The New York herald., 1866-05-09
Anticipated Hari-kari Of Tnurlow Wee
ana othcr Japanese Agents.

Anticipated Hari-kari OF Tnurlow Weed
ana othor Japanese Agents.
Our foreign advices published yesterday con-
tain the raost distressing news from Japan. 1t
seems that one of the gunboats purchased in
this country for the japanese government had
arrived at Yokohama, and upon examination
was found ''to be very defective and to have
cost too much" The result of this examina-
tiop having been announ ced, the Japanese en-
ginecr who purchased the vessel at once COM
mitted suicide We call this intelligence dis
tressing, not so much on account Of these facts,
but on account of its anticipated effect in tlis
country. The Japanese engineer, like Logan,
the poor Indian, may have none to mourn for
him, ''no, not one;" but there are several per-
soEs here who will probably feel called upon
to follow his example, and these persons are
very respectfully connected and cannot be so
suddenly spared by the community. If we are
not mistaken, this Japanese gunboat, described
as defective and too costly, 10 one of pair
constructed in this city by Westervelt, under
the supervision of Mr.. Thurlow Weed and Cap
tain J. J. CoNstock. The Japanese govern
mcnt sent on three hundred thousand dollars in
gold. through Minister Pruyn, for the purchase
Of these two vessels. Minister Pruyn handed
the matter and the money over to Secretary
Seward, who entrusted the funds and the con-
tract to Mr.. Thurlow Weed. After considera-
BILE delay, during which the three hundred
thousand dollars in gold probably did not re-
main idle, the gunboats were finished, and the
~ xubi bov
nounces the reception which one OF them has
met with in Japan.
strict Interpretation OF the law for such
cases made and provided holds Minister
Pruyn, Secretary Seward, Thurlow Weed,
Captain Comstock, Mr.. westervelt, the ship
the engines, accountable as Japanese agents,
liable TO all. the pains and penalties of this
position, including the hari-kari. Minister
Pruyn may possibly be considered blame
less, on the ground that he washed his
hands Of the affair when he transferred the
money TO Secretary Seward; and the
Secretary may also escape by pleading
that he shifted the responsibility upon Mr.
Thurlow Weed. For Messrs. Weed, Comstock,
Westervelt and Murphy, however, we can find
no loophole. They are bound in honor to imi-
tate the Japanese engineer who committed
suicide so soon as the intelligence Of the failure
of the vessel was communicated TO him Mr..
Weed is particularly in peril, and room No.
ii at the Astor House may be transformed
at any moment into chamber Of horrors. As
the State barber, Mr.. Weed always carries
case Of fine sharp razors In the breast pocket
Of his coat, and thus the weapons for his self.
immolation are within his reach. His nice
sense Of honor, his delicacy and his remarkable
respect for ancient observances will combine
to irrcsistbly urge him to the rash step against
which his better Judgment will in vain protest.
He win feel that II the gunboat cost too much
Il is his fault; II the vessel Is defective he alone
d to blame; II anybody is to die he ought to
be the person, and not the iorlorn japanese en-
gineer. We can readily imagine the eject Of
this logic upon mind so susceptible ~ his,
and we therefore advise that he be
wAsched night and day 70 prevent the
accomplishment Of the dreadful purpose
which now inspires him. No doubt there
are plenty Of candidates for once under
Collector smythe who will gladly undertake
this duty. The bluf Comstock, the ambitious
westervelt and the ingenious Murphy should
also be placed under watch and ward, lest
their acute consciences should likewise sug-
eest the hari-kari Indeed, the same precautions
might not inappropriately be extended to oil
the constructors Of naval and mechanical fall
ures, from Ericsson and his caloric engine TO
Dickerson and his Algonquin. II our govern
ment, like the japanese, should demand the hari
kari OF these gentlemen our population would