The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-12


temple and tea garden, we had magnificent and
extended prospect Lofty and snow clad hills at this
with it's millions of inhabitants its prisons, its palaces
and it's novels. more perfect in urtc the eye
never dweit upon; trees and flowers are everywhere;
its architectural features attract notice. the palace
and the temple OF the Tycoon alone distinguished Dy
Their superior proportions The residences Of tne
princes built in hollow squares, occupying acres OF
ground, planted with the choicest trees aud surrounded
by immense ranges Of buildings, in which dwell their
hundreds of retainefs In the princes quarter the
difference in the character and costumes OF the people
your attention arrested by the Gathering of
r g. al ched to long poles the signal OF the poe to
clear the way bend the knee before the pre-
g sence Of some mighty prince who, with
ohcal papers, and perchance his soioi linen borne
pompous paner, condescends to pernea'e the vulgar
crowd There much in III professions recall the
traditions Of the Middle Ages when the feudal barons
strobe forth in all the penade and pride of
sttuonal freedom win break upon the darkness of
despotism, which for unknown centuries has over
shadowed this fair and fertile land unless trer
and coward, like John Of England should Ill the Tycoon
hrone and the power OF the press should lend its nu
nee to produce the change.
An incident perhaps the most important which occurred
OF the Minister Of Foreign Affairs the present regent Of
Japan The party consisted Of the American Minister
resident, Col Ripley, U. S. A. Lieut. H. A. Wise, u S.
N, aud ten officers from the Niagara The procession
in nmiraons preceded by the American nag, and
o0wed bv such paniers baskets borne in the
etinue Of thu native princes but containing nothing
started from the residence Of hs Excellency Townsend
Il. III.
hour the palace of the Regent which situated be-
tween the first and second wills OF the triple walled and
triple mounted fortiac atoms which surround the pa
lace OF The Tycoon. The vestibule OF the building
filed with soldiers on their knees. Ia an anteroom
met the late japanese Ambassadors to the United
States, and by them conducted in order OF rank
into long with lofty ceilings and matted oors
where seated the Regent and Censor behind small
table We took our seats al long opposite the Regent
In the centre OF the room, between the Regent and
American Minister, sat Simme Buien, the first IN rank,
Of the late Amba ssados TO the Tinted States and before
and h.l fhpfr fkgn
In front Of No Kamis in ,udng the ond
aud third Of the late Embassy. At the extreme end o.
the room his knees deserted the Governor as he
was called in country, and rueul countenanco
we never beheld Also the Treasurer, whose usually
bright and beaming face sad and sober II was
doubtless humiliatng position for these worthless 10
occupy presence, however high the privilege to
approach the representative OF the throne; at
other times could not but pity them, while must
admit there was some malice mingled with our pity,
when remembered that often times shey refused 10
receive the visits aud congcauia ons OF our airest and
proudest oountr women
The American Minister introduced By each Of the
visitors the inroductions we're then repeated Dutch
by his secretary and subeq lcny in japanese b. the
terpreto To his Eyceency the Regent. This ceremony
ended general congratulations we're passed some ques-
tons asked and very artfu aud evasive given
by the Regent On the subject OF the ordnance presents
sent from the United States To the Tycoon there was much
saCn aud now outstanding the persistent remarks.
OF Of the officers in charge Of them who had orders
to remain and instruct them in their use they politely
declined, and seemed aironted at the bare supposi
ton Of their ignorance. Their reply was, "We al
ready know little, and learn more" visit
subsequently mace to their arSenas proved from
the number of Dahlgren guns which they had already
made from pattern presented by Commodore Perry,
the offer TO instruct wa quite gratuitous
After this feast Of reason then commenced the flow or
soul which brought on by some score OF well dressed
and well drilled servants who placed in front Of each
guest lacquered trays, with lacqucred cups, both Of
which were beautifully simple and First course,
cake and fruits tea and tobacco Second course, raw
cumbers Fourth course, picked fish and vegetables
Fifth course roast quail on board this was the chef
pofta nd tied I'd in
course cooked fish Seventh course sake red and white.
