, 1874-10-18
THE JAPANESE COURT.

though HIS Majesty would be present, he would
/ be in great part concealed from view. either by
I tapestry or by screens. aud was further assured
that an audience in this form was the only way
| in which 1t had been accorded to others. I at
once declined to be thus received. insisting that.
| as tie representative of the President OF the
| presence OF His Majesty, and that to submit 10
anything else was to admit an inequality highly
de1cga:orv to my Government. THIS point was
at last conceded It. was then proposed that
who, in my presence, should hand them to His
| Majesty. This Likewise declined to do. re-
spectfully insisting that as Was the bearer of
q communication from the ruler Of my peop'o to
sumo personally in the hands of His Majesty.
| It may strike you that these matters were un-
important but they were far from being 60. I
WAS labollng to strike down oriental dogma
| equiveca! equality. Prior to being received, I
| was furnished With diagram showing the VAIL
| ious a| p1 oacbes to the CATTLE the entrances
thereto, the halls, apartments, aud rooms there
! IN. which WIS TO enter Or rahs through This
/ diagram was so specific as to indicate the exact
| standpoint 10 DO occupied by my suite aud my
SELF and also by the leading officers of tho jap
| auese Government when in the immediate pres
| once of His A1aj:s r.
| The form OF co emopy described ras that, when
arrived at the castle, to be received at the
eatrance by Wee Milistet for Foreign Affara:
| By him, with ny suite. was to be escorted to
room il the castle where would be met BY the
chief Minister for Foreign Affairs, aul with him
find prepared. After which would be intro
duced to al! the other officers Of State Who would
retire immediately. After which, at til. sound
Of nut g by the Cur. band. s'snifyine that his
Majesty ascending the throne, l wonld pro-
ceed to the audience, escorted by the Minister.
At the time appointed set out on journev
for tile castle, surrounded and escorted bv large
| tody of troops, foot aud horse, provided more
F.. &u1nt
corners weie guarded by c,;lnpunies of infau:ry.
with ropes stretched across them tc: keep back
the Turgin5 multitudcs who ha1 assea,Lled to
sec the foreigners pass, and who greeted our
u, prosch with insult and deris1on. Tnus Mt
tended, at last reached tho rcception-foom,
where was waited uron as per prog: g:amme, and
introduced to all Of the high officers Of State,
acrayed IN their indescrlbable robes OF ccl enlouy
Preseutls the music. az it called, was heard
it seemed to come from all quarters OF tho castle
st once; the air was SLOW and dIge-like. played
upon reed instruments, pitched to the highest
key, and it sounded to ice like solemn protest
offered by twenty-five centuries OF eeclusion
against the approach OF progress in the nine
ber and the approaches to the throne itself were
thronged with cour;iers and officers, each bowed
almost to tho ground, with their hands resting
upon their swords in instant preraration, and
their keen eyes glarirg like basilisk7-
Immediately to the right hand Of His Majesty
. sn ord-bcarer held half-drawn sword ready
for him to grasp, whilst Immediately behind
him Was perfect arsenal OF most murderous-
looking weapons within easy reach. Ny sensa-
| tions can easier be imagined than described.
I found His Majesty seated upon throne
which l cannot attempt to describe, the whole
canouied by most magnificent damask. and
fanked By griftins, birds and animals in antique
bronze. We here repeated the prearranged con-
g1atuatory speeches, which sounded in the at
mosphere OF such SUIT .undngs false and
hollow as language could. This being ended. I
advanced Immediately to His Majesty and hand
ed him my letter, receiving his own for the
President in return. While doing this, noticed
that His Majesty was very much asitate1, he
being youth OF only about ~ years. This
ceremony being concluded, we retired as Ne had
been received
reception in order that might contrast it with
ccrtain ceremonies that occ Tired prior to my de-
parture. Shortly before nv successor arrived,
nv colleagues and myself were invited to ut
tend with the Grand Duke Ct Genoa, then IN
Japan on visit, review of troops in Jeddo,
aod 3 breakfast at summer hoKse in The
grounds Of tue castle; proceeding thither in
Carriages, re found lnrge body OF troops, in
cludlng all arms artillery, cayalre and infantry,
awaiting us. Soon after, tho Grand Duke, ac-
comraned by his suite, arrived and exchanged
sa1uiations with us. immediately thereafter His
Majesty came driving rapidy from tho castle,
escorted bv about 100 mounted guards, present.
Of scarlet, green, aud gold, with their tall
plumes, bright lapces. and peuons glitte1ng III
the eun. At once the review commenced, and
was pronounced in every way highly creditab1e
bv the Italian, English. French, and German
military and naval officers there present. the
trooos being armed, equipped. and drilled in ex-
get conformity with The system prevailing at
present in France.
The review being ended, We proceeded at once
to the palace grounds, where His Majesty.
descending from his carriage. surrounded by LiB
rff1tara 1f EtAto and household. received
us informally, and ut once preceded us, ACCOM-
panied by the Grand Duke. in promenade Of
neatly two hours duration throughout the
grounds. His Majesty was dressed IN foreign
xtyle. wearing a foreign sword and cooked hat
and go were all of his officers and attendants
dressed, Illustrative of His Majesty's character,
/ may mention that he exhibited to us With great
pleasure little spot which he had p1crared
Within ihe grounds. upoa which was erected
peasants thatched hur perfect model OF these
commonly seen throughout the country, sur
rounded by 8 garden in which Wero growing all
classes Of grain flowers and vegetables commonly
familiarize himself with agriculture and to
understand the habits and wants OF his people.
One thing very remarkable WAS observed
By me during this promenade, namely,
that nowhere throughout these extensive
grounds, diversified BY hills, valleys.
aud ravines, and in many places covered with
dense growth Of trees, was there single soldier,
police, OF other guardsman to be seen, thus
proving how completely His Majesty relies for
his personal protection upon the devotion Of lis
subjects.
The promenade being ended. We proceeded to
q pavilion situated in another portion Of the
grounds, near n waterfall and email lake.
where we found our breakfast "ating u.s. The
table was furnished aud served in foreign style.
and whilst occupied with our breakfast we were
entertained with muec furnished by band OF
japanese musicians using exclusively foreign
notebooks and instruments, and disco9!slns
-fs,