The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-27 00:00:00

JAPAN,

The news from Japan is of a pacific character,
and commercial relations were being renewed. A
private letter dated Dec. 17, says :—"The Tycoon's
Government have written a letter to Colonel Neale
stating how glad thet were that all was settled,
and hoping that our amicable relations would not
again be interrupted. Trade is vigorous-20 junks
in harbour. Cotton and silk coming in." The
China Mail is, however, of opinion that, although
the Japanese are peacefully inclined just now, they
will resume their hostile attitude when our forces no
longer threaten them. It adds ;—'l The existing
state of affairs in Japan, therefore, though pleasing
enough for the time, cannot be pronounced
satisfactory with regard to the future. It is just
probable that the Japanese nobles may become
impressed by the conviction that Britain is, on
the whole, too strong for them, but we should
be sorry to place much dependence on such a
contingency, It is much more likely that a few
years more may be devoted to preparation for hos.
tilities on a more extended scale, and when even
the present small squadron shall be further reduced.
The Japanese princes are, we think, sufficiently
persistent in their purposes to make many more
attempts to be rid of foreigners. In the meantime,
and pending the maturity of the preparations for
future hostilities, we shall not be surprised to see
them revert to the • policy which led to the aban-
donment of Yedo as the diplomatic headquarters
of the different foreign representatives. The
next step most likely to be contemplated—nay,
even already designed—is the removal of
foreigners from Yokohama. Several open endea-
vours to effect this have been promptly negatived by
the English minister and Admiral Kuper. Farther
efforts will doubtless be made, and they will be of
a less tangible kind than those which the admiral
and Colonel Neale were able to counteract. Japanese
statesmen are patent, and will not consider many
years of diligent mane3avring as thrown away in
the attempt to get us out of the country, To this
assiduity on their part we must oppose an equal
amount of patience on ours, but it must be tempered
with a degree of perfect firmness, and must never
be again, as heretofore, qualified by a conceding
disposition.
The writer concludes, however, by stating that
Japan was always apuzzle, and that we must hold
our own while patiently waiting for a clue to its
intricacies:

ESTIMATE OF OUR FOREIGN POLICY BY THE
FRENCH PRESS.—Le Constitutionnel speaks very
despondingly of any good likely to result from England's
proposal of a conference; as for any probable suggestion or
action of France we have not a word. La _Freese asserts
that Lord Cowley has failed in his endeavours to persuade
the French Government to move from its policy of non..
intervention. This evening, too, the papers speak of nothing
but the great difficulties which are arising for the " Powers
concerned ia this question ;" and La France adds that
hitherto France has happily kept free of the controversy;
and yet, in spite of all this, I know that it is believed in
generally well. informed circles that France is about to
accept the proposition of England, finding herself almost
forced to do so in consequence of having said all along that
she would be no obstacle to peace.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN FRANCE.—SOIIIO of
the Paris journals announce that a petition to the
Senate is now being signed, praying for the abolition of
capital punishment. The following is the text of the docu-
ment :—" Messieurs les Senatners—You are the protectors
of the principle of 1789, inscribed at the head of the consti-
tution. Your mission, however, is not confined to the
guardianship of those principles on which society and the
State repose. The legislator has willed that you should have
the'right of receiving the expression of what citizens desire,
and of transmitting it to the Emperor's ministers. The
Senate is not only the guardian of the progress already
accomplished, but is designed to become the initiator of
future improvements. The undersigned think that in the
first rank of the reforms which public opinion respectfully
solicits, should be placed the abolition of the punishment of
death. The most exalted and the most generous minds,
during the last hundred years, have professed and propa-
gated the eminently Christian and democratic belief that
human life is inviolable. llistory, when it shall be called
on to speak of the 19th century, will say that it was greater
than all which preceded it, because it was more humane.
Louis XVI, will be eternally respected for having abolished
the rack. What glory is therefore reserved for him who
shall sweep away the scaffold ! The undersigned express
a desire that the punishment of death be expunged from the
penal code. They hope that you will take that wish into
consideration, and they subscribe themselves, with profound
respect, your very humble, etc; '—(Here follow the Cigna-
turee.)