The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-20


life left, but, like wounded adder, it continues
to sting. 1t is quite time that even this remain
Ing life were crushed out.
The Outrage on the British Legation I'm
Japan.
We published few days ago the particulars
of the attack by Japanese upon the British Lee
cation at Jeddo, and are free to confess that
more murderous design could not have been put
into execution. 1t appears yet to be matter of
doubt whether the assassins, who are said by
some to have been disbanded followers of the
Prince Of Mto, and by others lonin or outcasts
of the community. acted under their own law
less impulse or that of certain mobiles of the
empire who arc opposed to foreign intercourse
In the former case the Japanese government is
less responsible for the crime, although it is
probable that Great Britain will make little
distinction between parties in demanding salts
faction from it for so gross an outrage. 1t will
be remembered that it was by rufIians of the
former class that Mr.. Hueskin of our own Lega-
ton, was murdered, and that, after due investi-
CATION, Mr.. Harris concluded that the Japanese
government could not be made responsible for
the act. But the officials who were themselves
the intended victims of this diabolical plot are
less likely to excuse the government for permit
ting such atrocities. The Japanese governments
pledged to protect the foreign legations, and to
that end furnishes an armed guard to each.
Through some unexplained negligence, how
ever, the guard was not present between eleven
and twelve o'clock on the night of the 9Th of
July, to prevent the perpetrators of this out
rage efiecting an entrance into the grounds sur
rounding the temple occupied by the British
Legation. But shortly after the latter-some
fifty in number-had forced their way into the
building, some of the guard appeared, and
bloody combat with swords ensued, in which
five of the assassins were killed and six or
more severely wounded. Four others were
pursued till they took refuge in tea house,
where, in order to avoid being captured alive
three of them committed hari-kari, or suicide,
by the sword, and the remaining one was in the
act Of attempting similar performance when
he was seized by the police. Meanwhile two
of the Legation-Mr. Lawrence Oliphant
late private secretary to Lord Elgn, and
Mr.. Morrison, the Consul at Nagasaki-
were seriously wounded by sword cuts
in their encounter with the ruflians
who rushed into as many Of the rooms as they
could find accessible, and hacked away at the
beds with their weapons; but fortunately the
alarm had been given in time to allow Of the
escape Of their recent occupants. The object
OF the rullians was to murder all the inmates
while asleep, and it is almost miracle that
they did not succeed at least in taking the lives
Of some. AS it was, the disaster recoiled upon
themselves, and retribution followed swiftly on
the heels of crime, although number of the
guard were badly wounded, and in one case
fatally, in attempting the capture of the
miscreants.
On the morning following this eventful nigh
Mr.. Alcock, the Consul General, addressed a
circular letter to the representatives of other
Powers at Jeddo, giving particulars of the at
tack. and he ordered British vessel-of-war, then
IN the lower bay TO come up to the city and send
ashore guard for the protection of the Lega-
ton, which was done. The excitement in the
city on the subject was by this time very great,
and the japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs
was exerting himself to bring all the offenders
to justice; but what course Mr. Alcock intended
to pursue was not known. 1t was supposed
that he would not move in the matter till the
arrival of British feet of three ships from
Hong Kong, which was daily expected He
had, however, requested postponement Of the
celebration of the great national feast OF Mat
surf, on the ground that it would expose the
Legation to further danger; and the request was
granted, greatly to the disappointment tf the
japanese, who have as fond regard for it as
ever Englishmen in the olden time had for
Christmas, or Irishmen for st. Patrick's Day and
Donnybrook Fair. A large amount of ill feel
ing against the Legation was the result. It is
unfortunate for both natives and foreigners
that such horrors should darken the
features of international intercourse between
the East and West; but in the present instance
we may attribute the cause of the outrage to
the personal unpopularity of the English con-
sular authorities. 1t is not impossible that
serious difficulty may arise between Great
Britain and Japan from this occurrence; but we
sincerely hope that the counses of peace will
prevail over those of war in its settlement. and
that the other foreign consuls in Japan will use
their influence towards that end At present
we can only deplore and condemn the unhappy
event.
STILL HARPTNG ON OAKEY HALL-The Hon,
Massa Greeley is afraid that the numerous poll
teal combinations of this city, aiming at the.
Herculean enterprise Of Corporation retrench
ment and reform NAV possibly he dafaatad in