Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-01-08

A United States Contention nth Japan-Coasm Cen
enf Harris and our Trade IN the Eat.
From the Friend of China, Oct. 81


SMoDA, Japan. July 6, 1857.
SRI have the honor to transmit for your information
copy of convention that have made with the ia
panese.
1t is proper that should inform you that the rea-
tive value OF gold and silver are quite different In Japan
to what they are in other parts of the world.
In the United States the relative value of gold to sill
yer is as | to IT, but in Japan it is as to l7th so
that although the japanese give the same weight of their
gold coin as the foreign coin they receive yet owing to
the difference of relative value loss of more than
IS per cent foreign gold compared with silver.
To illustrate the operation of the third article of the
convention, would state that where Americans have
heretofore paid 500 in silver they will now pay 341a
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
TOWNSEND HARRIss.
To James Keenan, Esq, U. 5. Consul, Hong Kong.
For the purpose of further regulating the intercourse
of American citizens within the empire of Japan, and
after due deliberations Townsend Harris, Consul General
of the United States OF America within the empire of
Japan, and lnowouye, Prince of Sinano, and NakamOe
IA, Prince of Dewa, Governors OF Smoda, all having
full powers from their respective governments, have
agreed on the following articles, to wit -
Art. L. The port of Nangasakl, in the princpalty Of
Hzen, shall be open to American vessels where they
may repair damages procure water fuel, provisions and
other necessary articles even GOALS where they are OBJ
tainable
Art 2 1t being known that American ships coming
to the ports of Smoda and Hakodade cannot have their
wants supplied by the Japanese, it is agreed that Amer
citizens may permanently reside at Smoda and Ha
kodale and the government of the United States may
appoint vice consul to reside at Hakodade.
This article to go into effect the 4th day of July
! 1858
Art. ). In settlement of accounts the value of the
money brought by the Americans shall be ascerained
by weighing it with japanese coin god and silver itse
bues THAT is, gold with gold, and silver with silver or
weights representing japanese coin may be used after
such weights have been carefully examined and found to
| he correct
The value of the money of the Americans having been
thus asceraned the sum of six per cent shall be allow
cd to the japanese for the expense of recomage.
Art 4. Americans committing offences in Japan shall
be tried by the American Consul General or Consul,
and shall be punished according to American laws
Japanese committing offences against Americans shall
be tried by the Japanese authorities and punished &C
cording to Japanese laws
Art. s. American ships which may resort to the
ports of Simoda Hakodade, Nanghsak, for the pur
pose of obtaining necessary supplies to repair DANA
ges shall pay for them in gold or silver CON- and if they
have no money goods shall be taken in exchange.
Art. 6. The government of Japan admits the right
of the Consul General of the United States to go beyond
the limits of Seven Ri, but has asked him to delay the
use OF that right except iii cases of emergency ship
wreck, NC, to which he has assented.
Art I. Purchases for the Consul General his fam
lily may be made by him only, by member of his
family and payment made to the seller for the same,
without the intervention of any japanese official, and
for this purpose Japanese silver and copper coin shall be
supplied to the Consul General.
Art. s. AS the Consul General of the United States
of America has knowledge of the japanese language
nor the Governors of Simoda knowledge of the English
language it is agreed that the true meaning shall be
found in the Dutch version of the articles.
Art g. All the foregoing articles to 60 into effect from
the date hereof except article 2 which shall go into e
feet on the date indicated in it.
Done i'll quintuplicate leach copy being in English
Japanese and DUTCH at the GoyoSso of Simoda, the
18th day of june in the year of the Christian era 1851
and of the independence the United States of Amer
ca the 9ls corresponding to the fourth year of Ansc
Mi, the 9TH month, the Goth day. the English version
being signed by the Consul General of the United States
of America and the japanese by the Governors Of ST.
moda TOWNSEND HARRIS.
From the London Times Dec. IL.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. than week has elapsed since
the last efforts made to move this vessel AS
readers may remember the efforts were discontinued in
consequence of the great difficulty experienced in obtain
ing anything lie holdasts for the river mornings
Partly owing to tho innnonoo etr "nd partly because
of the peculiarly dense nature OF the river bed, which
prevented the anchors penetrating more than foot or
so in DEPTH it quite impossible to make any effec
tive use of this river tacke which at the present stage
of the launch has become absolutely essential to its fur
ther progress. In ORDER therefore, that proper hold
may be obtained regular series of large piles has been
driven the opposite bank OF the river one on the wharf
of NLesss Humphrey yard, and the second little be-
low high water mark between the watergate Ferry and
DeptOrd Dockyar. Each of these clumpS of pilng
almost similar in strength and arrangement to the piles
which serve as basis for the hydraulic rams in the yard
ItSCf and like tne tOO they nave not Den restored 10
till the eleventh hour fact until the failure OF all other
methods has literally forced their adoption upon the
gncers. Both these completed early yesterday
morning, and the chains and anchors holding back the
mornings by which the Leythan is dragged with double
purchase towards the river secured among Them.
There seems not the least doubt but that these piles
will hold the anchors fast enough but that it is by
means so clear that the launch will be by any
pedcd Under the previous arrangements in which Or
binary anchors were used to hold the moorings, the
chains always breaking, even when the anchors
themselves yielding and coming in foot by foot
What chains will stand that the anchors are secur
ed and cannot yield inch? 1t expected that all
the arrangements would be completed yesterday in time
to make another effort to the vessel early the
morning. Unfortunately it was impossible to complete
the details of the preparations till nearly dark yesterday
when brief attempt made more it asserted
for the purpose Of trying the tackle than with any ser
GUS intention of commencing operations at so late
hour. Be this it may, however, tremendous pres
and strain kept up upon both fore and aft
dies for about ten minutes without making the smallest
impression upon the inert monster though the force ap-
piled eventually became great as to drive the feed pipe
out of of the hydraulic rams and snap river moor
ing chain of 218 inches. These mshaps being about
equivalent to a day work. the pressure then taken
off agan, leaving the launching apparatus minus the
= services of the and chain. Both these, however,
easily be repaired and ready for this day. when it is
positively asserted that the launching is to recommence
for the fourth and last time.
The New HALL OF REPREsENTAT1vEs.--Mr John
G.. Rves Publisher of the Congressional Globe contain
ing the official reports of the proceedings CT Congress
gives the following testimony concerning the merits Of
the Hall in which the House of Representatives now
Il holds its sessions:
No man living, believe feels greater present in
l. teest than do in the acoustics of the Hail. as il
the handspring to reports of the debates and il