Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-13
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY IL. 1859.
INTERESTING FROM JAPAN.
Correspondence ofthe Philadelphia Ledger.
UNITED STATES STEAMER PowATAN,

ii being understood that MIR. w m b.. Reed was
to follow in the Minnesota rs soon as possible.
We fcund at anchor a Dutch brig, discharging
the cargo of an Amsterdam merchant who had
lately arrived to settle upon the Desina, and
were also met with bad news in regard to the
cholera. This disease had. it seems, broken
out with great violence shortly after our de-
parture. a month previous, carrying of AZ
many as fifty of the Japanese daily. and
originating a feeling of widespread alarm
throughout the whole southern part of the
island of Kin-sin. 1t was not attributed to
natural causes by the lower classes, but to the
working of a devil who it was asserted had
been thrown overheard from one of the Eng
fish ships lately visiting the port, and who
had then swan on shore to destroy the people
as q punishment for the spirit of free inter
course with foreigners which Japan had
manifested by signing the late treaties. 1t
was also asserted that 1.-The English had pois-
oned the waters" and the existence of such
conviction among the lower orders is scarce
" to be wondered at, when one reflects upon
the superstitious nature OF their religion,
and upon the acts of some English sailors,
which evidently gave rise to the belief.
gave YOU an account of the treaty lately
made by us with Japan. Let me now tell
You Of some tragic as well as interesting
events which are said to have already flowed
from it. You must know that though ''out
of the world" while cruising along these un-
known shoals, we have still an occasional
European Mail. by some wandering ship,
and while anchored here) a semi-weckly
mail from Jeddo. This latter comes overland
by a special messenger, who sometimes rides,
sometimes walks, and again proceeds by
water. A few days after our arrival one Of
these posts" came in, and the next day the
Interpreters gave our Dutch friends of Desima
the Jeddo news; they in turn, passed it over
tous. 1t was said that, after the signing OF
our last treaty Goth ofJuly ult., it was sent
by the Tai-Koon, or Imperial Emperor, at
Jeddo. to the Mikado or Spiritual Emperor at
Miaco, for his approval. The latter, however,
who is said to be Il young man OF eighteen,
aware of his rights and power, and determln-
ed to enforce them, refused his approval, upon
the ground that he should have been consul
ted previous to the treaty, and departing
boldly from the timid policy of his more I'M
mediate predecessors, initiated that OF the
.'old regime" and notified his "Great Ruler
Tor Tai-Koon.) that il obedience to the laws
of Japan, the time had come for him to som
nit "Harikari." The Great Ruler, therefore,
stabbed himself in the bowels, receiving at
the same moment u severe Glow on the back
Of his neck from a friend and relative which,
dislocating the vertebra, produced instant
death. This bold stan upon the part OF
their Mikado, who has been treated by late
Tai-Koons more as puppet than a master,
has startled the Japanese, and caused them to
expect some great changes. What these are
to be. however, they do not say.
The above is the news by one post. An
other SAYS that the Emperor was poisoned,
and that three of the great Princes composing
the Senate Of Twenty, who actually govern
japan, had been disgraced for the part they
had taken in the treaty; while a third arrival
varies the news bv stating that the Tai-koon
had simply been deprived of his office for a
time, and thathe will return to power after a
few wears. The three Princes, it was farther
stated, had been dismissed from Office by the
Tai.Koop previous to his own removal, in the
hone hat the Mikado would consider that a
sufficient reparation, and consent to stop far
Their proceedings. This latter was accepted
nv MS as the most natural, and consequently
more likely 10 be trus than any other; but
Yesterday all doubt was removed by the pub
lcatlOn OF Tile lOllON lhS SpNSih
"The Tai Koon is dead! All the people
will. therefore. commence the national mourn
inc ON the 4th of October, and continue it
through the following fifty days. AS usual,
none but necessary work will be allowed
Thus. it is certain that the Emperor is dead;
though whether by Harikari or poison, is
not known. 1t is, however, equally certain,
that it has not resulted from natural causes,
and our Dutch friends say that llarikari is
the most probable.
OcropER. 4.-On the I'd instant the Flag
Officer was officially notified of the death of
the Emperor by the Governor of NagaSaki.
I'VE were informed, withall the gravity in the
world. that he had been sick for six weeks
with p~leurisy, and that he had finally sue
cumbed on the l4th September. subSe-
ouently said to the interpreter, "lou once
told me that it required forty days to get news
from .Jeddo. and now, when it is only elgh-
teen DAYS since his death, you know all about
Il do not know what to believe when 1
talk to You Japanese"
.Oh.b he replied, "oh. when the Emperor
dies the post comes very f~ast--in seven days
sometimes" ,. ,o,
swell now, I want TO know how ne died!'
/ said naturally.
'llOH. IlCulCu VI q SVN'
Commodore"
yes. but YOU know that is the outside ac-
count. What l want is the inside one:
HNo, this is not outside. Outside, inside
all same now =,
..Pcrhaps he has committed 'llarikari.,-
In fact | know he has"
.Oh, no." laughing, with evident amuse-
ment. that not so. ThatcannOt be. Never
Emperor or Great Prince make Harikarl-
only Governors and small Princes" Thus
Ipiacethe assertion of the interpreter against
the belief of the ~Duteh-myself inclining
toward the latter. The interpreter. however,
was "Yashero," a remarkably honest and
talented man. r
The day after being officially informed Of
the imperial death, the Flag officer sent his
Flag Lieutenant to the Governor, to say to
him that he wished to honor his masters
memory by firing 81 minute guns, just as we
should for our President or for the head OF a
European Power, were We anchored IN one
oftheir ports. The Governor expressed him-
self highly fattered by the attention, but re-
plied that as it was the custom in Japan to