The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-10
INTERESTING FROM Japan

'N''o''
INTERESTING FROM JAPAN
letter to the Philadelphia Ledger dated at Nan
gaski, Japan Oct LIST, gives interesting partc-
uars relative to the state of feeling in that country
towards foreigners, and concerning the death of the
Emperor.
The Cholera had broken out with great violence,
carrying off many fifty of the japanese daily,
and originating 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 devil
who it was asserted had been thrown overheard
from of the English ships lately visiting the
port, and who had then swan on shore to destroy
the people punishment for the spirit of &c free
intercourse with foreigners" which Japan had man
iested by signing the late treaties. 1t was also as
serted that the English had poisoned the waters"
1t that one of the English vessels gave liberty
to a number of her crews that two of these wander
ed into the country, and that during their walk
they passed several springs.
After shaking their thirst at one of these, they
wantonly stirred it up with their sticks, and the
that were supplied by that spring had to car
ry their buckets to others. Thus was orig
mated the idea of the poisoning of the waters
1t is hardly possible to calculate the amount
of injury likely to RESULT from proceeding such as
this on the part of foreigners, at the very moment
when the conduct of every one who is not ia
panese should be marked by the most concilitory
and friendly bearing. Let me not, however, leave
the onus entirelyupon the English saor-his brother,
the American "tar," has been equally nconsider-
ate; and the result of that Anglo-Saxon weakness
fondness for strong drink.
l remarked, a few lines back, that it was hardly
possible to calculate the amount of injury likely
result from acts of this nature. Here are some
things which occurred few days after the report
became prevalent that "the English had poisoned
the waters Two officers of that nation, while
strolling through the country, were attacked by a
crowd and forced to fly to avoid being overpowered
nv Russian VIII had hcnp
left here by Admiral Poutiatin in charge of a num-
Der of sick men attacked in the streets of Ma
gasaki itself. And the Dutch doctor of Desima,
who has been among them for years, and who, as
is generally the case, with medical men among a
semi-civiliZed people, was great favorite ac-
count of his numerous cures, stoned while en-
joyng evening ride. These things all point in
single dlrection-they point to the conviction that
the intercourse of foreigners with the japanese
must be characterized by considerable and friendly
bearing or to war which will be waged to avenge
wrongs from them resulting from an opposite line
of conduct our part Just exactly as we 1.-THE
American portion of foreigners) are now waging
weekly wars upon Indian tribes for the murder of
some "white-face," who has probably outraged
some member of said tribe through his wife or
daughter.
gave you account of the treaty lately made
by us with Japan. 1t said that, after the
signing of our last treaty, Goth of July ult it was
sent by the Tai-koon, or Imperial Emperor at
Miaco for his approval. The latter, however, who
is said to be young man of eighteen, aware of his
rights and power, and determined to enforce them
refused his approval upon the ground that he
should have been consulted previous to the signing
of the treaty, and departing boldly from the tinid
policy of his immediate predecessors initiated
that of the cold regime and notified his "great
ruler" (or TaiKoon,) that in obedience to the lacs
of Japan, the time had come for him to commit
''Harikar" The Great Ruler therefore stabbed
himself in the bowels, receiving at the same mo-
ment severe blow on the back of his neck, from
friend and reatire, which dslocating the vertebra,
produced instant death. This bold stand upon the
part of their Mikado, who has been treated by late
Tai Rooms more puppet than master, has
startled the japanese, and caused them to expect
some great changes. What these are to be, how
ever; they do not say.
The above is the news by one post. Another
says that the Emperor poisoned, and that three
of the great Princes composing the Senate of
twenty ,Cho actually gorern Japan, had been dis
graced for the part they had taken in the treaty;
while third arrival varies the news by stating
that the Ta-Koon has simply been deprived of his
office for time, and that he will return to power
after few years; The three Princes, it was far
ther stated, had been dismissed from office by the
Ta-Koon previous to his own removal in the hope
that the Mikado would consider that sufficient
reparation, and consent to stop farther proceed
ings. This latter was accepted by US as the most
natural, and consequently likely TO be true than
any other; but yesterday all doubt was removed by
the publication of the following government order
''The Tai-Koon is dead All the people will
4th of October, and continue it through the follow
ing 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 Harikari is the most probable.
October 4tb.-On the I'd inst, the Flag Officer
was officially notified of the death of the Emperor
by the Governor of Nagasaki. We were informed
with all the gravity in the world that he had beer
| sick for six weeks with pleurisy, and that he haC
finally succumbed on the 14th of September.
subsequently said to the interpreter, "you once
told that it required forty days to get news from
Yeddo, and now when it is only eighteen days since
his death you know all about it. | do not know
what to believe when talk to you Japanese"
ooh! F" he replied, 'oh when the Emperor die.
the post comes very fast-in seven days, some.
times"
"We!l, now, want to know hon he diedp p 1
| said naturally
"How? He died of bad cold. have speak
| Commodore"
| eyes but you know that is the outside account
What want is the inside one!'
"No! this not outside. Outside, inside-all sam,
now"
Perhaps he has committed ''Hari karip' Ii
| fact know he has!'
':Oh, no ' he laughed with evident amusement
/" That not So That cannot be Never Emperor
| or Great Prince make Hari-kari--only Governor.
and small Princes" Thus 1 place the assertion o
the Interpreter against the belief of the Dutch
myself inclining toward the latter The Interpre
ter, however, was "Y ashero," remarkably homes
| and talented man.
Sats' ma no. kami, the most powerful Prince O
| Japan, died few weeks since. His subjects be
lieve that he is succeeded by his aged eighteen
while his family know that the child is only tw,
years old. This is what they mean by "outside'
and "inside." 1t is simply legal method of ly
ing.
The day after being officially informed of tn
Imperial death, the Flag Officer sent his Flag Lieu
mt To fha 10 10 tl,k
wished to honor his masters memory, by firing 2
minute guns, just should for our President, o
for the head of a European power, where we an
cbored in one of their ports The Governor ex
pressed himself highly fattered by the attention
but replied that as it was the custom in Japan t.
mourn IN silence, unless the Admiral* anrioH
to fire it, he begged he would not. So We save
our powder.
OCTOBER 6th.-Yesterday, another s'post" al
rived from Yeddo, protesting to bring the tru
account of the Imperial death. 1t is now said t
have been owing to anasarca. The Minnesota, wit
Mr. Reed and SUITE leave tomorrow at dayligt
{ for Shanghai; she will leave for home before tn
end of the year, and is ordered to proceed to Boz
ton. We are expecting the hourly arrival of tn
Mississippi, from I]akodadi, and shall leave in con
pany for Hong Kong via Shanghai about the 25th
The health of the squadron, generally, is good.
@Being less imaginative than Western Members of Cor
gress, these officials cannot understand the title
Flag Officer and therefore use either Admiral"
Commodore"
: DEATH OF JUDGE SAMUELs.-The Richmond pa
pers announced on w ednesday the sudden death
Judge Green B. Samuels of the Virginia Court {
, Appeals. The body was conveyed to the Capita
where it laid in state until Thursday, when it wa
placed in the and conveyed to his native cour
ty of Shenandoah, escorted by deputation of cit
zens OF Richmond. The Enquirer says OF him
Judge Samues was highly esteemed and cherishe
by the people of Shenandoah, whose interests b
, faithfully and honorably represented in the Stat
councils TOR many years. In the elevated positio
| m nf ;Oba 10 h
won general respect and esteem by his unbendin
integrity, simple purity of life Learning clear inde