Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-22
Late and Important from Japan.


From the San Francisco Alta California
Capt. Thomas W. Badger, late Of the schr.
General Pierce, arrived in this city by the
Lookout, from japan, via Hong Kong. He
left Simoda in the early part Of January. The
Capt. visited Japan for a cargo to bring to San
Francisco, but while at Simoda, he had an op-
portunity to sell the Gen. Pierce, for $4,000, to
Hong Kong house, and consequently pro-
ceeded here with his vessel and cargo At
Hong Kong he took passage, via this city, for
New York. We are indebted to him for the
following exceedingly interesting letter, de-
scribing the state Of things at Japan:
HOMO KoNc, February lst, 1856.
EDITORS ALTA:-A few observations, made
on my late visit to Japaa, may not prove unin-
teresting to portion Of your readers.
Since the ratification of our treaty with Ja-
pan, many improvements of a permanent ma.
ture have been completed, and are constructed
at Smoda, worthy of notice. AT the mouth of
the small stream on which Simoda is situated,
and extending across it from bluff to bluff on
either side, the Japanese have built solid
granite wall 1900 yards long, and 48 feet high,
with base Of 35 feet thick, tapering to 20
feet at the top. Near the left bank of the
stream they have left a narrow passage through
this immense wall, for the passage of their
iunks to the town. Junks drawing more than
eight feet Of water are obliged to anchor in the
bay. The object Of this dyke or breakwater,
the authorities say, 10 to prevent second de-
struction of the town by the overflow Of the
sea, during the earthquakes peculiar to this
country 1t may be doubted whether this is
the only object Of the work. By mounting a
few large guns upon it, its protection to the
town against the invader, would be as great as
against the approach of the sea.
In the town, an immense building is being
erected as a bazaar, for the better display of
their goods to purchasers. Near the water
they are erecting, and have nearly completed,
a row of large warehouses, for the storage of
coal and merchandise. Along the water front
of the town has been built large substantial
quay or mole, ..for the better ladng and dscharg-
ing of boats The building of these facilities
for trade shows disposition to open commerce
to us at some future day; perhaps after the ar
rival of our Consul General, of whom, and as
to his probable arrival, the Japanese were ex.
ceedingly anxious. Even now the merchants
at Simoda are willing and anxious to trade
with us, but under the restrictions of the Off
Gals, they are obliged to appear Indifferent
In one case, merchant took less than the
government paid for his goods, but requested
me to be extremely cautious in keeping it Sc
cret from the officials in my final settlement
with them.
Though the authorities will not admit that
we have a privilege to trade with them accord
ing to the treaty, still they are not unwilling to
sell their goods for ready money at their valu-
alton Of our dollar. But thanks to the short
sighted diplomacy Of Commodore Perry, in es-
tablishing, by precedent, the value of our
dollar according to their copper coin, instead
Of q comparative value with their silver coin,
we are obliged to sell our dollar for 33i cents,
thereby enhancing the value of their goods to
such ruinous price that their willingness TO
trade amounts to hardly less than a prohibit
ton. A few parties have purchased small lots
of their curious and elaborate lacquered ware,
even at the ruinous exchange, hoping that the
novelty, not the intrinsic value of the ware,
may make the venture profitable.
Having disposed of my schooner in Hong
Kong, shipped my invoice of lacquered ware
and Japanese goods for the New York market.
The Russians from the wrecked frigate I" Di-
ana" during their stay at Simoda, buried their
guns, ammunition, &C., near the town, where
they are watched by the authorities until an
opportunity offers to transport them in safety
to their port on the Amoor.
The Japanese officials reported that on the
18th of December, five days previous to my
rival at Simoda, another severe earthquake
visited Jeddo, destroying houses and temples,
burying nearly 5000 people beneath the ruins.
THOMAS w. BADGER,
Late Of the schooner General Pierce.