industry of other lands, by a free press, by freedom of thought and of conscience, and a liberal toleration in matters of religion, not only to citizens, but to all foreigners resident among us. It will be a pleasure to us to enter upon that consultation upon international questions in which you say you are authorized to engage. The improvement of the commercial relations between our respective countries is important and desirable, and cannot fail to strengthen the bonds which unite us. I will heartily co-operate in so desirable an object. Your kind wishes for me personally, gentlemen, are cordially reciprocated. I trust that your abode with us may be agreeable to you, and may contribute to a more intimate acquaintance and intercourse between our respective peoples."

The President next introduced each member of his Cabinet by name to the Ambassadors. The officers of the various Departments were then called forward, commencing with the Department of State,

After these introductions were over, the President offered his arm to Prime Minister Iwakura, and, with the Embassy, the Cabinet officers, and a few others, proceeded to the Blue Room.

Here were stationed several ladies.

After formal introductions had been made to the ladies, Mrs. Grant, Mr. Mori acting as interpreter, held a very pleasant conversation with Mr. Iwakura and other members of the Embassy. They all remained in the Blue Room for half an hour, and then withdrew, bowing very low to the ladies, and not averting their faces until they were in the main corridor of the Executive Mansion.

They repaired at once to the Arlington, to prepare for a splendid social entertainment afforded them in the evening at the residence of Hon. James Brooks. This dinner was given by Mr. Brooks as a recognition of the handsome courtesies extended to him during his visit in Japan, and was one of the most elegant entertainments ever given in Washington.

On Wednesday, the 6th of March, the Congress of the United States, by special invitation, gave the Japanese Embassy a formal reception. Long before the appointed hour the galleries of the House of Representatives were filled to their utmost capacity; and when, at eleven o'clock, the Embassy arrived at the Capitol, the Chief Ambassador was escorted by the Hon. Nathaniel P. Banks, Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, and the other Ambassadors by the remaining members of the same Committee. As they entered the hall, the members and clerks rose and received them standing, and the visitors were escorted to the semicircle in front of the Speaker's desk, the chief Ambassadors taking positions nearest the desk, and the attachés in the rear of them. Amid profound silence, General Banks then introduced the distinguished visitors, and as each name was mentioned the person designated bowed low. A moment afterward, the Hon. James G. Blaine, Speaker of the House of Representatives, addressed the Embassy as follows:

"YOUR EXCELLENCIES: On behalf of the House of Representatives I welcome your Imperial Embassy to this hall. The reception which is thus extended to you so unanimously and so cordially by the members of this body is significant of the interest which our whole people feel in the rapidly developing relations between the Japanese Empire and the American Republic

"The course of migration for the human race has for many centuries been steadily westward—a course always marked by conquest, and too often by rapine. Reaching the boundary of our continent, we encountered a returning tide from your country setting eastward, seeking, not the trophies of war, but the more shining victories of peace; and these two currents of population appropriately meet and mingle on the shores of the great Pacific Sea. It will be my pleasure to present to you personally the representatives of the people; and I beg to assure you, for them and for myself, that during your stay at our capital you will be at all times welcome to the privileges and courtesies of this floor."

At the close of the Speaker's address the Chief Ambassador was introduced, and deliberately unrolling a parchment, he proceeded to read an address in his native. tongue.

At the conclusion of this address, which was delivered in a clear and distinct, though not powerful, voice, and with a peculiar and somewhat monotonous intonation, which made the strange scene the more striking, General Banks, at the request of the Prince, read the following translation of the Chief Ambassador's address, which he requested. might be spread upon the journal of the House.

"Mr. Speaker, and Honorable Members of the House of Representatives of the United States:

“On behalf of the Ambassadors of Japan, our sovereign, and the people whom we represent, we tender to you our sincere thanks and warmest friendship. We fully appreciate the distinguished honor which places us, face to face, in presence of that mighty power which rules the great American Republic.

'Governments are strong when built upon the hearts of an enlightened people. We came for enlightenment, and gladly find it here. Journeying eastward from the empire of sunrise toward the sun-rising, we behold a new sunrise beyond the one we before enjoyed.

"New knowledge rises daily before us, and when a completed trip shall shall have passed in review, an encircled globe shall gather together our treasures of knowledge; remembering that however we have advanced toward the sources of light, each onward move has revealed a further step beyond. The Government of Japan already appreciates the value of an enlightened policy toward itself and all nations; but our mutual assurances on our return will confirm to the people at large the friendliness of feeling so frequently expressed heretofore, and now so generously exhibited to this Embassy.

"In the future an extended commerce will unite our national interests in a thousand forms, as drops of water will commingle, flowing from our several rivers to that common ocean that divides our countries.

"Let us express the hope that our national friendship may be as difficult to sunder or estrange as to divide the once blended drops composing our common Pacific Ocean."

This concluded, the Embassy faced the body of the Representatives, and the latter filed past and were severally introduced. The Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate, honored the occasion with his presence, and was the first dignitary presented to the Embassy; and the Hon. Henry L. Dawes, on behalf of the Representatives, took occasion to say that they had all listened with great pleasure to the speech. delivered by the Ambassador; after which the entire body paid an informal visit to the Chamber of the United States Senate, then in session, and were next shown about the Capitol building generally. During the remainder of their stay in Washington, the members of the Embassy were constantly engaged in attending to their business with the Government or in accepting hospitalities, and they were to leave the Metropolis only to enjoy a continuous series of welcoming entertainments in the cities of the North, to which they were invited by many delegations of distinguished gentlemen.

Having now seen that the Japanese Embassy is in the hands of the American Government, and that they are visiting the institutions of the nation, under official escort, and that they are being hospitably entertained by corporate bodies in all the leading cities on the Atlantic coast, we proceed to give a few particulars of a personal character.

And first, as to the Chief Ambassador, Tomomi Iwakura. He was born in 1825, and is a man of superior abilities. He does not speak English, but has manifested his regard for education by sending three of his sons to be educated in this country. He is the Left-hand President of His Japanese Imperial Majesty's Ministry-Sandeo being

the Right-hand President-and is, in fact, the principal working executive officer of the Japanese Government. His visit confers the same degree of honor from Japan, as the visit in person of the Premier of Great Britain would confer from that power. He was an inveterate opponent of the Tycoon in the late war, and was for several years held as a prisoner by the Tycoon's Government. To him, more than any other man, is due the late revolution and its wonderful results, and he now wields a corresponding influence in the Japanese Ministry.

His first public audience at Court was in December, 1858. He was appointed to the Privy Council in December, 1863, soon after the formation of the present Government. He was elected Vice-President of the Ministry (Cabinet) January 9, 1868. The title of "Sionii," the second honorary grade of the imperial order, was conferred upon him, February, 1869. This is the first title below the imperial title. On the 26th day of September, 1869, the Emperor issued the following decree:

"TOMOMI,-Being zealous in strengthening the Imperial authority throughout our Empire, you have at length succeeded in establishing our Government in its present form, and have taken upon yourself this great task of administration.

"You have, indeed, labored industriously, vigorously, and nobly at this difficult task, and your plans and suggestions have always been suited to the requirements of our Empire. You are the founder of our present style of Government, and the indispensable member of my councils. As I am heartily gratified with your distinguished merit, it is my pleasure to bestow upon you the