The first Japanese school-book that fell into my hands I mistook for one of our own publications, for, with the exception of the paper, it was a fac-simile of one of Appleton's books, not even the name and date of the original being omitted. So eager are they to gain a practical idea of everything which aids our national progress, that I do not hesitate to say that one or two specimens of every invention of any merit would be purchased by those people, and, if too expensive for a private individual, as an experiment, one of the princes would become its buyer.
The Government has already purchased twenty or thirty steamers, among which, at the time, were the finest and swiftest that had ever left the West. The princes, too, are each anxious to secure a steamer as a private yacht, but the Government for the most part aims to retain the monopoly of steam navigation. The Emperor, instead of taking his three-weeks' journey overland to Miaco, now goes by steam in twenty-four hours. What is most remarkable is, that all these steamers are managed without the aid of foreigners. For three or four years a small foundery and machine shop were in operation in Nagasaki, under the supervision of the Dutch, and in this school the Japanese received their brief instruction. A trial-trip of a couple of hours before taking possession is all that is required for them to understand the most complicated engine of our ocean steamships, and, so far, I have heard of no serious accident from the want of experience. What a strange contrast do we see here to the lethargy of the bigoted and conceited Chinese! They have been, more or less, in constant intercourse with the civilized world for centuries, and for fifty years intimately so, yet out of the numerous steamers which they have purchased from us, and have in constant use, not one is without its foreign engineers, and, in most cases, its foreign captain, for its navigation.
I have often been asked who the Japanese Ambassadors were that once visited our country, and what became of them, particularly of the wonderful Tommy. The chief ambassadors belonged to the class Hatomoto, or squires. They were clothed with extraordinary powers and rank for the occasion. On their return they delivered the results of their mission, and the presents, to the proper departments, and quietly resumed the position and duties belonging to them before setting out for this country. As to their committing hari kiri, or being disgraced, I never heard anything of it, except in our own newspapers.
Tommy was some ways removed from the honor of being of princely blood. He was the adopted son of one of the petty officers in the Government service, and was chosen to accompany the embassy because of his ability to speak English, which he had acquired as a boy at the custom house. He is now a major in the Imperial army, and, when I left, was taking lessons from an old member of the Seventh Regiment of New York in military tactics. He is thoroughly democratic, and remarked to me one day that they would soon have a revolution in their country in favor of free and enlightened principles, against the effete aristocracy and feudalism of a barbarous age, still pressing on them. Tommy is but one of many whom I have met who hold the same views, and I have reason to believe that there are thousands ready to raise their voices, and give their lives even, when the proper moment arrives, for the defence of the most cherished rights of man—equality, the freedom of speech, and the exercise of his conscience—for which it may almost be said the Japanese have no expression in their language.
Before Commodore Perry's visit even, our country and its wonderful history seemed to have produced a peculiar impression upon the intelligent Japanese.
