The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-23

rsfrKD STATES CONSUL osHERAL AT JAPAN-ruE
GAMER or NEW YORK MERCHANT.
Fsw Of eiusens si AL familiar with the course Of bu-
sness IN hs city during the lat thirty years fail to
remember Townsend Harris Largely engaged in the for
eisn and domestic trade As importer and lobber Of
eArthsn~ae, his enterprise, activity ami fidelity
chant not remarkable than his public spirit and
usefuncs ~ q oiu1cn.
whle engaged The conduct Of extensive business,
Mr. Harris found give an earnest and efficient sup-
port 10 the of education He elected OF
the public shoots for the Ninth ward under the old sys
tern, and subsequently for several terms Commissioner
for e district under the present arrangement for
The management o. the schools Twice elected President
cf the Board % Education while holding that Office
hc nrst suggested he idea Of establishing seminary Of
iearnng Of higher grade than the common school, the
beneas of which should he all scholars who had
rassed with credit through The lower branches Of our
common school system.
me suggestion of the Frse Academy had few advocates
st nrst and met with . decided opposition Mr.. Harris
however pursued has object and agans, pow
croi obstacles, solely by hz ndemiiabie pcrseyc
rance and energy, carrying htl through the Logisa
ture Tfoydng for the of establishing his favorte
institution.
Al The last moment of legislative acton whom u ap
parent that the bln would becone law an amendment
plausible ia terms but wel calculated 10 defeat the
measure, introduced which submit the proro-
foF the arrscvsl q the then ensuing
election. Not deferred dsheartned by ih,s new aim
cuy Mr.. Harris accepted the ordeal and entered upon
tho contest for popular approval with the real he
bad shown al Albany Unaded By committees, Or the
assistance of the pfess 10 any considerable extent he
tered INTO the contest with determination TO succeed
All published opposition he under his o~n signature
Tickets and handbHs were printed At his o~n expense
HIS pen and his always ready defend and 10
advocate this which he regarded the crownins Of
his hfc Ills commensurate With his real
and perseverance. The measure iriumphan,ly sux
tanned by the popular vote. Mr. Harris then gave tho
afsduty and real 10 the plans for constructing
edcc and Cor organizing the intellectual department; Of
the institution, for which he had successfully asorcd
As soon he had both completed ana IN All res.
poets ready 10 extend the advantages Of tic higher
branches Of learning 10 the children Of Tho people with
the same dis.ncrested unobuascness that had marked
his whole regard to this great public act Of
ni6ccnce and benevoencc, Mr. Harris voluntarily
retired from hs high Offices prcsiicnt Of tho Board
OF Education and Chairman Of the Committee tho
Free Academy. THIS history of tbs institution very
little known, and is time that Mr. Harris competition
with should be recorded = simple at Of justce 10
one whose il worthy be emulated by others
Early in the year is4s the empire opened 70 our
commerce the Pacific attracted the attfnton ~ our
merchants and Mr. Harris determined y di,er, hhs At
tenton that rcgon. lie retired from the house of
which he partner, purchased and frcgh'od, solely
his account, enc bark, sna sailed the month
Of May for California. After several years a
vicsstudes occupied BY hun IA traycrsing The PacEc
Ocean, visiting Islands aud countries storing a. know
ledge and information or future usefulness The year IsSl
found him in China where he received from the govern
mcnt Of the United States tie commission d cousu II
Nipgpo. lie had NJ that time traveller ii almost
every country washod by the waters os the racnc and
the China lie had been almost every island ~
the indiaa aaa Chinese seas aud hal VISITED nnJostan
and the principal cities ~ that empire including of
thos raccs which have - recently been Tho scenes u
m The wear 1850 NJ Harris retu rasi for trf VS.,
10 his nay. ssH,e, and whe here rceci,sd rnsoieltc
The late administrator the apgontOlani of Consul
General Jsgan, which country has been L,s good
fortune TO signals. hiniself = shggxd ana
able dplomats and to have conferred signal bcnelts
on his country. While waiting ., New York Tor tho
vessel which 80 carry HIN ~ atslna he way 10
sinoda Mr. N. received further evidence ~ tho a pre
ciaon IN which hs ,acns and character held tho
appointment given him y commissioner ~ n,gouass
treaty with the empire of siam.
