The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-12
THE EMPEROR OF Japan

correspondent of the Journal of Commerce,
speaking of the death of the Emperor of Japan n,
says: In answer to inquiries which put to half a
dozen young Japanese Interpreters, whom at the
request of the Governor am teaching American, I
learnt that the Emperor died of some natural dis
ease which they described as affecting his feet and
preventing his walking, and also filling his stomach
with water. Afterwards the Dutch nh vsic;ap re-
siding here, said he had seen the son of the Emper-
or's physician, who had come down from Jeddo,
and whose father had been instructed in medicine
by the Dutch, who assured him that beyond ques-
ton the Emperor had died of dropsy in the chest,
when was IN conformity with the symptoms given
to me by the interpreters.
The name OF the Emperor, as written down for
me by the young interpreters, Casaduco. He
died on the night of September l6, and of course
| did not hear OF the honor we Americans paid him
in our toast at the picnic at NIGGA on the 9th of
the same month. Some of the Dutch residents say
he had no sons. and adopted one for his successor
but my Interpreters assert he had one who is be-
tween Is and l6 years old, and who has assembled
| the throne. Neither widows or daughters, accord
ing to the Japanese constitution, are allowed to
succeed deceased emperor, but he is permitted, in
the failure to have son, to adopt any he
pleases, who, upon the decease of the emperor, be-
comes the sovereign without opposition.
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-gen
eral, who was admitted to personal interview al
which His Majesty addressed him in few kind and
courteous words, and even smiled upon him, and
seemed almost ready to laugh. Mr.. Harris resided
at two different times nearly six months at Jeddo
during which he had long and dangerous sickness
when this humane and condescending Emperor sent
two of his own physicians, who had been instructed
by the Dutch in European medicine, to attend con
stantly upon him, of whom was doubtless the
individual who attended the Emperor in his last
sickness and gave the report of the disease of which
he died.
This event is much to be regretted, because the
consequences 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, with his BONES or priests, which
are innumerable, and as subservient to him as the
Catholic priests to the pope, is bitterly opposed to
all progressive ideas, preferring the old isolation
and non intercourse to commerce and communica-
ton, and the supersttions of Buddhism and Sntoo-
ism to the spiritual, purifying, and ennobling doc
trines of Christianity. There may be reaction,
revolt, against the liberal ideas and measures of
the late Emperor and his ministers, though l am
inclined to believe, that the good work incepted by
him will now move on, till the whole Empire is not
only opened to civilization and Christianity, but
possessed by them.