, 1860-08-17
Interesting Letter from Japan.

KANAe1wA, June IA. 1856

Correspondence Of the Alta California;
COMMERCE IN JAPAN
KANAGGwA, June IA, 1860.
A year has almost elapsed since the
world was startled from its ethorgy by the
announcement that far-off and secluded
nation had at last succumbed to the ad-
vancement of civilization and was open to
commerce. In that brief period what n
Wondrous spectacle has met our gaze and
admiration From all points of the com
pass nations and people have We'd with
each other to gain favor with this enchant-
ed country-the land Of the rising of the
sun. In that brief space Of time commerce
has advanced with such rapid strides, and
made such progress that even here, where
trade and its adherents are looked upon
with greater contempt than in any other
part Of the known world-it has planted its
insignia so indelliby that time or the course
Of governments will not efface.
1t is only those who, regardless of the
former history Of the japanese character,
as expressed by the course pursued by
them relative to the expulsion of foreigners
in 1881, aad of their conduct prior to ls46,
throwing aside all personal feelings for
safety, had consented to become pioneers
and supporters Of commerce, are aware of
the great difficulties encountered in estab-
fishing trade in Japan, and Of the many
insurmountable obstacles and restrictions
Of trade thrown in the way OF direct inter-
course with the merchants of the Empire,
instead Of submitting to a catechism and
interference Of officials and spies. To those
few who had seen the opening Of Japan
had escaped the several assassinations-
bad seen the i'll Telling as evinced by the,
Constitutional Princes Of the realm against
the foreiguers-to those alone and the for
bearance and kindness with which they
treated the japanese, belongs the credit of
the present prosperous condition of the
country.
THE AMERICANS IN HIGH FAVOR. -
One trait of Japanese character has
erinRccd itself in most emphatic manner,
since foreign intercourse has been allowed,
and that is, a willingness to be persuaded
out of their erroneous impressions but
when a disposition is made toward com
pelling, by using forcibe or threatening
language they invariably stand on their
dignity and will not be moved-and that
Is one great reason why the Americans as
a class are so much liked, while the English,
on the reverse, are as much disliked by the
Japanese-the Americans invariably being
ready to argue point with persuasiVeness
aud a show Of sincerity, while the argu-
ment of the English is one Of compulsion
aud bullying, which has never yet proved
beneficial
So much were the Americans thought Of
here, that the japanese Government deci-
ded to send and Embassy to America, es-
pecially so when the Japanese were made
aware Of the fact that every attention
would be shown to such a misson-altho'
such an act was the first in the history OF
the Empire ever undertaking. The Ameri-
cans, since the news Of arrival and kindly
attentions shown them in San Francisco,
have been the lions of the day--and in
every nook aud corner, both high and low
speak Of the treatment received by their
officers with feelings Of gratitude. Altho'
1t was q foregone conclusion with the jap
anese officials that the Embassy would be
well received, yet its influence will be well
and sensibly felt, and rebound with much
benefit to the Americans here.
JAPANESE WANTING TO CONE TO AMERICA.
1t is now daily occurrence to hear the
people beseech you to take them to Ameri-
ca, and when we tell them of the wonders
Of the telegraph and a locomotive, the
magnificent houses and palaces of our mer-
chant princes, and tell them that they may
rove all over America without interference,
while we, who have travelled thousands aud
thousands Of miles over oceans and by dis
tant countries, to see their wonderful city
Of Yedo now but ten miles oG-we, as for
eigners can not be permitted to view it, be-
cause the treaty says Americans must not
visit Yedo for ten years more
THE WONDERS OF THE COUNTRY
The beauties Of this country will yet be
known, and Fusiyama, with its snowy peak
standing like monument the sceptre Of
Japan, which can be seen for. $50 miles at
sea, will yet 6nd its sides covered with con
noisseurs and travellers, from all parts Of
the world, ready and willing to accord to
it the praise it deserVes-that Of the finest
regular mountain in the world.
Yedo, with its millions upon millions of
beings-its parks, its palaces, its tea houses,