who had broken the laws of his country and was under arrest.'"

Their next stopping-place was Chicago, where they remained less than two days, and were treated with warm hospitality; and that visit they commemorated by presenting to the Mayor the sum of five thousand dollars, for the benefit of the poor of that lately devastated city.. The correspondence on that occasion was as follows:

"SECRETARY'S OFFICE OF THE

JAPANESE EMBASSY,

"CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 1872.

"To His Excellency J. Medill, Mayor of the City of Chicago:

"SIR: Permit us to add a small offering to the relief fund which the benevolent of your nation have donated to alleviate the distress of those of your people who suffered by the late fire. Kindly accept and dispose of it as your best judgment may dictate. With many thanks for your kind civilities, we remain yours respectfully,

"Sionii TOMOMI IWAKURA,

Ambassador Extraordinary of Japan.

Jussammi TAKAYOSSI KIDO,

Vice-Ambassador Extraordinary.

Jussammi ToSSIMITSI OKUBO,

Vice-Ambassador Extraordinary.

Jushie HIROBUMIE ITO,

Vice-Ambassador Extraordinary.

Jushie MASSONKA YAMAGUTSI,

Vice-Ambassador Extraordinary."

His honor returned the following reply:

"To Sionii Tomomi Iwakura, Jussammi Takayossi Kido, and others, of the Japanese Embassy:

"GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of $5,000 from the Embassy of His Imperial Majesty, of which you are the Chief Envoys, at the hands of Mr. Charles W. Brooks, Consul of Japan at San Francisco, donated to alleviate the distress of our citizens who suffered by the late calamitous conflagration. Permit me, in behalf of the people of Chicago, to tender you their most grateful thanks for this wholly unexpected and munificent gift. They will esteem it as an additional proof that the great nation you represent has enrolled itself among the progressive and civilized powers of the earth, as well as a lively testimonial of the personal sympathy of your Embassy for the misfortune of this portion of your American friends. Respectfully yours,

"JOSEPH MEDILL, Mayor." They left Chicago on the 27th of February and arrived in Washington on the 29th following.

At this point it becomes necessary for us to pause for a moment, to glance at the action of the Government, in connection with the Embassy. On the 30th of January the Congress of the United States made an appropriation of fifty thousand dollars for the purpose of entertaining the Embassy while in this country, and on the next day Mr. Mori wrote to the Secretary of State as follows: “In view of the action which the Congress of the United States has been pleased to take in regard to the Japanese Embassy, now on its way to the Capital, I deem it my duty, as it is certainly my pleasure, to tender my personal and official acknowledgments. It is not on account of the amount of

money appropriated, but the spirit which prompted the measure, which will gratify the Tenno of Japan, and my countrymen generally. I can assure you, sir, that this princely act will be fully appreciated, and will result, I trust, in making perennial the cordial friendship which now exists between the United States and the Empire of Japan."

In a subsequent dispatch which Mr. Mori sent to his Government on the 18th of February, he thus alludes to the action of the American Government, and gives his views as to how the money appropriated by Congress should be spent: "Owing to the 'snow blockade' on the Pacific Railroad, the Embassy has not yet arrived in Washington, and it is impossible to say how long the delay may continue. It affords me pleasure to inform you, however, that the Government here has made every preparation for extending a warm welcome to the Embassy. The President and Secretary of State have both exerted themselves in the matter, and a prominent person, General William Myers, has been selected to carry out the wishes of the Government. With regard to the question as to how the money appropriated by Congress shall be expended, I have intimated to the American Secretary of State, that it should not be used in paying the hotel-bills of the Embassy, but simply for carrying out any plans that may be devised for their entertainment."

The appropriation made by Congress was sanctioned with great unanimity; but before their final action, the honorable Members of the Committees of both Houses, on Foreign Affairs and Appropriations, desired some authentic particulars about the present condition of Japan,

when, under Mr. Mori's direction, the following notes were prepared:

The influences which have been disseminated among the nations of the East by the various interests of the western nations, have hitherto been injurious rather than beneficial. The people of Japan, as well as all in the Orient, feel the need of increased light in regard to the more elevated interests of humanity; and this is the chief reason why Mr. Mori cherishes a strong desire to do all he can for the education of his people.

The influences alluded to have also done much to keep back from the people of Japan very much of that true spirit of civilization, so eminently characteristic of America. And the fact seems now to be generally acknowledged that the Japanese people not only desire to follow, as far as possible, in all educational and political affairs, the example of the Americans, but that they look upon them as their best friends, among the nations of the globe. A prominent idea with the educated classes of Japan is, that in the very ship which took Commodore M. C. Perry ४ to Japan in 1852, were the germs of Christianity, civilization, and desire for equality and political freedom, and that the seed then planted has been steadily growing from that to the present time.

At first, the Japanese were, from their ignorance of the outer world, unwilling to open their ports to foreigners, or to receive them in their country; but as they began to see and understand, they gradually yielded up their prejudices. A new spirit animated them, and it was this which brought them to the Revolution from which they have recently emerged.

The first concession made by the Japanese was an acknowledgment of the darkness in which they were, and of the superior character of foreign institutions; and the immediate result was that they desired to cement a closer friendship with foreign governments. They naturally looked upon the United States as occupying the first rank. Then they also wished to consolidate the various internal interests of Japan.

The late Tycoon was favorably disposed, but, not being the legitimate head of the nation, the people were against him, did not support him, and hence he was powerless, and in due time resigned the Tycoonite. He was not the supreme ruler, because that position belonged to the hereditary Emperor.

The great party which opposed the Tycoon consisted of the Daimios-the Feudal or Provincial Princes-and a bitter rivalry existed between them. Both were willing to civilize Japan to some extent, but the Tycoon wished to civilize his followers alone, and the Daimios were anxious to secure the same end for their followers. While thus interfering with each other, both of these parties were, in reality, coming into a new light. They soon saw the necessity of uniting their interests, and the present movements now going on in Japan are the result of the co-operation of these two elements.

To help his cause, the Tycoon sent students abroad to be educated; and the Daimios, with the same object in view, also sent some of their followers abroad. Hence it was that the Japanese were soon found scattered among the colleges and seminaries of the United States and Europe, and representatives of both parties-long since