No. 248.
Mr. De Long to Mr. Fish.
United States
Legation,
Japan,
December 21, 1872. (Received Jan. 23,
1873.)
No. 324.]
Sir: I have the honor to advise you that on
yesterday I received from the minister for foreign affairs of this empire a
note, (inclosure No. 1) advising me that this government has changed its
calendar and adopted the system in use in America and Europe; to which I
this day replied by a note (inclosure No. 2) congratulating him upon this
reform.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1.—Translation.]
Soyeshima Tane-omi to
Mr. De Long.
The 19th day of the 11th month of the
5th year Meiji.
Sir: The calendar heretofore in use having been
changed, a new one, called Solar, (Taijo liki,) will be used, the 3d of
the coming 12th month having been designated as the 1st of the 1st
month.
And I beg leave to communicate to your excellency that we will call next
year the 2,533rd year after the inauguration of Inmu Tenno, and the 6th
year of Meiji.
With respect, &c.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. De
Long to Soyeshima
Tane-omi.
United
States Legation, Japan,
December 21, 1872.
No. 135.]
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch advising me of the change made
by your government in its calendar, and to heartily congratulate you
upon this reform, which, while it gives your government a more
convenient system, also serves to bespeak the great antiquity of His
Majesty’s throne. I am sure that all western states will hail this
action with great pleasure.
I have, &c.,
