the chief interpreter, by the
| by, is by birth Hoilander, and though quite
| young is u gentleman of polished manners
and impressive bearing, bearing eV ident marks
| in the even suavity OF his manners Of long
| association with japanese officials.
| THE SPANISH TOBACCO CONTKAcT Virginia
| amt Kemtutky Tobacco Waatsd.-The Spanish
| Consul at New York, Francis Stoughtop, pub
fishes the conditions for supplying the Spanish
| Government with tobacco for ls6l-'2-3. The
amount is 300 900 uin tails, or 81, 100000 pounds
| with "a margin Of 6,00.ooO fpounds additional.
r.l.a 4 Nin
official translation of the document says:
The tobacco shall be Kentucky and Virginia,
| to the exclusion of tine classes known in New
| Orleans as "factory iugs,'' planters lugs.
and LEAF inferior 10 common" Two eighth
parts, at least, OF the quantity contained III
each cask with the minimum weight OF six
| teen (l6) Castillian quintals each, in which
the tobacco must indispen sadly he packed,
eighth parts remaining, at most for fiilsrs.-
The leaf for wrappers must be ripe, fresh,
sound, fine and OF good color aud extent for
common cigars. That applicable for hliers
must likewise be ripe. fresh aud sound should
the tobacco not combine those circumstances.
| or have any at fects, it will not bc received.
The contractor shall deliver three hundred
| Thousand (:be, ,0OO) quintals OF said tobacco III
| the quantities and at the dates following:
1861. Q"intais. 1862 QM'mtadls ds
February Is WW July L.. IUi W
March i.-........ ~ uso Aususti. io!oo
May l.--....... 10 900 1858.
July J.............l ~ cd0 February l. Is tlO
Aueustl. .---. oOoo March L.. ~ aO
AA at.ARb A~eslv ANA