Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-05-31
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY

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at noon on Tuesday of last week, the jap
anese Commissioners, attended by two or
three members of their suit, and the Uni
ted States Naval Commission, all in car
riages, and preceded by their treaty-box,
borne on the shoulders of two of their SER
wants, proceeded to the State Department,
where their treaty with this Government
was duly ratified, in the office of the Sec
retary. On their arrival there, in their
presence and that of Secretary Cass, As
sistant Secretary Appleton, and two or
three others Of the Department, the copies
of the document were carefully compared,
and certificates of the correctness of each
were duly signed and exchanged which
comprises all the ceremonies comprising
the ratification Of treaty.
GUNNERY FOR THE JAPANESE.
The interview last Friday evening be-
tween the Japanese and American physi-
clans, says the correspondent of the New
York Tribune was only the Grst of series
Of practical discussions, 70 which the visit
ors have been, or are to be invited The
second took place on Saturday afternoon,
when Commander Dahlgren of he Wasa-
ington Navy Yard exhibited to the princi-
pal Ambassadors, a number of the most
tinel wrought American firearms, giving,
also, explanations of their mechanism, and
illustrations Of the manner in which they
are used. Commander Dahlgren was in
troGuced by Lieut.. Porter, as the officer
having charge Of the Ordnance Depart
ment at the Navy Yard, and as having
made the subject under consideration his
especial study for a long time. When it
was mentioned that the heavy guns the
Ambassadors had seen on board the Pow
hatan were Of Dahlgren's design, the Jap
anese present expressed in warmer terms
than before their satisfaction at meeting
with him. Two marines, sergeant and pri-
vate, then came in, and, under direction of
the former, the latter went through the
drill peculiar to the sword bayonet riaed
musket, which was carefully elucidated, the
japanese showing evident understanding of
the process, notwithstanding its novelty to
them. A number of firearms were then
submitted to inspection, with the operations
of which the Ambassadors expressed them
selves quite content.
OgOorl Boongo no Kami, the third Am
bassador, who has displayed throughout the
most interest in the proceedings, then OBJ
served that, although a civil functionary,
he had received a military education He
re-examined the seyaral weapons Yith par
ticular care, giving evidence by the manner
in which he took and handled them that
he was connoisseur, and thoroughly ap-
preciated their superior workmanship
The arms were all hreech- loading, with the
exception Of one rifed musket, constructed
upon the principle of Colts revolver Am
unition, cartridges, and the percussion lint
recently invented as a substitute for the
cap, were exhibited, scarcely any explana-
ton being required, the Japanese evident
ly recognizing at glance the merits of ev-
erything laid before them.
With considerable satisfaction, the third
Ambassador then brought forward the rife
maaufactured at Jeddo, which possesses GER
tain Improvements upon the American
Sharp's rifle, left with the japanese in
1854 by Commodore Perry. They careful
ly and anxiously y scrutinized Commander
Dahlgren's face while he examined it, and
seemed overoyed when he declared that
the invention was very crcdtable, and the
workmanship excellent He remarked, at
the same time, that he would wish to see
the weapon tested before fully pronouncing
upon it; to which the Ambassadors answer
ed that it had been we'll tested, but yet
perhaps not so much as would be desirable
Commander Dahlgren then invited the
Japanese to visit the Navy Yard, and to
witness the operations and effect of the
heavy ordnance there. This proposition
was very promptly accepted, and next Wed
nesday was fixed for the event. The Jap
anese were we'll pleased to learn that spe-
cImens of the various firearms could be OBJ
tanned and taken home with them, and re-
ceived with thanks book upon boat how
itzer practice which was presented to them.
The principal Ambassador, in speaking
of his sword, mentioned that it had been
in his family for four hundred years, and
added that the swords of many of his
friends in Japan were known to have been
made at least twice as long.
The Washington Star says that they were
waited upon by Mr.. Colt, (of revolver re-
nown,) wsth whom they spent pleasant
hour in examining his arms and listening
to his explanations. They then exhibited
to Mr.. Colt their improvement on Sharp's
carbine, with which Mr.. Colt expressed
himself very much pleased, and remarked
to them that the person who had made that
Improvement was man of great ingenui-
ty, and deserving Of great deal of credit.
These arms, he said further, were as well
made as any that were manufactured in
America. They seemed very reluctant to
part with Mr. Colt, they had become SO ve-
ry much interested in the guns.
On Saturday the japanese officers were
guided through all parts of the hotel by