The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-19 00:00:00

the inland Sea, and who had recently engagements
with French and Dutch men-of-war. That Prince
is now in possession of both sides of the strait at
Simonosaki, and threatens to hold the passage
against all foreign vessels, though it has been open
for several years. This is the view likely to be en-
tertained by other Daimios who are not conversant
with naval logic. We have indeed terribly avenged
the murder of Mr. Richardson ; and it is to be hoped
the Daimios will never again allow their retainers
to commit such an atrocious act ; but the monetary
indemnity exacted from the Government of the
Taicoon is a much better security against the repe-
tition of such offences than the destruction of a
Japanese city can well be. When Prince Satsuma
thinks quietly over the affair, he can scarcely fail to
see that he and his people have been the chief losers.
He may still hug the conviction that he has repulsed
a British fleet, but this idea will probably do good
in allaying the feelings of. anger which must have
been roused in his bosom. So far as we are concerned
there must surely now be an end to the Richardson
case, and it is devoutly to be hoped that the Japanese
are prepared to allow matters to rest as they are.
Even the Emperor of the French judges that" a policy
of forbearance" is necessary in Japan, and the affair
at Kagosima has rather frightened the parties who
have been crying out loudest for "decided" mea-
sures in that country. The very first step taken
in that direction has been calculated to provoke,
rather than to control, the Japanese, and, at the
same time, to revolt the moral sense of Europe.
Two or three more victories such as that of Kago-
sima would be indeed disastrous—ruinous to our
good name, and ruinous to onr prospects of further
intercourse with Japan. It cannot be too strongly
impressed upon our countrymen in that part of the
world that the development of relationships must
be left to the natural working of those interests
which elsewhere are allowed to regulate the inter-
course between people of different nations. Until
Englishmen pay some respect to the feelings, and
even to the prejudices, of the Japanese it is hope-
less to look for anything like a good understanding.
This last mail, in a case which was tried before
Consul Winchester at Yokohama, affords a good
illustration of the manner in which difficulties arise.
Morotamon, a Japanese official, brought a complaint
against three British subjects, one of whom, it was
not denied, had fired at him, and had shot him,
through the arm. The Englishmen were on horse-
back at the time of the encounter, armed with re-
volvers, and had used abusive language towards
Morotamon, when he was only fulfilling his duty..
Now, it seems that the Japanese law of honour does
not allow a military officer to receive an insult
without demanding redress; and as the three bold
Britons were on horseback and armed, Morotamon
drew his sword in advancing towards them to de-
mand their names. On this they fired, probably
remembering the use to which Japanese swords had
been put in former instances, and it was only by
accident that he escaped with his life. Cases of this
kind are not easily prevented where there is much
mutual and suspicion ; but the Japanese
may well doubt whether they are likely to receive
justice at onr hands. If this official had been killed,
Mr. Consul Winchester would have been equally
bound as now to refuse redress, on the ground
which he alleged, that the danger to which the
foreigners were exposed was " of such a character
as to excite those reasonable apprehensions of
injury which justify the use of means of self de-
fence." The Japanese, with such cases before them,
naturally argue thus :—" We are no longer inde-
pendent in our own land, Here is a foreigner killed
in a dispute with one of our princes, and his coun-
trymen immediately claim the exclusive right of
passing judgment—they levy upon our Government
an enormous sum of money, barn our steamers, and.
destroy one of our most populous towns. Here is
one of our officials insulted and killed by several
armed foreigners ; and these same overbearing
people, still claiming an exclusive right of judg-
ment, pronounce the act proper, and refuse redress.
If these things are to be tolerated then our honour
is lost, and we are only slaves in the land of our
fathers. The Japanese cannot help considering
that if these things are done in the green tree there
is no saying what may be done in the dry. If two
or three hundred foreigners, located on isolated
points on the coast, thus pass judgment upon
and punish the most powerful of the Japanese
Daimios, what may not happen when these two or
three hundred have grown into two or three thou'

sand, or two or three hundred thousand ? The pros'
pact thus opened is calculated to excite resistance
even in despair. Our position in Japan, as variousit
illustrated by the case of Satsuma and by that of
Morotamon, is one which must be intolerable to and
independent, high-minded people ; and the best
thing her Majesty can do in re Japan is to appoint
a competent representative to confer with represen-
tatives both of the Mikado and of the Taicoon
to its being placed on some better footing.

C OITN TRY MARKETS.

11,

LYNN-TUESDAY.

At to-day's market there was a good supply of wheat,
and the prices of last week advanced 6d to is per quarter
for fine samples; other sorts as before. Barley fully sup-
ported late rates. Oats and beans were firm.
White ..45s to 46s j Barley 370 to 39s
Rod ..' 40s to 41s I grinding ..293 to n
Beans .40s to 44s I Oats.. .220 to •,•'''
New 3BB to 40s I Peas ....s to --