The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-16 00:00:00

tiat loved to trace, which run through the whole
political and social, no less than through the com-
mercial, system of a people will replace the discord
which created a daily recurring opposition between
the fundamental conditions of material life and the
highest aspirations of national influence and power.
There is great boldness in this step of the Empe-
ror, but there is prudence mingled with the bold-
ness, and there is the tact of seizing the right mo-
ment. We know that the great changes announced
in the letter to M. Fould have nothing incomplete
or fragmentary in their character; that the vast
plan for drainage, the improvement of the means of
communication in France, the reduction of the
duties on wool and cotton, on sugar and coffee, are
all parts of a systom which the Emperor has con-
stantly endeavoured to carry out. But the announce-
ment at the present moment has an importance not
less than that of the system itself. It. is at the very
time that Napoleon 111. has broken with the Pope
and Austria that he proposes to inaugurate a vast
system of which the execution implies the prospect
of long-continued peace. He must, we feel assured,
have little doubts as to the issue of the contest with
Pope and Kaiser when thus preparing to enter on a
more eventful campaign against commercial privilege
and protection. Nor need we disguise our satisfaction
that to the language held, and the attitude assumed,
by the statesmen of this country has the great,
change now proposed in the comnicicial policy of
Frence been in no slight measure due. Should it be
fully and successfully carried out, a far more impor-
tant security will be afforded for the lasting peace of
Europe than was obtained from the despatches in
Lord Malmesbury's blue book. Let but the inter-
nal prosperity of France and the international rela-
tions between the French people and ourselves rest
on the same broad basis of common interests and
we need care comparatively little for Ministerial
changes in either country. It is not, at least, very
probable that any future change of Ministry in
France will produce changes so great, and, let us
add, so beneficial as have marked the retirement of
Count Walewski from the councils of his Bove-

reign.
The great commercial reforms thus announced in
France constitute but one phase of the Anglo-French
allituce as freshly cemented by the events and con-
tingencies of the Italian question. Their import-
ance must not, however, lead us to overlook the
momentous political results which the alliance is
likely to produce. We entertain no doubt that a
satisfactory settlement will soon be effected by
which the destinies of Central Italy will reflect in
their happier condition the joint interest and pro-
tection of the French and English Governments.
The telegram which informs,us of the protest
transmitted by the Court of Rometo Paris—a pro-
test despatched three days after the receipt of the
Emperor's letter—entirely accords with the whole
previous conduct of the Roman Curia. But, writhe
and struggle as they may, both Pope and cardinals
are completely, in the Emperor's power. Our Tus-
can correspondent mentions that the threat of Mon-
signor Sacconi to demand his passports was met by
the decltration of Napoleon 111., that the cessation
of diplomatic relations on the part of his Holiness
would be followed immediately by the recall of the
French army of occupation from Rome. This notice,
even if it does record an actual fact, very faithfully
represents the impotence of the Pope and his help-
less dependence on the Emperor.

THE TRADE OF NAGASAKI.

(From the China Mail of Nov. 17.)

The following interesting and detailed account
of the trade at Nagasaki, up to the time of the rati-
fication of the English treaty, has been translated
for us from the Dutch :

Decima, July 4, 1859.
During the working of the Dutch additional
articles, signed at Nagasaki on the 16th October,
1857, this port has been visited by 149 foreign
vessels, including those that made more than one
voyage.
Among these were 45 men-of-war (12 British, 3
French, 10 American, 8 Russian, 12 Dutch).
Of the merchant vessels 30 were under Dutch
colours (including the 2 screw-steamers Yeddo and
Nagasaki delivered to the Japanese Government),
English 58, American 25, Russian 1, Danish 1,
Chinese 4—total number, 119 merchants vessels.
The authorities have not yet been able to give
with the same accuracy the number of tons of all
these vessels. Likewise, it was impossible to pre-
pare complete tables of imports and exports.
The Danish ship Wilhelmine was not allowed to
trade, and the Chinese steamer Confucius was also
denied this privilege.
The three Chinese junks have traded on the old
contract of the Chinese factory. All the other fo
reign merchant vessels have been admitted on the
Dutch additional articles, except the Russian vessel,
a whaler, which was admitted on the Russian addi-
tional articles.
As to the admittance of foreigners, the authorities
of Nagasaki have adopted the rule only to take
notice of the flag of the arriving ships, and not to
inquire after the nationality of each foreigner.
Consequently a great variety of foreigners were
seen freely circulating and establishing. They ap-
plied to the Governor of Nagasaki for houses, and
as long as there was occasion for it, rented dw,-.1-
Hogs and warehouses, lying -on the waterside.
These were principally chosen among those that
were secluded, and a guard of underbangoos was
stationed in each separate quarter. In this manner
the foreigners of Nagasaki continue to live to the
present day, and they seem to get along wonder-
fully well with the little comfort that Japanese
houses offer. The want of warehouses was felt
everywhere, and e7en at Decima, especially after
the fire of the Bth of March.

