Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-21
LETTER FROM JAPAN.
Correspondence of the New York Tribu


part OF the history Of the day, transcribe
them from time to time. Late Consul General
Aleock has received by late mails his appoint
ment as minister plenipotentiary to the Court
oGF feddo Though Mr.. Alcock happens not to
be very popular with her Majesty's subjects
hereabouts, it is appointment creditable to
the home government. Mr.. AlcOck is a saga
clOus man, Of large experience in Oriental
affairs, and 1 believe of unflinching honesty
and integrity While cannot fully subscribe
to his position on the currency difficulties, and
the disputed location of Kanagaws as a port of
entry, do not think England could to-day
supply his place with a better man.
At the present time the japanese are ey-
changing SlO to Sl5 per diem into itsibus for
each applicant. This il but triAe toward
supplying the wants of purchasers of cargo.
Cargo can be bought for itsibus Is to % per
cent. cheaper than it can be bought with dol
lars. Ore hundred dollars exchanged at the
custom-hOuse produces 3Il itsibus; 200 of those
ltsibus taken into the street will buy again 100
Mexican dollars. Accordingly the native mer-
chant must, if he is to receive dollars for his
goods, make his price to suit. At the request
of the foreign ministers and consuls, the Ja-
panese Government iagreed to put a Govern
ment mint mark on all foreign dollars ex-
pressing their value at itsibus each This
stamping Of dollars is expected now daily, but,
for reasons too many to give in detail, think
even this arrangement will fail to keep the
dollar up to its standard Of value.
Despite all the remOnstrances and protests of
the foreign representatives, Yokuhama will be
the port Of trade, vice Ksnsgawa omitted In
vain have letters been written, protests made
threats hinted at; the Japanese have quietly
gone on putting up houses and stores at Yoku
hama, not by the row or street, but by the acre.
W bile foreign ministers, hampcred by doubtful
powers, hSye been writing dispatches thew
have been building houses. The foreign meI-
chants have too large investments of houses at
1okuhAma to so much as raise the question of
leaving. Since the mountain will not come 10
Mohsmmed. MOhammed must come to the
mountain. The foreign representatives are
yielding as gracefully as possible to the force
OF circumstances; protesting on paper against
the occupation Of YOkuhama, and tacitIy al
lowing 1t. 1t is a foregOne conclusion: the
Japanese are masters Of the field, and Yoku-
hama carries the day against Kanagawa
Trade is active. dozen vessels are in the
bay receiving cargo, which goes mostly to Chi
na, with an occasional venture to England or
the states There are not less than thirty for
eign houses in the trade. Japan has lately dis
covered new article of export. Mai Fon-
blsnque Of the British service is in the market
purchasing horses for the great Chinese cam
psign of 1850 His wants are 5000 horses
which he obtains through the japanese govern
ment at an average price of $50 to S25. Several
hundred have already been purchased, and
judging from their looks, Japan is likely TO be
serupulOus about the looks of pack horses, and
horse flesh for the cuisine. our French cousins
dsclare, Is none the worse for age. The horse
u the universal beast of burden in Japan and
a demand for 1000 will make no serious i'm
preston on the market Wheat flour which is
very cheap, is going forward in large quanti-
ties also. BullOcks are abundant and cheap,
and are likely to be numerOusly shipped TO
China The Chinese war will make a great
demand for the surplus chow-chOw of Japan,
and revive the dropping trade Of the foreign
merchants.
Minister Alcock' was murdered at Yeddo on
the 29ih ult He was an inmate Of Mr.. A.
cocks house, and was run through with a short
sword from behind, while playing with some
children at the gateway Of the compound
Dan-fOr that was the name by which he was
known-was one Of the shipwrecked mariners
who few years ago were brought into San
Francisco He lived in California some time
acquired the English language, and was at one
time a porter to Wells, Fargo & Co.'S EXPRESS
He had made himself obnoxious to the Japa
nese about him at 4 eddO by his overbearing
disposition; he puffed up with the pride Of
place There can be no doubt that his death
was the revenge taken for some private affront
Dan had an unfortunate intrigue with a young
tes-hOuse damsel, and some of her friends are
under arrest for, supposed Implication in his
death
The Governor of Yokohama recently exc
cuted two japanese who had committed theft
upon foreigners. His Excellency was greatly
horrifed by request from foreign surgeon
that he might have the bodies for dissection
There have be n also executions at Nag, suki f
natives charged with lighting the incendisry
fires by which so much property has been des-
troyed belonging to the foreign traders Sic
bold was badly burned in one of these fires
AS you already know, the illustrious DR. Won
Siebold is again resident of Japan. He comes
out to gather material for the completion of
his great work on Japan. Doubtless. too. his
knowledge of Japanese affairs enables him TO
be Of essential service to his country, although
he is not exercising any public func tions. Re
port further adds that be has his own private
commercial interests to look after. His pres
ent free position must contrast strongly with
his ersmped imprisonment in Desima in the
times gone by.
While the governors have been executing
public offenders, the japanese in my neigh
bOrhOod have done a little execution on their
private account, after the good old fashion of
haTGEiri. Within pistol-shot is the daiban of
Oki-nO-ksmi This daiban is an enclosure on
his estates occupied by his retainers and ser
wants. There are numerous houses within the
enclosure and an arsenal. moreover, of wea-
pons Of warfare. I often hear as / pass the
outcries of practisers Of the sword exercise. 1t
seems that during this sword practise, on one
dsy Of late, three men, who had been drinking
sAki freely, got drunk, and from drunkenness
went on to high and quarrelsome words. But,
instead Of proceeding from high words to
blows as most men Of most countries would
have done, they then and there disemb boweled
themselves. Taking, in fact, very much the
came revenge the poor Frenchman did, who,
enraged at bank that would not redeem its
bills In specie, tore the dishonored bills into
thousand tstters.
The Russian consul-general, whose residence
has hitherto been at Hakodadi, srriyed few
DAYS since in Yokuhama Bay in Russian gun
boat He, and his family, in which are sew
eral ladies, have taken up their residence at
Yeddo. feet of seventeen Russian armed
ohips il expected here shortly This demon
stration means something-what, il is difficult
At this moment TO say. 1t has look toward
territorial acquisition. Russia's great need is
a harbor in these seas, commodious and acces-
sibIe. Hakodadi has such a harbor. II not
only commands the approach to the Amoor,
but, unlike the Amoor, IL is not frozen mp and
unfit half the year. Russia would pay lib-
orally for the Island Of Yesso; perhaps Japan
will sell TO purchaser who comes TO market
with such a feet Of BtsyehaltBlen' / think
not. Japan cannot willingly spare Yesso.
sav ,,iIIiUpIv