Japan and the Japanese

552 JAPAN. A. D. 1654 I860.
twenty, though some of them, directly attached to the persons
of the three ambassadors, were far above the rank of ordinary
menials. The three ambassadors, though they bore the title
of princes, were understood not to belong to the small ehis.s of
hereditary nobles, but to owe their titles to the positions which
they hold in the Emperor's, service. Among the seventeen
persons next in rank to the ambassadors were a treasurer, hav-
ing charge of the finances of the embassy, though, except
as to such purchases as they made, this office was a sinecure;
a marshal, so to speak, charged with the oversight and government
of the servants ; several secretaries, interpreters, and
doctors, and others who might be called attaches. There was
no priest or chaplain, nor any appearance of any formal wor-
ship. The three ambassadors affected a good deal of reserve ;
the others were inclined to sociability ; but their ignorance of
the language, and the necessity that all communications should
undergo a double interpretation from English into Dutch, and
then into Japanese, or vice versa, was a great obstacle to the
communication of ideas.
In New York, besides their visits to public places and insti-
tutions, the more curious of the Japanese were taken to visit a
number of large manufactories of various kinds, in several of
which they exhibited a good deal of interest. They made a
good many purchases, and received a great many presents, the
manufacturers of various articles hoping in this way to open a
market for their wares in Japan.
Though a good deal pressed upon at times by over-curious
crowds, their reception was everywhere of the most kindly
character, and can hardly fail to leave upon them a strong im-
pression of American good-will.
Since the negotiation of the recent treaties, a number of
American and Englishmen, agents of mercantile houses, have
established themselves at the open ports. A few cargoes of
Japanese products have been shipped, but the trade is still in
its infancy, and the extent to which it can be carried remains
very problematical.