The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-03-06
Miscellaneous,
The Empire of Japan.

A and sympathes. Ii was lately visited by
commodore Biddle; and letter from gem
Jman belonging to that squadron, publish
"jin the N. Y. Sun, gives the best account
,rIhe Commodore's reception, and of the
M nrescnt state of things there, that we have
# seen The letter is from Honolulu, and says:
Knowing the interest our visit to japan has
a excited among civilized nations, despatch
NJ the following particulars by an opportunity
nov offering for Boston. We sailed from
Macao on the Goth May, ostensbIy for the
Sandwich Islands, but with secret instruc-
tons. After a run of about fifteen days we
hove in sight ofJapan, and in company with
the Vncennes anchored below Yedo, or jed
do the commercial metropolis. Having no
charts ofthe harbor, and the natives refusing
TO pilot us up, we remained in the bay. The
authorities came off and requested us not to
Y come near the shore. They would supply
lis with every thing we required, and deliver
y any communication we might have for their
grand CHbOy, or Emperor, who resides at Jed
d. some miles inland.
Commodore Biddle forwarded his letter
Ofinlroduction to the Emperor, from the
President of the United States, which explain
ed the objects of our visit. The Cttboy is
styled the "Wustrious Monarch under Heauen,"
or "he Sovereign ofHe abode ofthe gods under
Sun rising" His Majesty rules thirty millions
= Gpcople, he has two hundred and fifty thou
M dsquare miles of territory, an army of
An time hundred thousand infantry and ten
6ulsand cavalry. Next to the Cuboy is the
~ brto, or spiritual head of the empire These
are sovereign in their respective governments
and each in turn is compelled to obey the
other. The Cuboy has petty princes under
nm VINO rule the provinces into which the
empire is divided. The Dairo has twelve
wives and the Coboy an unlimited number
Polygamy is universal. The religion is like
mat OF China. In art science and literature,
me Japanese are superior to the Chinese, from
whom they descended They have convert
ed their barren islands into beautiful gardens,
Whlcu rise IN terraces on the mountains. They
have "copper" iron steel. and silver and in
working these metals they are not surpassed
by Europeans Coal also abounds in the is
lands. The manufacture of porcelain, and
glass lacquered ware. silk and cotton goods,
N has been carried on by them for ccntures..-
N Their trade is confined to the Dutch, the Chi
nese aud the Coreans, and the only port open
to these is Nangasak. Their dread of the
foreigners was caused by an attempt of the
Portuguese to establish the Roman Catholic
religion over them in the beginning of the
seventeenth century, when Dutch merchants
disclosed tie plot to the Japanese priests
The Cm6y himself had embraced the Catho-
hcrcIlglon. with third of his people, and all
these with the Catholic Missionaries, were
Snnby the DHUo aud lis religious followers.
hrer since the Dutch nAerchants have enjoy
ed exclusive privileges and all the great men
1.-THE empire speak the low Dutch with great
nuency. BY this means they obtain from
Dutch newspapers an accurate knowledge of
occurrences throughout the world. AS an
evidence OF this, we were astonished to learn
Ihn they had heard ofour intended visit
The Presidents LETTER inf orn1p1 the Inup-
or that the people ofthe United States were
Geslrous ofcultivating friendly relations with
the japanese, to'whiclT the Emperor replied
that he had heard ofthe greatness the Unit
edStates; he hoped they would continue to
prosperous and happy, but the policy of his
country would not permit him TO open his
ports to any but the Chinese and Dutch. He
begged the Commodore to supply himself
with what he wanted; that the people would
lurnsh him all that the country afforded, and
having obtained his supplies, he hoped he
would retire from the bay as rapidly as posi-
Die and never return. They brought us ev-
cry thing we wanted-ns fuel. water and pro-
Visions, &C. but would take nothing in re-
urn We were not permitted TO land, and
.he Manddrlns told lis that if we attempted to
taod by force, they would all commit suicide
ny ripping out their intestines, that being TIE
custom of theircountry. Some accepted our
presents, but returned them all before we left |
1 hey would take nothing from us. Most of
',ne oifcers and people who came on board
brought their own provisions with ,hem.-I
some wanted to sleep on board but We're not
'iethllted We could see none of their wo-
men, who are said to excel in beauty and vr-
aue: una resent indignities to their honor by
committing suicide at once. Hheir men are
oArenely beautiful, and even at middle age
pieSeht the full development of athletic pow
ri WIN The freshness and vigor of youth
;."cy attain great age. Animal food is not
u ~ general use. We could obtain neither
oee' nor pork, but received poultry, game,
osgs and vegetables in abundance. Their
o.i!cers dress in gowns, much like our female
"I'ire' Each had two swords, small one
o,u large one, equal in temper and finish to
J Jur pest American swords The soldiers
mess IN flexible metallic armor, which is
""u1u,,liuily Japanned, and covers the body
null. amps. Each wears on his back the ar
sou,n insignia OF his regiment, and in
oo o instances cross was worked in their
o oSa, OF arms, probably in commemoration
w. .he massacre ofthe Christians Their boats
;aH Slmilar'devices on their flags and each
inherent: In religious opinions thew are
greatly divided. Yet the Budhists. the fol-
TWers of Sinte and the disciples of Confi,cius
Ill agree IN the following, which constitute
nue. me moral philosophy offhe Empire, viz: /.
b oe 10 XII, norto eat any creature that has
oJ Inn khied: 4 not to commit fornication nor
aaIIuIery;3 not 10 steal; H. not to lie: 5: to
Th Saa'l 1rom wine and all intoxicating drinks.
iney are friendly and polite in their infer
course with each other and with strangers.
education is universal; Summaries oflearn-
nr az are established in all the towns, and each
Int uie converts contain one thousand or more
'''peq men, who adopt the Drjnciples of CO. !