The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-13 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND JAPAN.

The less Great Britain can conceal from herself that
she has lost the western hemisphere, the more energeti-
cally does she strive to insure to herself the eastern, in
order that she may rule without a rival in the Indian
seas. The southern extremity of Africa belongs to her;
by the island of Aden she commands the entrance to the
Red Sea; she has taken her stand on Bushire, to watch
the mouth of the Euphrates; Ceylon lies at the entrance
to the Bay of Bengal ; on the west coast of Transgan-
getic India also has she established herself for now
twenty years, by the peace of Yandabu. The keys to
the Straits of Malacca are, however, far more important,
namely, Pub Penang, and the flourishing settlement of
Singapore; while, in order to insure the route to the
Chinese colony of Hong-Kong, the island of Laboan,
on the north-west coast of Borneo, has just been taken
possession of. The Malay pirates are thereby impeded
in the exercise of their profession, and moreover, the
little-explored island of Borneo opened to discovery,
while the further inroads of the Dutch, now so active
in the East Indian Archipelago, are prevented. At
the same time Palo Laboan is important as a coal depot,
as it lies about half way between Singapore and Hong
Kong, which latter commands the mouth of the Canton
River, in the same manner as Heligoland does the
Elbe and Weser. Chusan, which England should
have evacuated long ago, is still in her possession;
but oven if she do give it up, she has instead of this
unhealthy island, another in view, which has a healthy
climate, and a far more favourable position for her de-
signs. This is the island of Quelpaert, the rumoured
occupation of which by the English, as stated lately in
Antwerp and London journals, we by no means doubt.
This island is the largest in the Archipelago of Corea
(lon. 126 E., lat. 33 20 N.), and lies about 20 leagues
from the S. point of the Corean peninsula; it can ix
reached by steam from Chusan in a few days, ani com-
mands at once the Yellow Sea, the route to Pekin, the
Straits of Corea sthich leads to the sea of Japan, and
the west coast of the Japanese empire, particularly the
neighbouring port of Nangasaki. The possessors of
Malta and Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, and Aden,
know well how to prize such advantages. Quelpaert is
well adapted to form the last link in the long chain of
maritime stations. On this subject we would remind
the reader that about three years ago Captain BeLlher
was charged by the Admiralty with making a hydro-
graphical survey of the Japanese waters, that within
the last few years especially, Englishmen, disguised as
the subjects of the Celestial Empire, have, at the risk
of their lives, entered Japan on board the Chinese
junk trading thither,- and that the English Go-

vernment has more than once attempted to obtain
Japan.
These fur a direct trade with the subjects of
These efforts have, indeed, always failed of success,
but with perseverance, patience, and in case of need
open force, England has ever succeeded iu attaining its
object—the extension of its trade. Even at the period
of the opium war, it was undieguisedly declared in the
English press, as well as on 'Change, that the seclusion
of the Japanese empire must necessarily cease, and that
the opening of its ports would be an unavoidable conse-
quence of that war. As is well known, Japan admits
only the Chinese and Dutch, whose trade is, moreover,
subject to numerous conditions and limitations ; they
are only allowed to visit Nangasaki with a certain num-
ber of vessels, while every other port is unconditionally
closed to foreigners. England is now impelled by a
perfectly legitimate curiosity to seek admission to the
Japanese people, and to make them acquainted with the
blessings of European political economy and English
free trade. It is against all cosmopolitisun that a state so
populous, and which has attained so high a degree of
peculiar civilisation, should, in the nineteenth century,
obstinately withhold itself from all interchange of ideas
with Europe. The Japanese Government, however, well
know why for two centuries and a half it has kept Eu-
ropeans at a distance, the bitterest experience has taught
it prudence. When the Portuguese first landed in Japan,
foreigners were received with a kindness and tolerance
of which even modern Europe can offer no parallel;
they
th scarcelyethousands
ut
aew nneds
sebt
oeo freely rsepperrl
oeysa
edallowedlpermittedytheesr nr
Severalat
iog Christian
otr na da
pen
na
cmst.
et daas
make
states
were
hundredsh ti
ocbhaApw stiou i
saet would
df,
and under Gregory XIII., an embassy proceeded from
IJTuaihtepehraeanadmnt
anxiety
iißoet
ati ooy,mni
Malacca,
tafht o show
ateheeedaiif their
aunsdiffusion
Portuguese,
Macao,
o ref
cs respect
Christianity
for
.steipvai h
enr,
reti
,tdyv
who
ht,
washh eoo l
Emperor-
with fa
ther.
