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PART I.

THE JAPANESE EMBASSY.

On the 12th day of January, 1872, Jujoi Arinori Mori, the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires in Washington, addressed a letter to the Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, from which we extract the following paragraphs: "I have the honor to inform you that I have received dispatches from my Government, communicating the information that a Special Embassy from the Tenno of Japan to the Government of the United States would soon arrive in this country. On what particular day they were to sail I do not know; but I presume they will reach Washington about the close of the present month. The object to be attained by this Embassy will be fully stated on a future occasion; but, in the mean time, I may remark that one of them will be to increase the friendly relations already existing between Japan and the United States."

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In November, 1871, his Majesty MONTSOHITO, Emperor of Japan, had, at a dinner given to his nobles at his palace in Tokei, before sending forth the Ambassadors of Japan and Suite, accredited to the Fifteen Foreign Treaty Powers, delivered the following

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ADDRESS: *

"AFTER careful study and observation, I am deeply impressed with the belief that the most powerful and enlightened nations of the world are those who have made diligent effort to cultivate their minds, and sought to develop their country in the fullest and most perfect manner.

"Thus convinced, it becomes my responsible duty, as a Sovereign, to lead our people wisely, in a way to attain for them results equally beneficial; and their duty is to assist diligently and unitedly in all efforts to attain these ends. How, otherwise, can Japan advance and sustain herself upon an independent footing among the nations of the world?

"From you, nobles of this realm, whose dignified position is honored and conspicuous in the eyes of the people at large, I ask and expect conduct well becoming your exalted position-ever calculated to endorse, by your personal example, those goodly precepts to be employed hereafter in elevating the masses of our people.

"I have to-day assembled your honorable body in our presence-chamber that I might first express to you my intentions, and, in foreshadowing my policy, also impress you all with the fact that both this Government and people will expect from you diligence and wisdom, while leading and encouraging those in your several districts, to move forward in paths of progress. Remember, your responsibility to your country is both great and important. Whatever our natural capacity for intellectual development, diligent effort and cultivation is required to attain successful results.

"If we would profit by the useful arts and sciences and conditions of society prevailing among more enlightened nations, we must either study these at home as best we can, or send abroad an expedition of practical observers, to foreign lands, competent to acquire for us those things

* Translated by NORIUKI GAH.

our people lack, which are best calculated to benefit this nation.

"Travel in foreign countries, properly indulged in, will increase your store of useful knowledge; and although some of you may be advanced in age, unfitted for the vigorous study of new ways, all may bring back to our people much valuable information. Great national defects require immediate remedies.

"We lack superior institutions for high female culture. Our women should not be ignorant of those great principles on which the happiness of daily life frequently depends. How important the education of mothers, on whom future generations almost wholly rely for the early cultivation of those intellectual tastes which an enlightened system of training is designed to develop !

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Liberty is therefore granted wives and sisters to accompany their relatives on foreign tours, that they may acquaint themselves with better forms of female education, and, on their return, introduce beneficial improvements in the training of our children.

"With diligent and united efforts, manifested by all classes and conditions of people throughout the empire, we may attain successively the highest degrees of civilization within our reach, and shall experience no serious difficulty in maintaining power, independence, and respect among nations.

"To you, nobles, I look for the endorsement of these views; fulfill my best expectations by carrying out these suggestions, and you will perform faithfully your individual duties to the satisfaction of the people of Japan."

On the morning of January 15th, the steamer America arrived at San Francisco, having on board one hundred and seven Japanese passengers, of whom forty-nine constituted the Embassy, while the remainder consisted of five young ladies and fifty-three young gentlemen and servants, who were accompanied by the Hon. Charles E. DeLong,

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