Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-07-09

: scountry which he had never seen.) But n
matter; 60, my friends, and sector yourselves
ana II you do not return with renewed healtl
and strength, and with varied and pleasin,
"reminiscences to entertain your friends, thel
the writer of this will acknowledge himsel
somewhat mistaken. E
In conclusion, know that people are very
fond of giving advice, and that in many case!
they do not follow it themselves; but this will
not be so with me, for shall most undubita
oily take the medicine recommend to others
and leave tomorrow for the land of the Da
cotahs, whence it is not at all improbable that
the readers of this journal may hear from me
occasionally again. E. w.
Townsend Harris' Negotiations in ia.
- pan.--A Letter from Him.
From the Philadelphia Ledger of June 9sd.
Mr.. Harris, the American Consul at Simon
da, writes as follows, Oct. 4th:
The Japanese have applied to me for one
of our steamers to forward their Embassy to
the United States, by way of Panama, and
expect to select the vessel by which they will
60 and the date of their departure as soon as
Commodore Tatnall arrives here. Our coun-
try is to be the first that is to receive an en-
bassy from this country. l have written to
the Department, giving full details and ma
king some suggestions The Russians. Eng
lish, French and Dutch have all made treaties
with the Japanese since the date of ours, and
it gives me great satisfaction to state that they
are identical in their substance with the treaty
of Yedo, signed by me.
The readiness with which all the foregoing
Powers accepted the treaty as made by me,
has given the japanese favorable opinion of
my judgment, for had told them long before
our treaty was completed, that any treaty
that was satisfactory to me, would be ac-
cepted by all the nations that would wish to
have treaties with them, and this literal ac-
complishment of my assertions has greatly
| pleased them.
had very pleasant intercourse with Lord
Elgin and also with Baron Gros. gave them
copies of our treaty, and all the information
desired. [ did not see Count Poutatine, the
Russian Envoy, as he arrived here on the eve-
ming before | went up to Kanagawa in the
Powhatan, and on my return met him going
up the Bay of Yedo, and as he did not touch
here when he left, | had no opportunity of
seeing him.
A ministerial crisis occurred at Yedo on the
Sd of August. Hotta, Prince of Bittau, chief
of the Great Council of State, and Minister
for Foreign Affairs, and Ninto, Prince of Kee,
Member of Council were dismissed from Of
flee, and their places were filled by Ota, Prince
of Bngo, and Manabay, Prince of Simoosa.
Both of the last named persons belong to
the "old fogy" party of Japan. This unex-
pected occurrence is said to have been
brought about by the signing the treaty with
me on the 29th of July. The opponents of
the treaty alleged that the two Ministers had
been fright ned by me; that neither the
English or French were coming to Japan, and
that from the cowardice they had shown, they
had proved themselves to be unfit for the
places they held. The clamor was SO loud
and so well sustained that the two Princes
were dismissed, as already stated.
For ten days it was matter of doubt
whether not only the Princes of Bttsu and
Kee, but also the Princes of Sinano and Higo
(who negotiated the treaty with me) and the
interpreters, would not be compelled to per-
form the hara- -kiri''-i. e., rip themselves up
Fortunately for all three parties, the arrival of
Lord Elgn proved the correctness of all had
told them, and justified the Ministers in sign
ing the treaty with me, and they were, there
fore, out of danger, but they have not been
restored to office
The Department for Foreign Affairs is now
entrusted to three members of the Great
Council-the Princes of Bingo, Sim -o-sa, and
Yamato-who are to be assisted by council
offve persons, and ain pleased to see in this
number the names of my old friends the
Princes of Sinano and Higo The appoint
ment of these men would seem to indicate
either that the Liberal party is once more in
the ascendant, or that their principles have
been adopted by their opponents.
On the 18th of September the Japanese
officially announced the death of the Tycoon,
stating that he expired on the 10Th of that
month. | was informed of his death on the
29th of August, and in fact the actual date of
his demise was on the 10th of August, but it
was concealed by the authorities until they
could complete their negotiations with the
English and Russians, which would have been
suspended had the death been announced.
The Tycoon was subject to epileptic fits,
and it is very probable that the great excite
ment in Yedo that followed the signing of the
America treaty may i,ave brought on fatal
ATTACK Of his nialady.
The successor to the throne is an adopted
son of his late Majesty. He is said to be Q
bright youth of some 10 years Of age He
will be allowed to marry wheE he reaches the
age of IS. Of course the youth of the new
ruler removes the necessity of any specula-
ton as to what his views may be as it relates
to the foreign affairs of this country.
The cholera broke out at Nagasaki shortly
after our ships, the Powhatan and Missssip-
pi, left that of kinsu and Si-kok, and crossed
over the Nippon (our island) 1t made great
havoc in the cities of Sanoneseki, Osaca,
Klota, Yedo, &C.. and in all the villages and
;ofo
Yedo alone one hundred and fifty thousand
persons died during the first month of the
malady. am happy to say that it has near
one; the malady swept off over one hundrd
persons out of our little hamlet in less than
twenty days. No medical aid on which |
could rely was to be obtained Happily, all
my household escaped. The disease, in part,
assumed novel type. The subjects were
attacked with burning fever in the face and
head, soon became dellrious, and frequently
died the second hour after the attack
The Japanese inform me that once before
Gin 1922, or thereabouts,) the cholera visited
this country. This is, perhaps, a fortunate
circumstance, as had its first appearance
here been simultaneous with the opening of
the country to foreigners, the consequence
might have been unpleasant. AS it is, some
of the common people at Nagasaki said the
foreigners had brought the disease, ha1 pois-
oned the well, &c. Fortunately, nothing Sc
rious grew out of the feeling, although it is
said that the priests were very busy in covey-
| ing such ideas to the people.
The only effect at Simoda was to produce
decided revival" Never were the temples
and mias so crowded the priests rejoieed in
large surplus revenue" arising from the
sale of charms and from the offerings of the
devout The houses were covered with
charms of all sorts fish nets were hung ov-
er the doors to entangle the Biloski, should
it attempt to enter the house; sickles, knives
and other cutting implements were suspend
ed to keep off the dreaded enemy miniature
bows, and arrows fitted to them, threatened
the demon from each penthouse guns were
fred during the night to frighten him
and gongs beaten loud enough and long
1