Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-13

esIt appears that the siege was coverted into Ion,
and close blockade, and that when the ndomitable
verts OF Xavier reduced and in good part exterm
mated by famine, storm and atrocious massacr,
ensued, being spared, because would
and beg quarter but men, women, and children benl
all butchered in heaps. In this war of religion accord
ing to the most moderate estimate there fell on botl
sides 1000 men. According 10 the papists the mum
Der of native Christians alone far greater than this
and all the atrocities and horrors of the Diocean
cution were repeated exaggerated and prolonged The
magnitude of the holocaust does indeed afford some mea
of the depth and tenacty with which Christianity
its Roman FORM had struck its roots into the soil
cover the vast common grave of the martyrs was sci
up this impious inscription $50 long as the sun shall
the earth, let Christian be SO bold as to come
TO Japan and let all know that the King of Spain himself
the Christians God the great God of all if he VIC
late this command, shall pay for it with his head Ibid
PIP 49, 81.
The Dutch, however disappointed in their hopes
they derived less benefit from their ntrgues and
taey than they expected One of themselves Kampfer,
admits this:
SPY this submissive readiness TO assist the Emneror in
the execution of his designs with regard to the final de-
tructon Of Christianity in his dominons true in
Decd that we stood ground far to maintain
selves IN the country and TO be permitted carry
trade, although the court had then thoughts of
total exclusion Of all foreigners whatsoever But many
generous and noble persons at and in the country
judged untayorably OF conduct 1t seemed to them
inconsistent with that the Dutch should ever be
expected to be faithful to foreign monarch and one
too, whom they looked upon as a heathen whilst they
showed so much torwardness assist him in the desruc
uon OF people with whom they agreed in the most
sental parts Of their faith the Japanese had been well
informed by the Portuguese monks and to sacrifice to their
own worldly interests those who followed Christ in the
very same way and hoped the kingdom of heaven
through the same gate. These expressions which
have often heard from the natives when the conversation
happened to turn upon this mournfu subject In short
by our humble compasance and connvance we were so
Tar from bringing this proud and jealous nation to any
greater confidence intimate friendship that on
to in
crease from that time They both hated and desped us
for what we had done In the year 1641 soon after the
total expulsion of the Portuguese and the suppression
Chrlstanlty among the natives ordered to quit
our comfortable factory at Frando and conine
Selves under very rigid Inspection to the small iset of
pesima, which Is more like prison than factory So
great was the coveousness of the Dutch and strong
the aurng power Of the japanese gold that rather than
quit the prospect Of trade Gndeed most advantageous
they willingly underwent an almost perpetual mprison-
ment Tor such In fact is residence at Desma and
chose TO suffer many hardshps in foreign and heather
country to be remss in performing divine service Sun
days and solemn festivals leave off praying and sing
ing OF psalms entirely to avoid the sign Of the cross the
calling upon the of Christ presence the natives
and all the outer signs of christianity and lastly patient
y and submssyely bear the abusive and injurious be-
haylor OF these proud nfdels towards u.s. than which
nothing can be offered shocking generous and
noble mind. Ibid, PIP. 50, "a.
To this miserable slet Desima the Dutch are confined
the island Is only six hundred feet long and is joined
the Japanese city, Nagasak by bridge strongly guard
ed The most rigid watch is held the Dutch fe-
males allowed in their community Their vessels are
searched the guns and ammunition removed and the
crews only allowed to refresh themselves in this
hhy prison, Desima; fit punishment for their treason
TO the faith and their brethren They have the gold for
which they bartered the gospel duties but is poured
moulen down their throats With respect to their prac-
teal remuneration Of Christianity, we follow Mr. Mac
Farlane
All who serve the Dutch, have any close dealings
with them are bound to take solemn oath Of renupca-
IF hn rbrict r,n
even three times year and, at least of these
ceremonies they made trample under foot crosses
and cruexes with the image of the Redeemer upon them
The meant, hooking, impious jests Of Votaire as to
the Dutch going through the same ceremony, may not
have been at every period, quite destitute Of truth As
Luherans Presbyerans they may have entertained no
more reverence for and crucfxes and images Of
saints than felt by English Pnritans who in the
days OF their prepoency found rude delight in destroy
ing such articles and treating them with every gnabe
disrespect The Portuguese, when driven despair,
through their hated rivals nearly involved the Dutch in
their ruin by announcing to the Imperial Government
that they Christians like themselves 1t behooved
the Dutch 10 convince the japanese that there the
widest difference between them that they belonged to
sect quite hostile to that of the Portuguese that they
hated Pope Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans and all
manner Of monks and priests We cam therefore easily
credit that if put by the japanese Government to that
test the Dutchmen would not much scruple to rampe
upon the cross in the manner described by Voaire
bgoted Presbyterian would even find a pleasure in so
doing. An old Nangasakian joke is, that Duchman,
the tme oil the great persecution being surprised some
place by the Japanese police and being asked whether he
were Christian, replied, mo / am Dutchman.' We
fear indeed that after any heightened residence in tho
country, such religion these Dutchmen carried with
them was almost wholly eyaporated The life led in their
prison ut Nagasak little calculated foster devo-
tonal feelings Kampfer says that in his time they lived
like set Of hcathens that the principles Of Christianity
were 50 little conspicuous in their lives and actions that
the japanese absurd in fearing that they would
tempt the conversion Of the heathens did pp 81 IS.
After this Mr. MacFarlane must have ventured upon
gentle jest, when he goes observe But good and
religious men have gone through this ordeal without any
detrimen to their faith morals let not these re-
marks be taken uncharitabe dsrespectfu to the
Dutch"
tits perhaps fortunate for us that we sub
Jected to the like temptations The history of the English
commercial intercourse with Japan does admit Of
aordgment, and il is curious almost solitary in
stance Of English failure in trade
Through the help and admirable diplomacy Of Adams
commercial treaty, series Of privileges ia
than any erenoyed by Portuguese by Dutch
was granted to the English and apparently without any
saTnr or delay on the part Of the imperial court
The 5rst article in these original privileges Of 1913
runs thus We give free license the King Of England
subjects, Sir Thomas Smith, Governor and Company Of
the East India Merchants forever safely to come Gy
q our ports or empire of Japan with their hipsand
chandise without hndrance them or their goods and
10 ABIDE buy, SELL and barter, according to their own
manner with all nations and to tarry so long they
will, and depart Mt their pleasure
The second article exempted English goods from all
manner Of customs duties the third granted to the
English full freedom of building houses in any part Of the
empire, which houses, at their departure, they might
freely sell the fourth article placed the property of any
English subject that might die in the empire under the
sole control Of the captain merchant or English resident
and pnfrS all H.