Nearly every day, some of the Japanese officials came off to the flag-ship to arrange in the preparation of the treaty, that matters might be facilitated during the formal interviews held ashore. Chief at such times, on their part, was Moriyama Yenoske, the imperial interpreter in the Dutch language; indeed he was _the_ man of the treaty, so far as the Japanese were concerned; to his friendly regard to the Americans, his clear appreciation of propositions, and the accurate conveyance of them to the minds of the commissioners by his translations, we are much indebted. On the 27th an entertainment was given to the commissioners on board of the flag-ship. It was the first time that the Japanese imperial flag floated from the mast-heads of foreign men-of-war. The guests came off about three o’clock in the afternoon. On passing the Mississippi they received a salute of seventeen great guns. They first went aboard of the Macedonian, when her crew were beat to general quarters, and the broadside-guns of the ship, together with her large “pivots,” exercised before them. From here they went to the flag-ship Powhatan, but some of them, who had changed from their steady-moving boats, by invitation, to our buoyant and lively ones, did not have their appetites for the repast that awaited them, improved by the qualmy motion. On the Powhatan they were shown the exercise and rapid firing of the twelve-pounder howitzers, in which they appeared to take much interest. They then partook of a dinner, which had been spread for them: the commissioners dining with the commodore, and the rest of the company from tables spread under the awnings of the quarter-deck. The Japanese did full justice to the dishes before them, and when partaken to satiety, they aided the disappearance of the food, after the manner of their country, by wrapping up and taking away an occasional pie or sweetmeat of which they are very fond. Music from the band regaled the occasion, and as the hermetics drained their draughts of champagne and cordial down, they became very social, if not confidential, and proposed frequent sentiments of friendship between “Nipong” and America. With such a people, John Barleycorn is very potent: particularly in treaty-making. At night on the forecastle the Japanese witnessed a capital Ethiopic performance, at which they appeared much amused. Indeed their stoic gravity had pretty well left them before this hour, and one of them, during the evening, indulged in a polka under the hurricane-deck with a very intelligent midshipman. They left at an early hour for the shore, and after a salute from the Saratoga, their flag was hauled down. One of the commissioners had a fancy for a large cake, which was given him by the commodore, together with some cordial, to be sent ashore the next day. During the night one of the orderlies at the cabin-door stole and made away with the cake. Not wishing to give the Japanese the bad idea of our men, that the mention