itself is an event that causes a sensation. But the review of the army by the Emperor and the General was an event which had no precedent in the Japanese history. The hour for the review was nine, and at half past eight the clatter of horsemen and the sound of bugles was heard in the palace grounds. In a few moments the Emperor's state carriage drove up, the drivers in scarlet livery, and the panels decorated with the imperial flower, the chrysanthemum. General Grant entered, accompanied by Prince Dati, and the cavalry formed a hollow square, and their procession moved on to the field at a slow pace. A drive of twenty minutes brought them to the parade ground, a large open plain, the soldiers in line, and behind the soldiers a dense mass of people—men, women and children. As the General's procession slowly turned into the parade ground, a group of Japanese officers rode up and saluted, the band played "Hail Columbia," and the soldiers presented arms. Two tents had been arranged for the recepception of the guests. In the larger of the two were assembled officers of state, representatives of foreign powers, Governor Hennessy, of Hong Kong, all in bright, glowing uniforms. The smaller tent was for the Emperor. When the General dismounted, he was met by the Minister of war and escorted into the smaller tent. In a few minutes the trumpets gave token that the Emperor was coming, and the band played the Japanese national air. His Majesty was in a state carriage, surrounded with horsemen and accompanied by one of his Cabinet. As the Emperor drove up to the tent, General Grant advanced to the carriage steps and shook hands with him, and they entered and remained a few minutes in conversation. At the close of the review, General Grant and party drove off the ground in state, and were taken to the Shila palace. This palace is near the sea, and, as the grounds. are beautiful and attractive, it was thought best that the breakfast to be given to General Grant by His Majesty should take place here. The Emperor received the Gen. eral and party in a large, plainly furnished room, and led the way to another room, where the table was set. The decorations of the table were sumptuous and royal. General Grant sat on one side of the Emperor, whose place was in the centre. Opposite was Mrs. Grant, who sat next to Prince Arinagawa, the nearest relative to the Emperor, and the Commander-in-Chief of the army. The guests, in addition to the General's party, were as follows: Her Imperial Highness Princess Aimayaura, their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Higashi Fushimi, Mr. Saujo, Prime Minister; Mr. Iwakura, Junior Prime Minister; Mr. Okunea, Finance Minister; Mr. Oki, Minister of Justice; Mr. Terashima, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Ite, Home Minister; Lieutenant-General Yamagata, Lieutenant-General Kuroda, Minister of Colonization; Lieutenant-General Saigo, Minister of War; Vice-Admiral Kawamusa, Minister of Marine; Mr. Inonye, Minister of Public Works; Mr. Tokadaifi, Minister of the Imperial Household; Mr. Mori, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Yoshida, Envoy to the United States; Mr. Sagi, ViceMinister of the Imperial Household; Mr. Yoshie, Chief Chamberlain; Mr. Bojo, Master of Ceremonies; Prince Hachisuka, Prince Dati, Mr. Insanmi Naboshima, Mr. Bingham, and Mrs. Bingham; Ho-a-Chang, the Chinese Minister; Mr. Mariano Alvaray, Spanish Charge d'Affaires; Baron Rozen, Russian Charge d'Affaires; M. de Balloy, French Charge d'Affaires; Governor Pope Hennessy, and Mrs. Hennessy. The Emperor conversed a great deal with General Grant through Mr. Yoshida, and also Governor Hennessy. His Majesty expressed a desire to have a private and friendly conference with the General, which it was arranged should take place after the General's return from Nikko. The feast lasted for a couple of hours, and the view from the table was charming. Beneath the window was a lake, and the banks were bordered with grass and trees. Cool winds came from the sea, and, although in the heart of a great capital, they were as secluded as in a forest. At the close of the breakfast, cigars were brought, and the company adjourned to another room. Mrs. Grant had a long conversation with the princesses, and was charmed with their grace, their accomplishments, their simplicity, and their quiet, refined Oriental beauty. At three o'clock the imperial party withdrew, and the guests drove home to their palace by the sea. Entertainments in honor of General Grant were constantly occupying public attention. He visited the various colleges, and pronounced the cadets of the military school as promising a body as any seen by him in Europe. He witnessed the annual ceremony of the opening of the principal river of Tokio, which consisted of a brilliant night congregation of illuminated boats, and the most successful of all displays in his honor, a theatrical performance, especially prepared. On July 17, General Grant and party went to the shrine of Iyeyasu, the founder of the great Tokugausa family, at Nikko, a famous and sacred resort one hundred miles in the interior. After spending nearly three weeks, enjoying a delightful time, the General returned to the capital, and started on a new excursion to Kamakara, the ancient seat of military government, and its neighborhood, and in the mountain range of Hakone. General Grant returned to Tokio, August 19th. During his stay at Tokio he was visited by the Mikado, who consulted on many important points of international policy, and to some extent of domestic policy. The confidence and reliance manifested by the government and people were unprecedented. General Grant found himself burdened with unexpected questions in relation to Eastern policy. During his visit to North China both Prince Kung and the Viceroy, L. Hung Chang, laid before him their side of the Loochoo controversy, asking him to use his influence with Japan to prevent a serious misunderstanding between the two Empires. The General is believed to have replied that the other side would doubtless express themselves as strongly from their standpoint when heard, and though a rupture would be lamented by all observers, he did not see that he had any right to interfere. The Japanese authorities, on hearing this, took great pains to prepare a documentary vindication of their claims, which was submitted for the ex-President's inspection by the Cabinet. This appearance of over-anxiety does not commend itself strongly to spectators generally, Japan's supremacy over the Loochoo Islands being so plainly defined and thoroughly established as to need no superfluous demonstration. But the circumstances are interesting as showing the weight attached to General Grant's influence and the favorable view taken of that gentleman by both governments. General Grant had now reached the end of his journey and stay in Japan. He had been nearly two months within her Empire; had witnessed the most enthusiastic and the most spontaneous demonstrations of his trip, from first to last; he had been accorded privileges such as no other ruler or potentate had ever enjoyed. After exchanging a series of formal visits, and a delightful round of dinners, receptions and entertainments, the General and party embarked from Yokohama on board the steamer Tokio, September 3, for the United States. There were men-of-war of various nations in the harbor, each of which manned their yards and fired salutes of farewell. For half an hour the bay rang with the roar of cannon and was clouded with smoke. The scene was |