, 1852-09-11
From the National Intelligence
The Empire OF Japan.


As anything which relates TO jar a,
Che present time may be interesting, send
YOU the following concise sketch ofIhat king
dom. II is called by the natives Nlphon,
and was lounle about six hundred aud
sixly-fve Years ,eiorc Christ, by Simmj
from him to Sin,lkin there appears To have
been sixty one Emperors. After this Pc
ROD, in the year li2 change took place.
From this time 4 do.ble chronology COM
menccs, including tue reigns Of the Dearos
and the Cubos. The Dearos were military
officers and al one period completely usurped
the power of the Emperiors; but a general
by the name Of Jerelmo being crowned, sue
ceedel in d,priyng the Dearos OF military
power. AT the present lime the kingdom
of Japan is governed by an Emperor, with
fall military powers, Deario with full civ
ilpowers, and Cuho, or prime minister,
who has authority over certain cities, their
Parliment, sc.
The kingdom Of Japan consists of three
large and thirty or forty smaller islends,
situated of the coast of China. The largest
Of these Islands is Nphon, the next is Jesse,
On the Island of Bungo, southwest of ronso.
Is the city or Nangaschi, and near that city
is the little artificial island, Disna, on which
Il Dutch factory Is built
Jeddo, or Yeddo, the capital Of the en-
pire, is situated in the midst of fine plain,
10 the province of Muscas. 1t is built in
form Of 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 a wall, but has a strong castle to de-
fend it. The river Tongag waters it, and sup
Plies the castle ditch and being divided in
to tve streams. has bridge over each. The
public buildings are on a magnificent scale.
The Imperial palace is formed by three
clnelnres, or circular piles of buildings, and
eucloses many streets, courts, apartments,
paviions, guard-houses, gates, darw-bridges,
gardens, canals, Sc In il reside the Em-
peror aud his family, the royal domestics,
tributary princes and their retinues, the
Ministers Of state, many other officers Of
Government, and strong garrison. The
walls OF this magnificent palace are built Of
trecstone, without cement, and the stones
prolsIously large. The whole was origi
nally covered with gilt tiles, which gave It a
eiygrand and beautiful appearance. Many
o. the stately apartments are formed and
aHered at pleasure, by movable screens. The
principal apartments are the Hall Of Atlen.
adtence, the Council Chamber, Hall Of a
Thousand Mats, &C..
Inc city s under the rule of two Govern
ors,who rule year each.
Ihe next city is Meaeo. It is also roy-
al e'ty, and is situated on a lake near the
middle OF the Island Of Niphon, and sur
rounded by mountains, which give remark
aole and delightful prospect 10 the whole /;
'he clrcumjacent country between ihe city
ana the mountains is covered with temples,
sePuiehers, &c, &c, and is embellished
wnn a variety Of orchards, groves, cascades
Purl'ng streams. Three considerable ,is-
o.s wafer tins fertile plain, and un their
streams IN The centre Of the city, where a
n"Sshneehi stone bridge facilitates the com
muncauoh between the different parts of the
Guy strong castle defendq the town R;
Is SIX hundred yards in length, has a tower
IN lhecentre, and is surrouded bv Two dacb.
IS, gs' 'ne one dry, the other full Of waie~ =
ms splended city is twenty miles long and
hl1e wide within the suburbs, which are as
wen populated as the city. The number o.
,ne inhabitants of the city proper is supposed
10 be $4,000. The universities. colieors
tseuples, &c, are almost incredible in mum
per and magniGcence. Il contains twelve
capital or principal streets, il tie centre Of
winch are the royal palaces, superbl7 built
Q, marble, and adorned wilh gardens. or
enaras' arS povilions, terraces, groves, sc.
. The next principal town Z Ozeaco II
deemed the chief seaport, is cry popul.
o's' and hts an army OF Sc, COO MN alWavs
Aady, at the diposal and command Of the