No. 362.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation, Japan,
Toki, September 26, 1874. (Received October 29.)
No. 127.]
Sir: I have the honor to report the arrival, in
health, of Professor Davidson and his associates, sent hither by order of
our Government, to make observation of the transit of Venus on the 9th of
December next. On the 7th instant, in anticipation of their coming, I
addressed a communication to the minister for foreign affairs acquainting
him that they were commissioned under the laws of my country to make
observations of the transit of Venus from some point in Japan, and, to that
end, requested for the professor and his associates the freedom of the
empire. It gives me pleasure to say that on the 25th instant I received from
the minister for foreign affairs, in reply to my communication, a pass for
the professor and his party to visit, without limitation, any portion of
Japan; and, also, a proffer of Japanese officials to attend the party to
contribute, as far as possible, to their personal comfort, and to witness
the methods of taking the observations. I have the honor to transmit
herewith a fall copy of the text of the minister’s communication to me,
(inclosure 1,) and of my reply thereto, (inclosure 2.)
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 127.]
Mr. Terashima to
Mr. Bingham.
Foreign
Office,
Tokio
the 25th the 9th month, 7th year
Meiji, (September 25,
1874.)
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 7th instant,
asking me, on behalf of Professor Davidson and eight other astronomers
sent hither by your Government to observe the transit of Venus in
December next, for a pass to visit, without limitation of locality, any
portion of Japan, and to select and temporarily occupy a place suitable
for their purpose.
In reply I beg herewith to inclose the pass for these gentlemen. Availing
of this favorable opportunity my government will appoint some officers
to accompany these gentlemen for the purpose of obtaining astronomical
information, and I sincerely request that these gentlemen take the
trouble of explaining such matters, as our officers
[Page 768]
so appointed will travel in company with
the gentlemen, and make everything as convenient for them in their
journey as possible.
Hoping your excellency will be pleased to convey what is said above to
Professor Davidson and the other gentlemen,
With respect and consideration,
TERASHIMA MUNENORI,
His Imperial
Japanese Majesty’s Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
His Excellency J. A. Bingham,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of the United States.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 127.]
Mr. Bingham to Mr.
Terashima.
United
States Legation,
Tokei, September 26,
1874.
No. 85.]
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge your dispatch of the 25th instant, in which your excellency
informs me that your government has, in accordance with my request,
kindly granted a pass to Professor Davidson and his associates to visit
any part of Japan for the purpose of observing, under the instructions
of ray Government, the transit of Venus. I have made known to Professor
Davidson, as your excellency requested me to do, the purpose of your
excellency’s government to appoint officers to attend him and to obtain
information of him as to his methods in this interesting work. I beg
leave, in behalf of Professor Davidson, to thank your excellency’s
government for its proffered courtesy, and have the honor to inform your
excellency that he will be pleased to have the Japanese officials attend
him as proposed, and to impart to them the information desired. I beg
leave, in behalf of my Government, to request that your excellency’s
government will telegraph the Japanese customs officials at Nagasaki to
permit Mr. Edwards, the second assistant astronomer commissioned to this
work, to receive from the Golden Age, upon its arrival in port, free of
duty and without examination or delay, the instruments and outfit of the
astronomical expedition, the property of my Government, and, when the
work is completed, to reship the same without detention or payment of
duties. I am authorized by Professor Davidson to say that there is
nothing in this outfit but what especially appertains to the
astronomical work assigned to him and his associates.
The professor also requests me to ask the further favor that your
excellency’s government will authorize the telegraph officials at
Nagasaki to furnish him material and labor to aid him in constructing
whatever short telegraph line he may have occasion to construct for the
connection of his astronomical station with the cable and government
lines at that port, the reasonable expenses of which the professor will
pay. He also desires that your excellency’s government will detail a
government telegraph operator to assist him in the use of the telegraph
lines, especially at night, for the determination of the difference of
longitude, for which service also the professor will make payment.
Mr. Edwards has already gone forward on the Golden Age, and Professor
Davidson leaves for Nagasaki on Thursday next, the 1st proximo. Your
excellency will greatly oblige by sending the telegraph instructions to
Nagasaki promptly, and by informing me of your action in the
premises.
I have the honor to be your excellency’s obedient servant,
His Excellency Terashima Munenori,
&c., &c., &c.
