The Saturday, May 26, 1860 edition of The Polynesian featured news of a meeting between the Admiral of the Kanrin Maru, Yoshitake Kimura, and Kamehameha IV. Also present was David Kalakaua, future monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom:
COURT NEWS
On Thursday the Admiral of his Imperial Majesty of Japan visited officially the King’s Ministers, by a special delegation of two officers of rank, the Admiral himself being unable to come on shore, owing to the necessity of his superintending the arrangements for the prompt dispatch of the steamer “Candinmarruh.” The officers he delegated, after their visit to the King’s Ministers, were specially charged to express the Admiral’s great desire to pay his personal respects, and present his officers to his majesty before his departure, if the King, taking into consideration his limited time, could so arrange as to receive his visit.
The King was pleased to appoint Friday, at 11 A.M., for the reception of the Admiral.
At 10 A.M., on that day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, for himself and colleagues, returned the visit of the Admiral. He was received with the most marked courtesy, the Admiral explaining that as the Candinmarruh was lying at the wharf he could not salute.
Commander Brooke, of the U.S. Schooner ‘Fennimore Cooper,’ had the courtesy to inform the Minister of Foreign Affairs, by the previous mail, of the intended visit of the ‘Candinmarruh,’ and of the high rank of the Admiral on board, as well as the rank of the other officers.
On Friday it pleased his Majesty the King to grant an audience, at 11 A.M., to Kim-moo-ra-set-to-no-cami, Admiral of his Imperial Majesty of Japan, and Commander-in-Chief of his Imperial Majesty’s Naval Forces in the Pacific Ocean.
The Admiral was presented to the King by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who afterwards presented to his Majesty, Yeo-se-oea-uwo-hae and Na-ca-no-tua-Mungere, officers of his Staff, and Hooko-soya, Ukeokei and Si-tow Tomasu, Officers of his Household.
The Admiral expressed his thanks to his Majesty for the honor of the audience, and for the kindness and courtesy with which his Imperial majesty’s steamer Candinmarruh had been treated, and his hope that a treaty might be made regulating the friendly intercourse of two nations so contiguous to each other.
The King assured the Admiral that his policy being peace and friendship with all nations, he was glad to see the flag of his Imperial Majesty of Japan in his waters, and to welcome the Admiral and his officers to his kingdom. He requested the Admiral to inform the Emperor that he desired the most friendly relations with his empire; that from the contiguity of the two nations, he looked forward to a mutually profitable commercial intercourse between them, and desired a treaty to regulate that intercourse and perpetuate friendly relations of mutual respect, friendship and advantage forever. The King added that all Japanese subjects thrown upon the shores of his islands by misfortune at sea, had been treated with the utmost kindness, and that his wish was to treat them all in future with the kindness and hospitality extended to the subjects of the most favored nation.
The Admiral and the Officers of his Suite seemed much pleased with these sentiments of his Majesty. The Admiral expressed much regret, that having to sail so soon, he could not receive his Majesty on board in a proper manner, but expressed the hope that he could soon make another visit to this kingdom.
After the Admiral with his suite had taken leave of the King, the Captain of the steamer, Kats-Im-ta-ro, with his chief officers, arrived, and were presented to his Majesty, who received them in the most courteous manner. After some friendly conversation with the King, they were shown over the Palace.
At the reception the King was attended by the Chancellor and Chief Justice, Mr. Allen, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and David Kalakaua.
No comments:
Post a Comment