RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY OF KANAGAW4. 207 



Captain A. I cannot wait so long. It must be sooner. 



The Japanese here stated that in three days from this their new year commenced, which was 

 a season of rejoicing, visiting, and festivity ; and both by law and custom no work was done for 

 several days at this period. They persisted so earnestly in this, that I consented at last to wait 

 seven days. On the 20th of February, the lieutenant governor came off to the ship, attended 

 as usual. After an exchange of compliments: 



Captain A. I hope you have come to say that everything is prepared on shore. 



Lieutenant Governor. We wish to speak on that subject. Immediately after the last interview 

 the commissioners wrote to Yedo to have the ratification signed in the form agreed on. The 

 ratified copy has come from Yedo. We have brought it for your examination, and also a letter 

 from the chief commissioner explaining the proper title of the Emperor when used in great 

 matters. 



(Mr. Lobscheid had always used the word Kubo, in his translations, as an equivalent for 

 Emperor.) 



The letter. 



The commissioners have, as much as was in their power, and as distinctly as possible, written 

 to Yedo about everything that was agreed on at the meeting recently held in the temple of 

 Tsio Lakzi, translated by Lobscheid, and the commissioner Idsero, in order that all affairs, each 

 word, and each line, might be fulfilled according to promise. Further, about the conclusion of 

 the treaty, we have to-day received the following document from the supreme council at Yedo : 



" The reason of this is — that though his excellency, Adams, wishes to have the word 'Kubo' 

 written, the government, after consultation, finds this word improper, because the word 'kubo' 

 is with us only used by the common people ; and that, in so important a document as the stipu- 

 lations of the treaty, and such like, always Tai-Koen is written, which is in accordance with 

 Japanese usage ; and especially should this title, ' Grand Lord,' or ' August Sovereign,' 

 be written in a public document which is to be sent to a foreign country and faithfully kept till 

 in eternal life. In such a document, the word ' kubo,' as a common or vulgar word, may never 

 be written. Also in the letters which are sent from Corea to Japan, and from Japan to Corea, 

 the word ' Tai-Koen,' has been used for many hundred years. Therefore, according to the old 

 usage, the word ' Tai-Koen' is used in the confirmation of the treaty, not only because it is 

 becoming to do so, but because it would be impolite to insert a word used only by the common 

 people in a document on a level with his Majesty the President of the United States' signa- 

 ture, written with his own hand. The above mentioned will be well known to his excellency, 

 Adams, if he remembers the Japanese usage of last year. But should he not remember this, 

 or the high officers of the United States doubt it, then the plenipotentiaries Ido-Tsu-Sima, 

 Isawa Mimasaki, Tsoesocki Soeroega, Matzmoto Dzulo, and Hokakin Idsero, will sign a declara- 

 tion to that effect to remove all doubt. The word command or order, signifies what proceeds 

 from the grand lord to his subjects. He assembles his subjects and verbally communicates to 

 them. Thus it speaks for itself that in such a case he has also the power to enforce the obe- 

 dience of his subjects. Hitherto, in important documents, by or through authority, the words, 

 power and order are used, which express the above meaning. The confirmation of the treaty 

 is also signed by the six supreme councillors, as desired by his excellency, Adams, and with 

 this reason, because all political affairs, be they large or small, must be done by these persons, 

 who, in all affairs of the government, must meet at the same time, and in all councils and 



