114 BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. [Jan. 



havinsr devoted the full measure of his strength and influence 

 to advance his country's interest, without avail, he would seal 

 his patriotism with death, and so died by his own sword. 



Three months after the abolition of the sword it was my 

 privilege to dine with Minister Mori and others, at his resi- 

 in Yedo. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. There were 

 present : Kuroda, Samishami, minister to France (whose 

 face was of a pure Grecian type), Okubo, minister of the 

 home department, afterwards vice-prime minister, and 

 others. Okubo was perhaps the most influential man in 

 Japan, certainly more thoroughly identified with its modern 

 exotic development, and more exposed to the hatred and 

 calumny of obstructionists than any other. In less than two 

 years he was waylaid and assassinated by four Samurai, 

 armed with the proscribed sword, while on his way to the 

 imperial council chamber. His assassins immediately deliv- 

 ered themselves up to the authorities, — voluntary sacrifices, 

 as they asserted, in behalf of their oppressed fellow-men. 



Not the least interesting of those present was Lady Mori, 

 tiny and slight of figure, in dainty European costume. She 

 appeared only at the table, however, where she occupied 

 one of the humbler places. She was addressed twice or 

 thrice, and then only by such of the company as chanced by 

 their inferior rank to sit near her. It was, however, a con- 

 cession to foreign etiquette that she appeared at all. 



While speaking of the men most conspicuous in the 

 oligarchy which surrounds the throne of Japan, a word is 

 due the emperor who sits upon it. He is the first Mikado 

 during many generations who has made even a pretence of 

 having a voice in the government. On his accession to the 

 throne in 1868, at the age of fifteen, he ignored the prece- 

 dents of centuries, burst the doors of his sacred prison, 

 appeared before his people, and pledged to them the future 

 attainment of a constitutional government. It is difficult 

 to say how far this manifestation sprung from his own mind, 

 or what is his real part in the government. Doubtless we 

 may say of him, as was once said of the king of the French, 

 " The king reigns, but he does not govern." 



While the features of the emperor are not indicative of a 

 high order of ability, yet he is generally believed by foreign- 

 ers to be a man of liberal views, and is deservedly popular. 