The asmdaapi thdceorenotror:
continued
aid
wnud
ntet
iohrtnsneuploeyefdr
stehenced withoutu politicalcetdrioo aims
wsnssicross. Several intermission
tfet
rho n
a h
theef
its
completesc e foreigner,
Christians
thousands
sofotuiras aneanxsm
imdt and on that tic-
sicorohspt:
dthmi
aoetlnanf
kcoaeefd , which
nthreeftf lcentury,ogle.
in the fortress of Simabcra, where the martys defended
themselves to the last man ; and when the conquerors
entered at night• by assault, they literally waded up to
their ankles :n blood. Since that time no Portuguese
has been allowed to enter Japan. The Europeans,
however, were not absolutely excluded, and in 1611
Spanish and Dutch embassies arrived almost simul-
taneously at Jeddo. The first was denied admission,
because they came tricked out in velvets and silk, and
allowed their haughty arrogance to appear too visible ;
the latter attained their object through their shop-keeping
artifices, and the most submissive humility. Since then
Holland has driven a trade with Japan, which, although
very circumscribed, and only permitted under the most
humiliating conditions, has yet excited the envy of other
maritime nations. These latter have frequently, al.
though fruitlessly, endeavoured to open the ports of this
kingdom; even the efforts of Admiral Krusenstein in
1804, whose death has lately been announced, were un-
successful. The negotiations in which he then engaged
show the Japanese in the best Ight ; they acted towards
their unwelcome guests with the greatest consideration,
with a delicacy and a willingness which left nothing to
be desired. The negotiations were conducted by the
imperial plenipotentiaries with a politeness and ability
which would do honour to the most refined European
diplomatist. if, then, the English now give it to be un-
derstood that it is against all the laws of nations that
Japan, which knows nothing of the European law of na-
tions, and in its exclusiveness can dispense with this
highly elastic law, should seclude itself from intercourse
with Europeans, we might give them for answer a diplo-
matic note (if we may so use the term) which was de-
livered to the Russians in 1805, and which may find a
place here :—" In ancient times ships of all nations
freely came to Japan, and the Japanese were allowed to
visit foreign countries ; but about a century and a half
ago an emperor impressed upon his successors no longer
to allow their subjects to leave the country, and far-
ther, to give the Dutch, the Chinese, the Coreans, and
the inhabitants of the isiand of Rinkin only, access to
Japan. Other nations have repeatedly made attempts.
.to contract relations of friendship and commerce with
Japan, but they have been obliged to be refused, in con-
formity with the ancient orders; moreover, it would be
dangerous to form friendly relations with an unknown
power, unless they rested on the bases of equality; for
friendship is like a chain, which, to perform a special
purpose, must consist of a certain number of links. If
one part of the chain is strong, but another weak, those
links which are weaker will soon break. Thus friend-
ship can only cause hurt to the weaker party. Thir-
teen years ago a Russian ship, commanded by Lieute-
namanbtaLssaardm.
ranfr,
ocmamtch
et ogJreaaptanE, amnpdernoorwofanßouths
seita• ahiasth
aarn_
rived. The first was not received without mistrust, but
the second in a friendly manner. The Emperor of
Japan has willingly done all in his power, consistent
with the laws of the empire; he regards the arrival of
this second Russian vessel with pleasure, as a proof of
the amity of the Emperor of Russia. That mighty
monarch has sent him an ambassador, and valu-
able presents. Were these received, the Em-
peror of Japan must, according to traditions es-
teemed as highly as laws, also on his side send an
ambassador to the Emperor of Russia, with pre-
sents of at least equal value. But every inhabitant and
every ship of the empire is expressly forbidden to leave
the same. Moreover, Japan is so poor that it can offer
nothing comparable to objects of such costliness. The
Emperor can thus decidedly receive neither the ambas-
sador nor the presents. Japan has but few wants, and
the productions of other countries are of little use to it.
If its soil denies to it a small number of really useful
productions, and if custom has made it acquainted with
a few other wants, these are supplied to it in sufficient
quantity by its trade with the Chinese and the Dutch.
