New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-20
HIGHLY INTERESTlNG FROM JAPAN
THE COUNTRY TRANQUIL.
ARREST OF THE REGENTS ississSs.
Difficulties Of Poreign Merchants
The Season FavorabIy Progressing.


pose, of which it spoke resting upon the foreign
settlement, was again interrupted. On the after
noon of the I'd inst. large force OF japanese
soldiers entered Yokohama, and took up their
quarters within the Custom House Enclosure. They
were armed with swords and muskets, and had two
pieces OF artillery. They were retaiDers OF Yet
zizu no. Kaui, in whose military precinct Yoknba-
ma lies, and who is responsible TO the Imperial
Government for its protection against all foes,
foreign OF domestic In the evening like coDtil-
gent of buudred men were sent into Kanagawa by
OH DO Kami, who exercises the same responsibility
in respect to that place. These divided into Squads
stood guard a part of the night in front
of the Consulates and foreign residences.
This sudden and unexpected appearance
of 30 many soldiers the strengthening of the
guards al the gates and outposts could not fail TO
set the foreign population on the alert. Among the
worthy HOlanders in particular it created some
alarm. The Vice Governor was active inspecting
the guard houses and defenses of the town, and
there was such an unusual hustle and stir among
officials that all felt anxiety to understand 1t.
| Inquiries were made Of the Governor why all the
| commotion He replied after the blaDdest, most
approved japanese manner, that 1t was none OF his
AFFAIR." the soldiers were sent by persons IN au-
"thoIy above him; it was bis duty to receive them
"mquestoning" 1t appears that MitO's followers
had threatened an attack upon Yokuhama. Placards
had been posted by them in public places at Yeddo
and elsewhere, and otherwise distributed, saying
that on the 18th of the current Japanese month the
followers of MitO would come down in great force.
Rather strange Japanese way, one would think,
of announcing their begerent intentions in advance.
The Sd of May was the current Japanese 18th, and
IN ha If
rumors designed to frighten the Government Of
6cers the local authorities thought il safe to take
some precaution. Hence all the military display on
the evening of the I'd. The 18th passed by, but
the programme was not fulfilled. In Kanagawa,
the soldiers of Oki-DOK ami, in their green suits,
STAMPED in white with the household crest of their
master, added iveGer feature to the street popu-
lation. The rafting of suits of armOr could be
heard under their outside loose sacks. They were
better looking class of soldery than those we see
about us every day. During the day most of them
disappeared as quietly as they came. small body
remained with the two field pieces at the Yokohama
CustOm. House, so another days excitement came
up and died away again.
A few days after q Japanese steamer quietly
dropped down the Bay from YeddO, then an armed
Japanese bark came into the harbor police force was
placed aboard of the Prince Of Satisunas great tub
which until lately has been stOreshp for United
Sta 'es Goals. The Governor was as ignorant as be-
fore; they were sent and he took care of them, was
the extent Of his impaired information. As the
foreign settlement was already beeaguered with
guard houses and guards on the land side this ship
ping was a water guard to the feet Of merchantmen
and the town from the water side. Every native
Junk and boat approaching the Bay of Yokohama is
inspected, that no suspicious characters obtain
trance What then is the significance of all these
things IL there any real danger TO the foreign
settlement either at Yokohama or Kanagawa Such
are the questions likely to be put by those who
take any interest in Japanese affairs, or have
friends in this remote part of the world,
and / will try to answer them as far as
possible. The only satisfaction any one ia Of
fetal position will give is that all these eXtraor-
binary precautions to protect foreigners against
"bad men" These measures have been taken since
the assassination Of the two Dutch shipm isters, and
particularly since the assassination of the Regent
How both these events traced to the reyengeful
disposition of Prince Mito have already told. 1t
ia not pretended that any else has any desire to
modest either the foreigners or the japanese Gov
eminent Now what is the ability of MitO or his
followers to do any serious harml After the assas-
snatiOn Of the Regent Mito fled to his own princi-
pality on the sea, about IS miles from YeddO. He
seized public buildings occupied by high Imperial
officer and established himself therein. An En-
bassador sent to treat with him was slan and he was
thus placed in an unequivocaly hostile attitude to-
toward the Imperial Government There is no incon-
siderable number Ofyagabond soldiery in the Empire
men without employ or support. BY virtue Of their
caste they are disdainul of work leading idle, dis
sOute lives, and getting precariOus subsistence.
Mto has large estates and revenue and these wan
dering soldiers of fortune just the to attach
themselves to his service. He has his OwD immedi-
ate retainers beside. But with these considerable
advantages conceded to HIM, / cannot for moment
believe that he is likely to gather force sufficient
to make an open demonstration. A secret attack
he cannot make. All the avenues by land are too
well guarded. The approach by water is down a
line of sea coast, and then up the water, Of the
Yeddo Gulf where every foot Of progress would be
seen by thousands of eyes. His followers are far
more likely to continue their cowardly work Of
night assassination if practicable. Even this is
rendered through the vigilance Of the foreigners
and the precautions of the Government, almost
impossible To this end, the Government have been
lavish of men and means. They do not intend that
any little band of midnight murderers, obtaining
access by land or sea shall embro them with foreign
powers through deeds of blood If any larger de-
signs covered up they are not to be discovered
by any private or official info nation. There is no
feeling Of insecurity among the foreign population.
Beyond little prudent care in going out after night
fall, we take concern. There is every assurance
of safety. There is another view OF the affair
worthy Of consideration, which is that the Govern
mcnt are PLAYING bit Of rouse, magnfying the
danger the better to enable them to institute com
plete surveillance over foreigners. 1t lacks but
little Of having such surveillance at this moment,
when the guards at the gates of our compounds
permit no native to pass in or out without knowing
Lis business. Under this plea of protection
the COnsulates themselves are being in
closed with high picket fence of shapened
posts, cutting off any passble approach, except
through gateways guarded by Japanese soldiers. /
have before described the situation of Yokohama,
on a low reach of land, with the sea in front and
sMamps and paddy fields in the rear. Tie .Iapanese