Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-13

DEATH OF THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN.-The
New York journal of Commerce of the 10th
inst, contains a letter from a correspondent on
board the man-of-war Powhatan at Nagasaki,
giving different account of the death Of the
Emperor of Japan, from that given by the cor
respondent of the Philadelphia Ledger, which
we printed on Monday. The correspondent
of the Journal Of Commerce writes October 7,
six days later, and says that the report that
the Emperor committed suicide is untrue
The statement of this latter authority is as
follows:
"ln answer to inquiries which put to half
dozen young Japanese interpreters whom at
the request Of the Governor, | am teaching
American, l learned that the Emperor died of
some natural disease, which they described as
affecting his feet, and preventing his walking,
and also filled his stomach with water After
wards the Dutch physician residing here, said
he had seen the son of the Empcror's physi-
cian who had come down from Jeddo, and
whose father had been instructed in medicine
by the Dutch, who assured him that beyond
question, the Emperor had died of dropsy in
the chest which was in conformity with the
symptoms given me by the interpreters.
The name Of the Emperor, as written down
for me by the young Interpreters, was Casadu-
co. He died on the night of Sept. 16, and of
course did not hear OF the honor we Ameri-
cans paid him in our toast at the picnic at
Moge on the 9th of the same month. AS be-
fore stated, he was 26 years old only, and had
twelve wives. Some of the Dutch residents
say he had no sons, and adoIsted one for his
successor, but my Interpreters assert that he
had one who is between Is and IL years old,
antesgho had ascended the throne. Neither
widows or Uaughters, according 70 the Japan
csc constitution, are allowed to succeed a de-
ceased Emperor, but he is permitted, in the
failure to have a son, to adopt any one he
pleases, who, upon the deeease of the EN-
peror, becomes the sovereign without oppo-
sition.
The Interpreters assure me the late Emperor
was popular, very amiable and much beloved
by those who knew him the best, which fully
accords with the representations Of Mr.. Harris,
our Consul General, who was admitted to
personal interview, at which his Majesty adj
dressed him i'll a few kind and courteous words,
and even smiled upon him. and seemed almost
ready to laugh. Mr.. Harris resided at two diff
ferent times nearly six months in Jeddo dur
ing which he had long and dangerous sick,
ness, when this humane and condescending
Emperor sent two of his own physicians, who
had been instructed by the Dutch in European
medicine, to attend constantly upon him, one
Of whom was doubtless the individual who at
tended the Emperor in his last sickness, and
gave the report Of the diseases of which he
died, which l have mentioned
This event is much to be regretted because
the consequences are as yet unknown, and may
blast all the bright hopes which began to be
cherished for Japan, and its forty millions of
people. The Spiritual Emperor flor strangely
there are two-a civil and ecclesiastical), with
his bonzeS or priests, which are innumerable,
and as subseryient to him as the Catholic
priests to the Pope, is bitterly opposed to all
progressive ideas, preferring the Old isolation
and non-ntercourse to commerce and commu-
nication, and the superstitions of Buddhism
and Sintooism to the spiritual, purifying and
ennobhng doctrines OF Christianity. There
may be reaction, revolt, against the liberal
ideas and measures of the late Emperor and
his ministers, though am inclined to believe,
and earnestly hope, that the good work incept-
ed by him will now move on, not like the rap
id whirlwind and Storm but slow and victo-
rious wave, till the whole Empire is not only
opened to civilization and Christianity, but pos
Sessed by them.
The weather is now cool and delightful, and
the crew and officers generally in good health
The whole country is covered with an inn
mense thick carpet Of green, without one fall
en- leaf or one faded flower, as if Spring and
Summer were united. But the cholera has
been in this city and swept away about 1900
people in four weeks. 1t has now entirely dis
appeared III 1880 it broke out in Japan, and
was very fatal in Nagasaki."