Eighth course, tea and tobacco. The Ambassadors
recent guests assisted in serving whilst the No kams
were apparently amused at our awkward attempts to |
drink soup aud birds and dsh with chop sticks. AZ
ter having satisfied which audable curiosity they furnish
ed with knives
During the collation. occasional remarks of national
and fraterna character interchanged, some few
toass drunk and before the musical period arrived
took departure in the order we entered, shook
hands with the Regent and said Sionddd ondy and for
ever to the swar,hy and courteous Ambassadors from
Cipango.
At the temple where we resided bazaar was opened,
which many curious and handsome articles were
posed and Sold the vendors OF them being acute and
cunning any Europeans Amcrlc ms and we fear,
not half honest. lying with them, a distinguished
English uris remarked OF their neighbors the Chinese
appearing to be constitutional. During the greiter
part Of our visit tho weather was bad, and consc-
quently but little OF the epvrons, the pleasure
grounds ard gardens which surround the city. After
days lett Jeddo having received aboard presents
Baltimore Washington ana san Francisco and minor and
less bulky ones for the officers OF the ship The value
n,
been opened while the lesser Ones although not costly
have a value which money could not impart as the gra
tuitous gifts Of warm and grateful hearts If any in
dulged golden visions do not regret their disap
poinment The Japanese are poor simple and frugal in
their TASTES indulge IN no incur no
the princes is expended on the maintenance OF their nu
merous rctainers
The prevailing vice among them is sensuality which
rampant and could scarce have been equaled in
the worst days Of Pompcii Obscenity meets your eye
on every hand in every FORM pictures and images
of young girls following the god Of their idolary
arc frequently seen in the streets Prostitutes are OK
posed for sale cages aud the accrung there
from goes into the imperial treasury Public and pro
mscuous bathing is common in the smaller towns, while
larger the neminaly separated by trans
parent screens and alone employed TO assist the
bathers their ADDITIONS This custom is confined TO plrt
The price Of bath Is about eight cents The doors are
open the streets 30 that the passers by can without
seemed the least to interrupt the routine Of the
bathers.
At Yokohama, seventeen miles from Jeddo, We
pssed several DAYS at the hospabe residence OF an old
friend, whom we had known in former years at Canton
This town has almost sprung into existence since the
il was a mere collection Of novels and huts, and ts
broad aud spacious streets hled with bazlars
tanning the of art from Jeddo Meaco and Ma
gasaki CONVENE Mt custom house and wharvcs have
aso been built The foreign female society Is small
numbering but three ladies' and the second evening
after our arrival there ball at tho house Of OF
them, which remained until The morning gun from
the Prussap flagship, lying in the hbor announced the
break Of day The honored guest on the occasion was
her accomplished commander, whose urbanity OF man
and distinguished appearance created the most ia
vorsble impression
The public amusemens not numerous, are they
together oon.ormabe 10 English American ideas OF
propriey however suited they may be TO the tastes OF
the Japanese but from the expensive manner in which
they gotten up foreign support must have been
peccd The ballots certainly differ from those In which
have Tagoni, Ccrito and Flslcr and the music
did remind OF the airs OF Rossin Belln Verdi
The tragedies and pantomimes did not which 20
must regret, a. they nigh, have admitted more minute
d,cription. The popular piece, we're told, the
Of the late Prince Regent and also that
Il Ia In such subjects the gentle Nphonese most delight
The harbor contained but few ships, two OF which
cleared for Shanghae while we were there. Business
was rather stagnant. The tsebn raging with
all the intensity OF the national disease and the opinion
prevailed that un this currency question is settled
permanent and equitable basis, commercial
transactions will be restricted within narrow and
limited sphere.
our Consul General Dorr, who Is prince Of good fe
low, resdcs at kanagawa distant four miles from Yoka