No. 405.
Mr. De Long to Mr. Fish.

No. 477.]

Sir: Since the date of my last dispatches, His Royal Highness the Duke of Genoa has been entertained by His Majesty the Emperor as his guest.

Among other entertainments a grand review of the troops at Yedo was held, at which I had the honor of being present by invitation. Some seven thousand troops were reviewed, mainly of the line, all armed, drilled, and uniformed in foreign style. They executed their various evolutions to the surprise and gratification of all the foreigners present.

After the review was over we proceeded to the Castle grounds, where the Emperor descended from his carriage and promenaded for an hour or two with us on foot. He was dressed throughout in foreign uniform, as were also his officers of the household. No guards or soldiers of any sort were in or about the Palace grounds. After the promenade His Majesty entertained us at breakfast in a pavilion in the grounds. The table was set and the meals served throughout in foreign style. While we were discussing the meal a band of Japanese musicians, thirty in number, dressed in scarlet uniform, discoursed foreign airs on foreign instruments. The band was equipped in all respects like the band of the British tenth regiment formerly here.

I have detailed these particulars to attract your attention to the remarkable change between the customs of this court as they were when I arrived here and as they now are.

On the 13th instant his excellency Iwakura Tomomi returned via Shanghai on board the American steamer Golden Age. He was received with great enthusiasm by the government and the people.

The second day after his arrival he sent me a very polite invitation to breakfast with him, which I was prevented from accepting by the very severe illness of one of my children. Whereupon he sent me a very kind expression of his feelings. A few days subsequently, in company with Mr. Rice, I called upon him. He received me with the greatest cordiality, and expressed in a heartfelt manner his deep sense of obligation to the government and people of the United States for the extreme courtesy which marked his reception and treatment while there. He also honored me by expressing his warm personal and official regards.

The general news of the country is somewhat unimportant. A general state of quietness prevails, and the prospect for abundant crops is a fair one.

The Dutch minister, having gone away for a short time, has confided the business of his legation temporarily to my charge.

I am, &c.,

C. E. DE LONG.