The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-04-30
Japas.e.E Trade and Comhiisstons to
------------ttrc-yf utsed States


on board the Us. steamer Powhattan, dated
Hong Kong, February Is, 1882:
Now is the longest stride about to be taken
towards the "opening of Japan. ester
day the United States steamer Mississippi
steamed out of this harbor and pointed her
head for the japanese port of Simoda, and
after the arrival Of the next mail, (say about
the 18th inst,) we in the Powha viii
follow her example. The object of this
double movement Is to put japanese Min
lister aud suite in a fair way to reach WASH
ington by the first of June next, and il is
expected to be accomplished in this way:
We reached Simoda about the 5th proxi-
mo. take on board Mr.. Townsend Harris the
next day and steam for seven hours up the
Bay of Yeddo until arrived at Kanagawa,
another this ship and the Mississippi and
commence the ball. About the 10th proxi-
mo, the Minister and suite, in charge OF one
of our lieutenants, arrive on board Of the
Mississippi, and steam away at once for San
Francisco, probably via the Sandwich
Islands }, thence to Panama, Aspinwall, and
New York. The object in proceeding via
San Francisco is double one-partly to let
the Japanese see what a fine country has
sprung into existence under our flag during
the last ten years, and partly to repienish
with coal. i can see now these quiet Japa-
nese thrust suddenly into the streets Of'San
Francisco. 1t will De healthy warning of
the crowd which will doubtless assemble
upon the New York Battery to greet them
upon their arrival there. can see also the
surprise that will be awakened ia the
American public by the polished manners
and native good breeding of these simple
Islanders. Take my word for it, they will
be calm and self Possessed in spite of the
novelty of the scenes through which they
will pass for the first time. The feeling
among the higher classes in japan is now
unusually strong towards the United States
aud Americans, and should they be recciv-
ed with even a moderate amount OF good
will and attention, il, will be hardly possible
to measure the amount of good which will
result to us after their return.
Nine Princes out of ten in the whole En-
pire will hasten to Yeddo to see their re-
turned Peers, and to hear them expaiiate
upon the strange countries and people over
which they will have passed, and with
whom they will have been thrown into con-
tact Then, with a still stronger feeling
in favor of our countrymen, American en-
ergy and enterprise will receive their warm
support and encouragement, and American
capital will flow into Japan in the shape OF
steamers, steam engines for shore purposes,
light cotton fabrics, &c, to the almost GER
tain exclusion of that of less favored ma
tions should not myself be surprised if
Japan were to become as productive a field
for the consumption of steam engines for
the crushing OF cane, &c, as the island of
Cuba and the State of Louisiana now are.
Almost every climate in the world is known
in that favored country, and while the more
hardy cereals flourish on the north end of
Nipton and Yeese, many tropical produc-
tons are found in rank luxuriance upon the
more southern islands of Kiusin and Sikof.
Among the latter is found the sorghum, or
Chinese sugar cane, in great plenty. In
fact very little sugar is has hitherto BEEN
imported through the Dutch, il all being
raised at home, and for home consumption.
! Nor do see how il can ever become an OBJ
ject to import sugar into Spain, simply
from the fact that japanese grocers now re-
tail il at one.half the average wholesale
price in other parts of the world. That there
are vast quantities of it used in the country
there can be no question. | suppose that in
| no other part of the world do confection-
err" drive a more active trade. Every one
seems to have sweet TOOTH and one of
their first attentions to strangers is TO offer
and insist upon your partaking OF sweet
meats OF some description.
The japanese Commissioners appointed 10
| proceed to Washington to exchange the rati-
! iicatiOn of the American treaty are Nagaai
I Genba no Gami, Governor of Accounts and
/ Minister Of the Navy, and iva Say Higo
no Kami, Imperial Inspector The former
( is said to he learned and intelligent man,
/ instructed BY some officers of the Ouch
( navy at Decima, in algebra, mathematics
aud navigation. In 1857 he conducted the
steamer Soembing, the first ever possessed
! by the japanese, from Nagasaki to Ieddo,
! with japanese engineers and sailors, and
7 without any European aid. lie was one of
/ the Commissioners engaged in negotiating
the late treaties.
iva Say Higo no Kami, also an inteili-
gent man, was one of the Commissioners
employed in the recent treaty regulations,
aud acquired some knowledge Of foreign
politics and customs in his intercourse with
foreigners on those occasions.