The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-08-05
A Visit to the Emperor Of Japan.

On the 9Th OF June, the Hon. Z. y. de
Long, late Minister Resident of the United
States to Japan, having been promoted to
the rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Min
lister Plenipotentiary, was received in audi
ence by his Majesty the Mikado, to present
his credentials. The Japan Gazette gives
the names of the party accompanying our
Minister on that occasion, and forming his
suit. Among the names, we find that of
Paymaster w. F. A. Torbert, U. S. NJ
From Mr.. Torbert's letters home, describ-
ing the interview with the Emperor of
Japan, we are permitted to copy the fol-
lowing account of the visit
"The streets of Yedo, from the hotel
where We stopped, to the castle, a distance
of about four miles, were guarded with
troops and nothing allowed to pass. We
were in full dress uniform, and rode in car
riages sent by the Mikado. After crossing
seven bridges over meats, and through the
same number of heavy iron gates, between
each of which the grounds were beautiful
and guarded by troops, we arrived at the
Palace, a massive building of tile, and of
style peculiar to Japan. Il forgot to say
that two court officers came for us to the
hotel, at 10 o'clock, and escorted the party
with mounted guard) Upon arriving in
front of the Palace, we were received by a
number of people of the Court, and taken
to beautiful reception-room, with all the
formal dignity of the East. We took seats
on one side of a long table, covered with a
heavy silk cloth, and the different members
of the Imperial Court came in one by one,
and after having been presented, took seats.
After they were all in,-about fifteen in
number, including two Court Interpreters,
tea and Japanese pipes were brought in.
After drinking tea, an officer came in and
said the Emperor OF Mikado was ready to
see us. AS soon as we left the table, band
at distance began to play, and as we
passed through long hall and 'came nearer
to it, we found it opposite to the throne,
upon which he sat, under heavy silk can
opy. The Minister, Mr.. de Long, made a
little speech, after which we were presented
one by one. His chief interpreter stood on
his left and replied in English, saying how
pleased he was to see us, &c. After this
we withdrew, and before leaving the Pal
ace, we were informed that we would be
expected to dine at the Mikado's prvat e
fishing ground, at Z p. NJ. So at about
o'clock, the same escort came for us at the
hotel, and after riding about three miles,
we came to a heavy bridge, and after pass
ing through a strong gateway of stone,
entered a garden as perfect as you could
imagine, made up of fish ponds, alive with
fish, ducks, stork, &c. After walk through
the grounds, we were received in per-
fectly furnished house, something of a
summer home; but the surroundings and
furniture were of the most Oriental rich
ness. We were taken into dining-room
from the room in which we were received,
about O. clock, and sat down to table
decorated with beautiful flowers, gold, sill
yer and glass and behind each chair, down
on his knees, was a waiter, dressed in gray
silk, all alike in dress, with white scarf
The Prime Minister of Japan conducted
the dinner. The Mikado never leaves his
Palace, and is never seen by any one in
1edo. First we had Japanese dishes
"chow-chow," which we ate with chop
sticks ; after which European dinner in
caurses 1t was good, but served too slow
We took seats at and did not get through
until ~ O'Clock. when we took leave by a
shake of the hand, and all of the Court
present hoping to see US again.
The meats we crossed on our way to the
Palace were about 30 feet wide, and each
of the seven gates had high walls, and was
guarded by about fifty troops.
DEATH OF JOHN SLIDELL.-Cable des-
patches from London report the death of
John Slidell, at the age of 7s years. He
was born in New York in 1893, and twenty
years afterward removed to Louisiana He
was appointed by President Jackson United
States District Attorney for that State, was
frequently elected to the Legislature, was
a Representative in Congress from 1S43 to
1915, and for a time was United States Min
lister to Mexico. In 1858 he succeeded to
the unexpired term of Pierre Soule in the
United States Senate, and in 1855 was re-
elected for six years. When the rebellion
commenced he resigned and at once took a
prominent part in the fortunes of the Con-
federacy. Jefferson Davis rewarded him by
an appointment as Minister of the Confed-
eracy to France, and he was with Mr.. Mason
were captured by the United States steamer
no Mr. oil