The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-15
Highly Interesting from Japan.
RELATIVE VALUE In EXCHANGE OF AMERICAN AND
LAPANESE MONEY.


[Frora the Overland Friend of China, Sept. n
very interesting paper is published in the present
Commodore Perry to confer with Japanese ocsrs on tho
value at which American coins should be taken in
change for produce When we learn from this report
that rather than alter the monetary system Of the
pre to please the Americans the Japanese at
prepared for cessation Of trade will say, have
cearest testimony 10 the fact that the influence Of the
American armament amounted to NIL Not in the least,
however, to our thinking, does this dctract from tho
the adaee he fra one that hesitates is iostsecur~
parley and is sure" That parley in the most
delicate manner Imaginable Commodore Perry has ably
secured and in encounter Of wits the subject Of
currency, cute Brother Jonathan may be sure,
IN the long run, will not SO 10 the waM.
The committees report amounts this. Silver and gold
are commodities which the Japanese do not want II
you exchange them for goods they must be taken at
large discount their yaue in China and other markets.
On silver according to the mntagc OF the country tbs
depreciation is sos per cent that Is TO say S3 cents
given for dollar On gold it is more The depreci
ation however, appears to to be only Aominal Anne
rcan silver In valued at the rate Japanese silver
and Il Americans exchange goods for bullion they viii
r IN syer aar X the cas srs ts
he Chinese IL fair exchanges Twenty eight dollars,
thereabouts, ton for GOALS Is absurd Something
tender Cor tho coawhat that something Is be time
nd intercourse can alone disclose
UNITED STATES ST.AM FRfGATE P0wHATAN,
sIsoDA, June Is, 1854.
sla-The committee appointed By you IN your letter
Of the 18th inst to confer with committee from the
japanese Commissioners, in reference to the rate OK
xchange and currency between the two nations in the
rude at the ports opened and to settle the price Of ths
oa to be delivered 1t this port beg leave to report
The Japanese committee, it seen, to
the conference with their minds made to adhere to
Il the vas TIE eessstou Of nSe
The basis upon which they made their calculations
the nominal rate at which their government sells bull
lion, when II il purchased from the mint, and which
also to be that by which the metal is received
from the mines. The japanese bave decimal system
candareen and cash by which ARTICLES in general are
weighed; but gold and silver are not reckoaed
above taels In China a. tasl q silver in weight
silver COINS but in Japan % in European countries,
the standard Of value weight and that Of currency
silver has now come to be rsckoned, when il bullion
az equal to 225 candareens or taels mace, can
held to be worth taels, 10 ut the bullion
value that the government has decided to receive
dollar, the at which they take the silver from tho
it value it is worth no more to them In
proportion to : tael, . dollars weighs mace Is
it worth tsel, mace 1000 cash. Thus the ia
panese government will make profit Of 66ss per cent
ding reduction q the expense Of rsconinr t. The in
justice Of this arrangement shown, and the pro-
prety Of paying to the seller himself The coin gave
at this deprecated rate urged, but In vain.
For gold the rate is morev the disparity between
the value Of bullion and that Of coin among tho Japa
IL not great tsels weight OF gold Is valued at
10 taes in currency, and At tsel mace; the
gold dollar weighs almost candarcens but the Japanese
have reckoned IL the twentieth part Of $40 piece,
which latter they give AS mace, candareers; and
consequently the dollar IN only cand cash. This
weight brings the gold dollar when compared with
and the so piece 10 be worth 49, TO cash. Is taes
mace candareens. This, when converted into silver
niece worth SO as At which the Japsnese proaoss -
take them But this valuation Of the gold dollar At 2
cents when reckoned at $50 cash. its assessed value By
e Japanese government suffers the depreciation
silver and its real value when compared with the
inflated currency in among the people, Is only about
g per cent ~o.. % 70 pay
silver. The currency value Of gold dollar.
taking their schitr A. O. equal purity, and com.
nearly 20 cents in silver that the actual depreciaton
the part Of the Japsrese is not great in silver
for silver 100 to s3 and for gold % II. Tho
elements Of this comparison quite certain, ana
rsorinsry discrepancy * both metals comUsred Win
coins, and with their copper coins shows how
the Japanese government has inflated the whole
tary system in order to benefit itself
The parties could come 10 agreement and We de-
cned 10 consent TO the proposals Of the Japanese whs
dollar, at taeI mace 800 cash neither would they
consent to do justly BY In relation TO the moneys paid
them at this place before departure for Hakodas at
by which they had made profit OF IS per cent each
dollar. They stated that the money paid them 1t that
the prices placed upon the articles furnished hsd been
charged at reduced prices, with reference 70 the low
value placed upon the dollar.
eeiyed at Yokohama and on account Of which Parser
Edredge paid Moryam& YeDoske the imperial intarpse
ter $3.50 in gold and silver that they might be sssayeA
and tested al Yedc they consented TO receive the del
lars at the valuation now placed themthst H. at
the rate Of 1000 cash for the silver dollar.
We carefully investigated the price OF the coal 70 BE-
delivered vessels in this port We learn Mat 1oooo
csttes or 100 pcuis have arrived and this at The rate
ef 1850 cstties 70 Of 22l0 lbs or 40 4sths pcu,
cost 2eg taels mace cand cash, or s1G4 Is, max
ing the rate be s27 81 per ion The Japanese ststeA
that the price of coal would b. considerably reduced
the emsnd for IL increased and their facilities for mia
ine became moro perfect.
IN coaclusicr, we take pleasure in expressing our
thanks to Messrs Williams and portmsn whose services
Al iutevpseters Indispensable and from whon vs
receive important aid in our investigation.
We have The honor TO be, respectfully, your obsdiest
servants,
T SOsls Hst 4 SMabprpcr, rnr'sr' o. 8 Navy.
To Commodore M. q JgRRy, Commander in Chief a.
the u Naval Forces the Fast India China and ia
ran seas--F. Of c. Sept. 10.
Investing I'm AsnorscaN RAalrsads-
Iron the Tendon Tymcs, Nov, n