Washington telegraph., 1852-08-04
From the National Mteliigencer.
The Empire Of Japan.

UieSSTS. GULeS anu ioct3lOW AS any
thing which relates to Japan at the present
time may be interesting | send you the fol-
lowing concise sketch Of the kingdom. 1t
is called by natives Niphon, and was found
ed about six hundred and sixty y@fve years be-
fore Christ, by Simmu. From him to Sin.
zakin there appears to have been sixty-one
Emperors. After this period, in the year
1l42, charge took place. From this time
double chronology commences, including
the rens of the Dearios and Cubos. The
Dearios were military officers, and at one
period completely usurped the power Of the
empcrors; but General by the name of
.yeretine being crowned, succeeded in de-
priying the Dearios Of all military power
At the present time the kingdom of Ja-
pan is governed by an Emperor with full
military powers, Deario with full civil
powers and Cubo; or prime minister, who
has authority over certan cities, their Par
lament, &c:
The kingdom of Japan consists of three
large and thirty or forty smaller Islands, sit
uated off the coast of China The largest
of these Islands is Niphon; the next Jesse.
On the Island of Bungo, Southwest of Tonsa,
is the city of Nangaschi} and rear that city,
is the little artifciel Island Disla; on which
Dutch factory is built.
Jeddo, or Yeddc, Che capital of the EN-.
pire. is situated in the midst of fine plain
in the province of Musace, 1t is built in
the form of a crescent, and intersected in
almost every street by canals, their banks
being planted with rows of beautiful trees.
The city is not surrounded, as most eastern
cities are, by wall, but has strong castle
to defend it, The river Tongag waters it,
and supplies the castle ditch, and, being di-
rided into five streams, has a bridge over
each The public buildings are on mag
nifcent scale. The imperial palace is FORM
ed by three cintures, or circular piles of
buildings, and inclosing many streets, courts,
apartments pavillions, guardhouses, draw
bridges gardens, canals, &c. In it resides
the Emperor and his family. the royal do
mestics, tributary princes, and their retenues,
the Ministers of State, many other officers
of Government, and a strong garrison. The
walls of this magnificent palace are built of
freestonc, without cement, and the stones
prodgiously large. The whole pile was
originally covered with gilt tiles which gave
it very grand and beautiful appearance.
Many of the stately apartments are formed
and altered at pleasure by moveable screens
The principal Hall of Attendance. the Coun-
Gil Chamber, Hall of a Thousand Mats, &c
The city is under the rule of two Gov
ernors who rule year each.
The next largest city is Meaco. 1t is
also royal city, and is situated on lake
near the middle of the Island of Niphon,
and surrounded by mountains, which give a
remarkable and delightful prospect to the
whole the circumjacent country between
the city and the mountains is covered with
temples, sepulchres, &C.. &c. and is embel-
ished with variety of orchards, groves,
cascades and purling streams. Three con-
siderable rivers water this fertile plain and
unite their streams in the centre of the city,
where a magnificent stone bridge facilitates
the communication between the different
parts of the city A strong castle defends
the town it is six hundred yards in length
and has tower in the centre, and is sur
rounded by two bitches, the one dry and the
other full of water This splendid city is
twenty miles long and nine wide within the
suburbs, which are as well populated as the
city. The number of the inhabitants of the
city proper is supposed to be 529, ,OOO.-
The universities, colleges, temples, &c, are
almost incredible in number and magnii
cence. 1t contains twelve capital or princi-
pal streets, in the centre of which are the
royal palaces, superbly built of marble, and
adorned with gardens, orchards, pavillions,
efraces, groves, &c.
The next principal town is Ozeaco. 1t
deemed the chief seaport, is very populous.
and has an army of $4,000 men, always
ready at the disposal and command Of the