The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-16 00:00:00

TIIE AMERICANS IN JAPAN.

(From, the Friend of China of Oct. 31,`
United States' Consulate General,
Simoda, Japan, July 6.
Sir, —I have the honour to transmit for your informa-
tion a copy of a convention that I have made with the
Japanese.
It is proper that I should inform you that the relative
values of go d and silver are quite different in Japan to
what they are in other parts of the worlJ.
In the United States the relative value of gold to
silver is as 1 to 16, hut in Japan it is about 1 to 3 1-70,
so that although the Japanese give the same weight of
their gold coin as the foreign coin they receive, yet owing
to tEd difference of relative values, a loss ensues of more
than 75 per cent. on foreign gold, as compared With
silver.
To illustrate the operation of the 31 Article ofthe
Convention, I would state that where Americans have
heretofore paid 100 dole. in silver, they will now Pal
31,1 dole.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
TOWNSEND HARRIS.

To James Keenan, E q.,
United States' Consul, Hong K "
9ng.

For the purpose of further regulating the intercourse
of American citizens within the empire of Japan, and
after due deliberation, Townsend Harris, Consul-General
of the United States of America within the empire of
Japan, and Inowouye, Prince of Sinano, and Nails.
moera, Prince of Dews, Governors of Simoda, all
having full powers from their respective Governmentes
have agreed on the following articles, to wit :
Art. 1. The port of Nangatahi, in the principality
of Hizen, shall be ope.e. ;o American vessels, where theli
repair damages= procure water, fuel, provisions, Ibnu*
other necessary articles, even coals, where they are
obtainable.
Art. 2. It being known that American ships coital
to the ports of Simoda and Hakodade cannot have theitr
wants supplied by the Japanese, it is agree! tba
American citizens may permanently reside at Sivaodt
and Ilakodade, and the Government of the United
States may appoint a vice-consul to reside at Hakodade.
This article to go into effec. on the 4th day of Julie
1858.
• Art. 3. In settlement *of accounts the value of the
money brought by the Americans shall be ascertained
by weighing it wi;h Japanese coin (gold and silver its(/'
lanes)—tbat is, gold with gold, and silver with silver;
or weights representing Japanese coin may be used after
such weights have been carefully examined and tonna
to be correct.
The value of the money of the Americans having beet!
thus ascertained, the sum of 6 per debt. shall be allow
to the Japanese for the expense of xiscoinage. hall
Art. 4 Americans committing offences iu Japan) shall
be tried by the American Genstil-General or Consu's°
shall be punished according to American laws• hall
Japanese committing of against Arnericaus s•
be tried by the Japanese authorities, and
cording to Japoelese laws. Asa
Are 5. American ships which may resort to the po
ose of ob.
Situotla, Hakodade, or Nangasaki, for the purp
pay
Wiling necessary supplies or to repair daoasgess shall
no
e
for them in gold or silver coin, and if they bare
Olney goods si,all be taken in exchange.
; the right
punished 0
Art. 6. The Government of Japan adm.ts
of the Consul-General of the United States to go bert;,
the limits of Seven lii, but has asked him to delaieje,
use of that right, except in cares of emergency' r
wreck, &c., to which he has assented.
Art. 7. Purchases for the Consul-General or Of
family may be made by him only or by some inembere:
his femily, and payment toads to the seller for the Eaw,4
without the intervention of any Japantee official, and ILO
this purpoie Japanese silver and cepper eoiu eh all
ofonuArAgn
tudrtehtai.egenB:G.
ehoaAivet therans
olr isoCokietnisosi
Simoda
age
enaeokrfaultobwoe
supplied to the Consul-General.
n
la
f
Disuateghreveedrstihoantofthtete.atrruteicimese.aniug Ong'
to
Art. 9. All the foregoing articles to go into e. _,„
irjedtahglea efjstjeihtleeadiogtial: fitibes:
horn the date hereof except article 2, which shall go into
effect on the date indicated in it.
Done in quintuplicate (each copy Leing Ilog„litsbboP
Japanese, and Dutch), at the Goyosso of Sanoda, eee_
17th day of June, in the year of the Chrietian era
and of the Indopenderca of the United States
o_t
.1_1;4
rice, the 81st, corresponding to the foul th year of
" versioo
Hi, the filth month, the 26th day, the fl-- steteo
tieing signed by the Consul-General of the Unites
er of
of America, and the Japanese by the Govern
j;
Simoda. TowIiSEND k1A214