1910.] DUBOIS— JAPANESE EMBASSY OF i860. 251 



To His Majesty, the President of the United States of America. I ex- 

 press with respect: Lately the Governor of Shimoda, Insooye-Sinano-no- 

 Kami and the Metske-Iwasi-Hego-no-Kami (Prince of Idzu), both Imperial 

 Commissioners, had negotiated and decided with Townsend Harris, the Min- 

 ister Plenipotentiary of your country, an affair of amity and commerce, and 

 concluded previously the treaty in the city of Yeddo. And now the ratifica- 

 tion of the treaty is sent with the Commissioners of Foreign Affairs, Simnie- 

 Buzen-no-Kami, and Minagake-Awzi-no-Kami to exchange the mutual treaty. 

 It proceeds from a particular importance of affairs and a perfectly amicable 

 feeling. Henceforth the intercourse of friendship shall be held between both 

 countries and benevolent feeling shall be cultivated more and more and 

 never altered. Because the now deputed three subjects are those whom I 

 have chosen and confided in for the present post, I desire you to grant them 

 your consideration, charity and respect. Herewith I desire you to spread my 

 sincere wish for friendly relations and I also have the honor to congratulate 

 you on the security and welfare of your country." 



(It would be easy to improve the English of this translation, 

 but I give it as it was rendered at the time.) 



The third envoy, unnamed in this letter, was Oguri-Bungo-no- 

 Kami, and was known as the censor (or spy) ; following in order 

 were the treasury officer who had full authority over the finances 

 of the embassy, the governor (or executive manager), aids, in- 

 terpreters, doctors, guards of the treaty box, and servants including 

 " spies " — in all, seventy-six. The three " princes " who head the 

 list as ambassadors were of equal rank with those who negotiated 

 the treaties with Perry and Harris. They were not hereditary 

 princes of the blood but Samurai members of the Tycoon's foreign 

 affairs council. 



It will be remembered that when Harris signed the treaty of 

 commerce in 1858 it was stipulated that the ratifications should be 

 interchanged in Washington. The formalities of the ratification of 

 Harris's treaty were now in order. That this was a matter of 

 moment to both nations and regarded as more than a picturesque 

 affair of good feeling will become apparent. This is what President 

 Buchanan said about it in his annual message to Congress seven 

 months later (i860) : 



The ratifications of the treaty with Japan concluded at Yeddo on the 

 29th July, 1858, were exchanged at Washington on the 22nd May last and the 

 treaty itself was proclaimed on the suceeding day. There is good reason to 

 expect that under its protection and influence our trade and intercourse with 

 that interesting people will rapidly increase. 