Some warehouses at Nagasaki were then let to
Dutch subjects, and some have been lodged in a
temple within the city. Another quarter at Inasja
was let to the firm of Spregler and Co.
Among the persons requesting permission to
settle at Decima, there were a few foreigners be-
longing to firms at Batavia. Those that could prove
that they had applied for acts of naturalisation
in Holland were allowed to build dwellings and
warehouses. Other foreigners were not permitted
to reside at Decinia. As nothing yet is settled
about a general foreign settlement, and as the rent
is still paid by he Netherlands Indian Govern-
ment,. this restriction was deemed most necessary.
As soon as a site far the foreign settlement is
chosen, Dutch subjects will be at liberty -to settle
there too. The opinion is unanimous that a gene-
ral and mixed establishment is far more preferable
than separate quarters for every nation. The plan
was tried at Shangliac in the beginning, but bud
soon to be given up.
The authorities of Nagasaki evidently did not
exempt such a rapid extension of the foreign trade,
nor were the native merchants prepared for it. The
grievances complained of were—want of prahus for
loading and clischaiging, the little activity on the
part of the custom-house officers, &c., the slow pro-
viding of drinking-water, the thefts of the coolies,
and the connivance of the police. The prices of
import articles fell considerably, and in the same
the export articles rose in price. At present many
of the grievances have been gradually redressed ;
more energy is displayed, but the police remain
backward.

The number of Japanese junks arriving at Naga-
saki has very much increased, and articles fit for
the Chinese markets were brought in a sufficient
quantity. But the prices-of imported goods did
not ameliorate, so that in many cases dollars were
imported to make the purchases. They were
changed at the money...changers against paper
money, which was immediately to be paid in native
coin . to the Japanese, holders. Very soon man),
difficulties about this manner, arose; the money-
changers seeing the impossibility of continuing
this, at one time ceased to exchange at all. This
affected the trade and caused a suspension, which
has only been ended by granting the money-
changer a delay of two months for the paper he
exchanged against dollars. This event very natu-
rally caused the paper-money to be a little depre-
ciated in valve, but the trade went on, and many
transactions took place.
The few articles fit for the markets of Europe and
the Indian Archipelago are known to everybody.
Lately raw silk has been broughtinto the market,
and is very likely to become withitta few years an
important article of commerce. 'There are a few
other new at ticks, very fit indeed, but still of too
high a price to be Tallith in demand. Those in de-
mand for the Chinese markets comprise a large va-
riety, as seaweed or several kinds, chinchow, shark
finsasoerme, and other kinds of dried fish, iruho,
awahin, peas and beans, wheat, rice, rapeseed,
rapeseed oil, &,a, in which a brisk trade has bawl
carried on, that must have
,been very profitable,
not withstanding that the money-changer tried to
put all sorts of obstacles in its way.
This body, concerning which many rtrange notions
exist, is still trading, and having formerly had the-
monopoly of many art itdes, it tries in every possible,
way to retain it. All its influence is brought to.
bear in preventiag the .I.llpanese merchants deliver-
ing goods to others. hut itself. It refuses them all
patronage, and being an official college, though
IlAving no right of issuing prohibitions, its dis-
pleasure has nearly the same (fleet.
It • •is indeed very much to bell-ped that this body
w ill cease to trade altogether. Last year there was
some prospect Of this, but since several foreign
merchants have preferred to deal almost exclusively
wilt it, and made contracts to a large extent, the
end of the monopoly is not very soon to be ex-
pected. -

The export of coals has increased considerably ;
till now were exclusively shipped to Shanghae. A
sufficient supply is always coming. The coals from