DELIVERY OP THE PRESENTS. 



357 



The presents filled several large boats, ■whicli left the ship escorted by a number of ofScers, a 

 company of marines, and a band of music, all under the superintendence of Captain Abbott, 

 who was delegated to deliver the presents, with proper ceremonies, to the Japanese high 

 commissioners. A building adjoining the treaty house had been suitably constructed and 

 arranged for the purpose, and on landing Captain Abbot was met by Yezaiman, the governor of 

 Uraga, and several subordinate officials, and conducted to the treaty house. Soon after entering, 

 the high commissioner, Prince Hayashi, came in, and the usual compliments being interchanged, 

 Captain Abbott, with the interpreters, were led into the smaller room, where a letter from the 

 Commodore and some formalities on the delivery of the j^resents were disposed of. The Japanese 

 commissioner, after some discussion, fixed the ensuing Thursday (March 16) for an interview 

 with the Commodore on shore, when they jDromised to deliver a formal reply to his notes in 

 regard to the opening of the various Japanese ports insisted upon. 



The presents having been formally delivered, the various American officers and workmen 

 selected for the purpose were diligently engaged daily in unpacking and arranging them for 

 exhibition. The Japanese authorities ofi"ered every facility; their laborers constructed sheds for 

 sheltering the articles from the inclemency of the weather ; a piece of level ground was 

 assigned for laying down the circular track of the little locomotive, and posts were brought and 

 erected for the extension of the telegraph wires, the Japanese taking a very ready part in all 

 the labors, and watching the result of arranging and putting together tlie machinery with an 

 innocent and childlike delight. The telegraphic apparatus, under the direction of Messrs. 

 Draper and Williams, was soon in working order, the wires extending nearly a mile, in a direct 

 line, one end being at the treaty house, and another at a building expressly allotted for the 

 purpose. When communication was opened up between the operators at either extremity, the 

 Japanese watched with intense curiosity the modus operandi, and were greatly amazed to find 

 that in an instant of time messages were conveyed in the English, Dutch, and Japanese 

 languages from building to building. Day after day the dignitaries and many of the people 

 would gather, and, eagerly beseeching the operators to work the telegraph, watch with unabated 

 interest the sending and receiving of messages. 



Kor did the railway, under the direction of Engineers Gay and Danby, with its Lilli- 

 putian locomotive, car, and tender, excite less interest. All the jjarts of the mechanism 

 were perfect, and the car was a most tasteful specimen of workmanship, but so small that it 

 could hardly carry a child of six years of age. The Japanese, however, were not to be cheated 

 out of a ride, and, as they were unable to reduce themselves to the capacity of the inside of the 

 carriage, they betook themselves to the roof. It was a spectacle not a little ludicrous to behold 



2 telegraph instruments. 



3 Francis's life-boats. 



1 locomotive and tender, passenger car, and rails complete. 



4 volumes Audubon's Birds of America. 

 3 volumes Audubon's Quadrupeds. 

 Several clocks. 



10 ship's beakers, containing 100 gallons whiskey. 



8 baskets Irish potatoes. 



3 stoves. 



Boxes standard United States balances. 



Boxes standard United States bushels. 



Boxes standard United States gallon measures. 



Boxes standard United States yards. 



1 box coast charts. 



4 bundles telegraph wires. 



1 box gutta percha wires. 



4 boxes batteries. 



1 box machine paper. 



1 box zinc plates. 



1 box insulators. 



1 box connecting apparatus. 



1 box machine weights. 



1 box acid. 



1 box seed. 



Large quantity of agricultural implements, &c., &c., &c. 



