The true Democrat., 1855-06-12
Important from Japan.

Important from Japan. Ratification cf tue treaty aois tue United States
 Earthquake in Sinaoda.-oae cf tue 1argest e.
 ties in the Empire destroyed - Ertraordinara
 Experience cf Russiam F'lgate.
 From the North China Herald Extraordinary we take the subjoned interesting news from J a. pan:
 We have been favorel from private source With the following extracts of letter from an officer of the United States steamer Powhatan
 "Poachaton, March 2, 1855, }
 Of Hae mouth of the Yang -kiang. {
 We sailed from Simoda week ago last Thursday, expecting run of about five days to Shanghai
 The exchange of the ratfcatons of the treaty between the United States and Japan was made on the 21st day of February, and we sailed on the 22d
 The island of Niphon, in which Simoda is situated, was visited on the 23d December by a severe earthquake, which was most disastrous in its effects. The city of Ohosaca one of the largest in the empire, was completely laid waste. Jeddo itself suffered considerably. but has since suffered more seriously from the effects of an extensive conlagration The town of Simoda on our arrival, presented a complete scene of desolation and ruin. After the shock oi the earthquake, the sea commenced bubblng up, as it were, along the shore, and then reced- ed with great rapdity, and as soon returned with such increased volume as to food the whole town to the depth of six or seven feet, sweeping away houses, bridges and temples, and plllng them up in a mass of ruin.
 Hive times during the day did the sea ad. vance and recede in this manner spreading de- solaton far and wide. The largest iunks in the harbor were driven from one to two miles above high water mark, where we saw them lying high and drv About two hundred of the poor inhabitants lost their lives by the over flow, the remainder saving themselves by feet ing to the mountains by which the town is sur rounded
 "The Russian trigate Diana, having Vice. Admiral Pontiation on board was lying in the harbor at the time, engaged in finishing 1lp the treaty they had made with the Japanese Im- medlately after the shock was felt the water in the harbor became convused to such a degree in eddes and whirlpools, that in the space of 90 minutes she swung entirely round iortv-threc times twisting her chains up into knots; so ra- pld was the motion that the people OH board conli not keep their feet, and all were made giddy. When the sea receded it left the frigatc in eight feet water on her sile when her usual draft was over Fl feet. On its return, it is stat Cd the water rose five fathomS above its ordi rjary level.
 "On its again receding, four feet only of water remained, so that they saw the stocks of the anchor above the water. The heaving of the bottom of the bay was then 50 violent that the frigate-although as 1 said, in only four feet of water--was moved bodily past her an- chor. The officers momentlv expected that the bay would become the outlet of the subter- ranean fires and that they would be engulphed in it. When she again fioated, they saw her keel and rudder which had been wrenched off, floating alongside, and the ship filling with wa ter By getting sails under her, they manag- ed to keep her ahoat; and the ne t day things having got quiet once more, they hauled her of into deeper water. Occasional shocks of earthquake still continued to be felt, but none were attended with serious consequences
 After repairing damages as we'll as they could and havi" z Ii igged temporary rudder, and the weather becoming fine, they attempted to take the ship round to another bay, where she would be less exposed, and they could complete re- pairs (Simoda being badly adapted to such a but when within seven miles of their harbor, gale sprung up, the hundred Japanese boats that were towing them abandoned them, (not, however, till they had got out all the off, ccrs and crew; and shortly after the gallant ship sunk in deep water, the officers and men sav- ing only the clothes they stood in. Notwth- standing all their misortunes, and the dangers through which they had passed, they only lost one man, and he was accidentally killed by be- ing lammed by one of the guns, which had gone adrlft.
 China.
 Defsat of He Re5els a Ca,ton-- Saang1m Rs-
 tahen by tue haperia7ists, a1ul F1TglstfM Sz1gJi-
 ter.
 On the 18th of March, Sir John Dowriug took his departure on a diplomatic visit to Siam in her Ma9sty's steamer Ratter, accompanied by the sloop of war Grecian. In China there is generally strong feeling against Sir J. Dow classes express disappointment and hostility to the measures of the literary dip lomatist, and desire his recall. Indeed, the bu- sy tongue of rumor asserts that Sir Johns re-. call is in his pocket and that he will proceed from Siam to Singapore, and from the latter place to Europe.
 Affairs at Canton look more settled; for the time, at all events the rebels have been driven away from the city, The blockade has been put stop to; and by combined movement of the imperial soldiers and the people, Canton and the forts in its neighborhood have been freed from the terror-s spreading horrors of the insurgents. On the 9th instant the rebels at Blenheim Reach were taken by surprise, fled in boats down the river, and for the most part escaped, the imperialists being but too we'll pleased to regain possession of the forts.
 The other strongholds of the insurgents also fell into the hands of the imperialists, who are reported to have effected their object by buying up the ringeaders. The imperialists have made a shocking use of their triumph. The place of execution has been vast carnage field, where hundreds have been daily put to death, in the hope of striking terror into the minds of the population.
 At Shanghai, also, the imperialists have suc- ceeded in recapturing the city, followed by frightful atrocities, in revenge for opposin the imperial rule. Beyond the mere fact of the capture of the city, little more is known with certainty, the reports being very conhicting.-- All accounts agree in representing the foul atro- cities committed by the mandarins. Nearly