Besides, luxury must not be countenanced. There are
great difficulties in the way of introducing an extensive
trade here, because all intercourse between the people
and foreign sailors is expressly forbidden by law." It
must be allowed this ultimatum delivered to Heron Von
Rcesonoff is as politely, as it is concisely and decidedly
expressed, and that the buccaneering expeditions of
the Russian naval officers, Chwostoff and Davidoff,
who shortly aster attacked the island of Sachalia,
and wantonly encamped on the Japan Kuriles,
were ill calculated to make the Japanese abandon
their system. The attempts of the Americans to
procure admission into Nangasaki, for their vessels
under the Dutch flag likewise failed, and when in
1837 the Marmion, an American ship, brought some
Japanese sailors, picked up by it, back to the native
country, the severe regulations were rigidly maintained
against them. Parker and Williams, who wrote an ac-
count of this voyage, declaim, like the English, against
the obstinacy of the Japanese, as people who understood
not the law of nations. The Europeans have not, how•
ever, often acted in a manner to command esteem. In
1808 Captain Pellew, in the English man-of-war
Phaeton, pursued some Date* merchantmen into the
bay of Nangasaki, under the Netherlands flag, and the
agents suspecting nothing, went to meet him ; they were
taken prisoners and kept on board the Phaeton. The
Japanese governor, who is responsible to his Emperor
for the safety of the Dutch dwelling on Dezima, fell into
the greatest embarrassment, which was increased when
the Phaeton entered the harbour and steered right upon
I)esima, without a lootsen or permit. It was only with
much trouble that Captain Pellew was induced to depart.
This incident, as Siebald expressly remarks, has not been
forgotten in Japan, and the dislike towards England has
been thereby raised to a great height. The governor o
Nangasaki was reduced to such despair by the event,
that he assembled his family and servants, and, as is
the custom of the country, ripped open his belly in their
presence. The other officers followed his example, an'
the Viceroy of the province, although at the time a
Jeddo, was cast into prison, because the officer appointe.
by him had not been attentive enough. Besides this, the
family of the Governor was obliged to pay a year's sa
lary of about 1,000/. sterling. On board of the above•
named ship, the Morrison, was the Chinese missionare
and interpreter, Gutzlaff, who was visiting the Chinese
coast in smuggling vessels, and aho condemns most se
verely the conduct of the Japanese in thus cxcludine-
themselves from all intercourse with other nations. Ac
cording to all probability, things will take the followir
course, either now or at some future time. Some En;
lish vessel, well manned and armed, appears before
Japanese port for the purpose of engaging in trade. Ti
authorities do their duty and refuse it entrance. Job
Bull, meanwhile, perseveres in his design, the Jepane
command him to quit the harbour, he refuses to stir, a.
is warned to depart by a cannot shot from the harbotu
battery, and perhaps a ball kills a sailor. The Eaten,
now cry for vengeance, as the law of nations has be(
broken, war is declared, and finally peace is conclude
after the Japauese have granted the English admi
sion to such and such ports, and consented to pay
much silver. At least that was the mode of procedu
in China. We see no peaceful way for England
open to herself the Japanese markets. We will silo
that attempts are made, through the Chinese interventio.
to obtain permission to lay their wishes before the Cou
of Jeddo by a special embassy, and that this wish
granted. But then there are ten things to one again
success : first, that the English will not submitto:i
humiliating ceremonial to which the Du t
c
h
second,suh submit,
that
thus certainly offend the Emperor ; and
h.
threw as many
ultimatum is given to them similar to Thethat
Dreucteeihve,dtt
would act foolishly, unless they l
the Russian envoy forty years ago.
anese for keeping
oscsoibulledinblmtahee hwtaye j
o f
atpheir powerful rive
fßdaresasnai
dsc
ee a
ss
who,s
possible
fromthem people who, having, not
hundred years ago built a miserable fort in the jungle
the Hooghlv, soon conquered all India therefrom ? T.
island of Quelpaert, however, if possessed by the Er,
a
lish, will at the same time be a wedge to open up be
Japan and China. The dragon of the Celestial Emp
has been forced to yield to the British lion ; the flag
Japan will also soon sink before that of Great Brita
—Augsburgh Gazette.

A SHIPWRECKED BEAR.-.- Ile Royal Botanic Gr
den of GIA .:row has _ lately had presented to it, by I
Pritchard, of the Royal Lunatic Asylum, a fine yot
Russian bear. The history of its voyage home ft
Russia is rather interesting, the vessel having gone
shore in a storm, and her crew and passengers w
saved with difficulty. Amidst the confusion and dan,
attendant on getting from the vessel to the
poor Bruin was overlooked ; but finding herself
serted on the wreck, she climed up one of the brol
masts, and set up such a pitiful and melancholy he
ing, as induced a daring band of the sailors to man
boat, and, even at the risk of their own lives, they sa
their poor four-footed fellow-passenger from a wat
grave.—Scettish Guardian.
RESIGNATION OF THE VICAR Or BRADrORD.-
understand that the Rev. Dr. Scoresby, the vicar of
parish of Bradford, has resigned his charge—a
which it has been said be has for some time cont.
plated. We have not heard the reason of the Rev. .G
tleman's resignation, nor if he has obtained any of
cure. It is stated that the Rev. John &reit, of
George's, Macclesfield, wal succeed the Bev. Doctor
Bradford.—Yorkshire Gazette.