Sept. 13th
Went this morning to the hotel to see the Colorado boys. Met them and invited them to tiffin tomorrow. Then Antisell and myself went to the Yedo hospital to call on the Chief Medical Officer of the Empire. We found on arriving there that it is also the medical school to which (Page 53) the German physicians who were to be employed here, and who were our fellow passengers on the America, are attached. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sato, a Japanese educated by the Dutch, made his appearance soon. We transacted our business, which was the delivery of books and complimentary messages from the Surg. Genl. at Washington with request for exchange, and after looking through the school we left. As for the school, it has been run by recitation exclusively, without lectures, but that will soon be changed. Returned home to tiffin. After tiffin wrote a long letter to father which I directed both in English and Japanese and about 3pm started with Antisell for a walk through the shops. Got home just in time for dinner, ate my dinner and here I am.

Sept. 14th
A rainy, miserable idea is all I can raise for a letter tonight, for it is a rainy, miserable day. Nevertheless, we have had a run of company - three officers from the Colorado and three West Pointers who came over with us (Page 54). I spent the morning in daubing with water colors, and fixing up my camera lucida for drawing purposes, but can not yet make it work.
In the afternoon the company before mentioned came and we spent time in chat and cigars. Mr Shepherd, consul at Yokohama and acting as Chargé d’Affairs during the absence of Mr DeLong, the minister who has gone to Yesso, was of the party. His entire talk was of his interest in our affairs, the disgust of the English party at the treatment we have rec’d and the reaction in Japan in favour of America. The Genl. has invited Lt Wasson to remain with us for a few days of which I am heartily glad, for we agree admirably and already a new face is very pleasant.
Noticed today a cicada of this country resembles closely our ordinary locust, but has a sweet and varied note, pleasanter than that of any bird I have heard in Japan. The Japanese call it Sémi.
We are busy selecting plans for the building in Yezo. I think that our cottages will be one story, about 7 or 8 rooms each. If things don’t fall through I think next year will see us fairly settled in Japan