The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-23 00:00:00

INTERCOURSE WITH JAPAN.

The papers respecting affairs in Japan just laid
before Parliament show how unpleasantly near we
have been of late to a war with that country, owing
to the murd'r of Mr. Richardson in September.

The Japanese Ministers had sent nctice to our em-
bassy that the highroad would be required on the
15th and 16th for the Mikado's envoy, but unfortu-
nately that personage tcok his journey on the 14th,

and so came upon an unsuspecting English party
who were riding out, and one of whom paid the
penalty with his life. He was frightfully hacked,
one cut extending from the shoulder down almost
the entire length of the back, through m hich the
lungs and part of the intestines protruded. The
toreig❑ residents belt, a miduight meeting, e.t which
the British consul presided ; it was stated that the
Japanese party were sleeping at no great distance
from Kanagawa, and it was unanimously resolved
to request the naval authorities to land 1,000 men,
and secure the person of the Daimio, or some of his
high officers. There were then 3 French, 1 Dutch,
and four English men-of-war in port. A deputation
immediately went on board the Euryalus, and Ad-
miral Kuper rose from his bed and heard their
statement. He declared himself ready immediately
to meet and consult the diplomatic agents and fo-
reign naval commanders, but having only arrived a
few hours since, and being a perfect stranger to all
the localities, he should not feel justified in taking
active measures without first consulting with her
Majesty's Charge d'Affaires. A meeting was ac-
cordingly held at 6 o'clock in the morning at the
residence of the French Minister. The British
Chargé, Colonel Neale, considered the proposed
measures of coercion utterly impracticable, and
tantamount to a commencement of hostilities with-
out even communicating with the Government of
Japan—a proceeding altogether unjustifiable, and
involuntarily engaging her Majesty's Government
in a course of action which it had not contemplated.
The admiral concurred in this view, and represented
the difficulty that would arise as to the disposal

of the Prince, if taken, and the danger to the lives
and property of the whole Europ, an community.
The French Minister was convinced by these rea-
sons, and the matter was handed over to diplomacy,
but the naval authorities determined to strengthen
the force at each of the Legations, and establish
patrols and reserves. Earl Russell has approved
the judgment and forbearance displayed by Colonel
Neale in resisting the pressure att, mpted to be put
upon him, and which, if he had yielded to it, might
have involved the British Government in hostility
with Japan ; in demanding redress from the Minis•
tern of the Tycoon he adopted the only course pro-
perly open to him. The papers show some result
for the future from the demand thus made. Guard-
houses have been established along the high road
frequented by foreigners, and a new read was im-
mediateiy begun specially for the Daimios and
their retinues to use. The measure relieving the
Daimios from attendance at Court will relieve
Yeddo of above 200,000 two-sworded retainers, the
class from among which has arisen every personal
outrage or injury to foreigners in Japan. But as for
the discovery of the murderers of Mr. Richardson
it was still " proceeding.'' The law requires the
Diamio to be the person who arrests his retainer
and hands him over to the Government, and though
the Government had required several persons to be
arrested and handed over to them, these persone
had not yet been delivered to them. Colonel
Neale was threatening to report to his Government
that there was substantially a denial of redress.
With regard to the arrangement made by Earl
Russell with the Japanese Envoys, that on certain
conditions the opening of further treaty ports should
be delayed for five years—especially in the aboli-
tion of restrictions on the sale of goods to foreigners,
on labour, and on free social intercourse with the
people of Japan—Colonel Neale reports that the
arrangement was received by the Japanese Govern-
went with unfeigned satisfaction as fares concerned
the consent to defer the opening of further ports,
but the conditions attached were evidently unpa-
latable. He reports in October that there is but
slender probability of those conditions being carried
) into effect in the present state of our relations with
Japan.

Importing Tea without colour on the leaf pre-
vents the Chinese passing off inferior leaves as in the usual
kinds. Ifornirean's Tea is uncoloured, therefore, always
good a?ike. Sold in packets by 2,280 agent,
By accounts from Belgium, we learn that genial
weather is also prevalent there ; more than 1C days ago the
chestnut trees were in leaf and roses in blossom.