He sailed hence Ia octoher, 1885 via England France
and the Mediterranean 70 the straits ~ Malaoca, where,
after having been detained about tao months Al Puo
Panang by delay IN the arrival n the Jacnl0
friga,e he embarked board that vessel los nanekok
Hrs emnenty successful mission thai country wei
known The treaty gotiaicd by HIM was exhanga sua
ratified BY both conaSes and that mart q ttado
opened 10 the commerce II his country,
II u worthy of remark that all Mr. nsrre' pabnc
vices have be~r wondered Ia modes, and
ohtrusivc tn, they have scsr,ey sura,ed nasice 10
in the 81 education. No c~ieu,asoas 4
e-i ~ public vessels hsradsd h- INTO
from The ports of sam. lie ~N not even IN p~cunlary
n the service u s country when he nego the
treaty of sam lie that the utal~r Cn-sl
General to japan the salary Of which once, ny aw could
until he had entered up~n hs duties h
Official residence; noy has h. ever received any scm
pcusaton for that important scrvsce Th~ fA hosey~s
made no difference with Mr. Harris in sspssmlsr 1850,
hn hts0 "A.
existing between that country and ts tinted &ss under
which he admitted o residence, bot beyond that ne
Perry had accomplished crmm~nuael~ work IN uttanng
tho nrsi step towards comfy hetxsen nsf IN
opening o few ports for Amercans sunsrns dstfes
ship~recs Beyond this step scafcsly any rs~r~.s
had been made towards obtaining fssitles q sna~-s
oomm"roe. Amsrican CON 49, enly r~c-lvei 81 aervc
BE- purchases. except through ". medium = agrrt ex
rressly appointed in each case, and tbs appointment
could only be accomplished hy osss nng au,hurHy tsou
Jeddo the captal situated rernovy IN" nser"f ~ ne
country.
the dutytrvi ~ .cur,ng fhc gnoa
of the ruling powers of lsran fur h,useW spa nexi. a
making ,hese feelings syslscs y ~ eaorw y prccore
ameiorstson ~ The tefms ~ the treaty n um b.
successful and me nrs, year hs 1sF~n
signayed ny tho esccu,on q aooov~ua.oe. unarr
which purchases could be made drec', sstoui N
btous machinery q sgrnts, and Afnerlcan con fsw
tho erst taken At dsaccant as ony t-o ~
These imgortani sasgs a M ~urs
Al Nv Mr. isrrs aassss ass@ 60 e.~s -
ceved In tho agreeable nformaion that ~ musaea
psls ~ ,snas,rss '"s srs .asrro, ,,.,s
H. the presence of the Emperor Juiy ast l~s has
years from the time ~ ha afrvA a AMpMn. ~
result % his tact, ooorAse snd rl.~s&nr na@nners
The particulars ~ hlr ntrrcnursr known Mna
have been published IN the H1kfn To- crrsrMs4 pfs
scntcd IN his condsct u aars she Fst ssh q
most ~ Nj. Harris predecessors wy marsef sna
shows his admirable Skin and fitness fcF ~ go~tx Ana
net only this bg, vas c~ing = - f.asss. ssa sss
manke eomprehens veness a mind that lsrd Fasn
enabled 10 conclude treaty Cos Che bnc~t ~ h.
country. Hc would have been Trrf~rty hepaes theui
his aid and HE ordsh vel A. tn Fngsh rFes hmFe
gratefully ACKNOWLEDGED their chhfattots ~
We are also happy 10 csrn that NJ fsrrs sarFaia e.
crtons have been fully appreciated ~ NE fwsea8ent
Mr. Harris horn AZ sandy ttu wssh ngsnu eounaFs
s fifty Eve years Of age nne Tory, aura aYge&anos,
cordial grn.al and rcsolute n manner ~ sgs@ss
Frerch. spanish, Italian, usny of tn dscsts 81 tmaa
and China, and is studying The JaEaness - pw.
pairing materials for history % formo~a, sna assoc
gagged 90 a similar xurk on Japan.
~ with pleasure record the ~ New rarx
merchant, and would bc veil " country entoye ~