The New York herald., 1867-04-23
JAPAN.

ln8s LOT rOree8n Trade.-Amer1Cam MerCan-
tile Enterprise and a Caution to Traders
The Markets. &c.
From the Yokohama Tmes-Overland Mal-Feb. 20 i
We avail ourselves Of the departure of the Pacific
extra Of the Japan Times Overland Mall containing
summary Of news POLITICAL commercial and general Of
the current month. The occurrence OF the japanese
New Year holidays renders such a summary naturally
somewhat meagre In that department most interesting
to those for whom this journal is chiefly compiled
mercantile men-and we have nothing of much political
or social to chronicle To make up for the de-
fciency in the more essential particular
report at first discredted BY most japanese and by
the best informed among European residents, that the
Mikado had died early In the month OF small pox Is
gaming ground, though many. especially among the
mercantile class. maintain that the rumor q Of
the shogoons government to prevent the opening Of
Osaka Tbs very important move is, have every
reason to believe, positively certain to take place in
spite OF any opposition at the time appointed January
l, 1888.
Many foreign merchants some especially among our
poity Of Japan has had more time to recover
from the shock 1t has already sustained from
the admission Of foreigners to trade even at Yoko-
our presence in the country less obnoxious to the
Princes and people in the INTERIOR who regard the foot
SOIL and especially until, by means Of the ports now
open the of the country better developed
sale, the opening OF new port will be merely OPEN
ing for expenditure without any chance OF
turn. They maintain that the import trade Of Yoko-
hama will suffer by the loss OF whatever goods sold
direct in Osaka such having been previously supplied
from the MARKET and they believe too that increase
In the amount of the trade will take place. arguing
that whatever Osaka wanted could always be got from
Yokohama, heretofore and that any in the
Osaka demand could be just as we'll supplied from hence
at branch market established the spot
ITSELF II Is allowed all hands that capital lies chiefly
10 Osaal that there live the great merchants Of Japan
TO trade with foreigners in both imports and exports
and, therefore, the opponents the Of open
ing the new port argue that It's only effect will be either
to divide the trade or to transfer teach q conse
Quence equally pernicieuR
This subject Of the opening OF Osaka and its possible
effect upon the Yokohama trade is Of vital import
ance, and to than the spirited and
teIprsing shareholders of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company. The return Of the Colorado will doubtless
be looked for in San Francisco with much impatence
and any Information about this country will be part
cularly received with much interest view through
rose.coiored spectacles though very beautiful, is
scarcely to be relied by who want know the
ground they looking at; and II is because wish
success 70 this new company specially and to the new
trade that Its hope aud to create by
its means that repeat much already laid before other
readers Our friends the other side Of the Pacific
have TO believe very exaggerated ideas OF
the present state Of Yokohama and its future pros
pects-whence derived know not but certainly
for the year from June go 1885, the same date in
1S66-pubshed In No. %, volume of this periodical
we showed the value deliveries goods of all
descriptions exclusive Of steamers, and munitions
Of TO be only and In the list OF ariclss
imported Of the heavy cotton fabrics, which
the staples OF the American looms, find place. Drills,
domestics and heavy cloths Of all kinds yet
salabie; and until American manufacturers CON-
goods which are most required here they cannot look
for much extension OF trade in this direction Japan
does not yet want the bresastuns Or nor her
requirements of the luxury which universally follow the
establishment Of trade which onrches country ia
does America want from Japans very inferior de-
scrpton Of tea appears to be at present her chief
ties or sufficient quality for the same reasons which We
have spoken Of above as restricting trade with the in
terror the jealousy Of the Shogoobs government and its
fova fho
its market The manufacture OF silk piece goods
yet. for long time likely to be, an important
branch Of American trade and silk is the staple product
Of this country. Therefore we warn American mer-
chants pur ct smpie against any rash ventures into
business here until the trade has grown; and grow t
cannot until the country Ia moro freely opened.
The days Of January and the early part OF Fob
ruary witnessed step in the right direction by Admiral
King who, injthe Princess Royal paid visits Of
duration to some Princes in the Inland We regret
that space for the very interesting accounts
which have reached us Of these viss--the splendid
hospitality with which he received and the anxiety
for further intercourse manifested by his hosts II would
be well IL the representatives OF other natonalties be-
sides the British would initiate the example set them by
Sir Harry Parkes aud Admiral King Bus the policy Of
of them, and not the least important, NJ Roches
Minister Of France, entirely opposed TO opening the
country. He has succeeded in making Jedd0 almost q
establish monopoly for French trade in
Yokohama In last overland mail, We fully exposed
his plans and IL will be well II merchants in America
Join their efforts with those in Europe TO resist bis dan
gerous and selfish policy.
the French minister's interference with trade have been
all that students Of politics in Japan have had to occupy
Sesn amoss % % blank and socially We have been more
than ordinarily dull The weather has boon unusually
severe good deal Of snow having fallen and lain IN our
streets days An idea OF the variations OF the
climate OF this country may be had from the fact that
the 2lst Of February 1885, the thermometcr stood at
degrees in the shade while on the 2lst instant
TWO suicides, one at the British legation Jedod
mied by an interpreter, Mr. o. Vidal, and the other
rls,txa usxlo~ ~ has
YOKOHAMA Fen o. 1867.
The New Year holidays commenced the 5th inst,
and trade was almost entirely suspended during tho
FIRST half Of the month Some activity was shown in
imports ON the resumption Of business but the dollar
has since become DEAR having gone - high ~ Boos
$40 for $780, that native customers, who would be
willing operate II dollars cheaper are quite pre-
y Sos Amy % nO
nal represent only small sales The demand for black
goods which was brsk few weeks ago, has mucn
fallen or though sales continue At reduced ngurcs su
gar cotton and ce continue In fair demand especially
che latterhe scarcity Of native grain still continuing
The ak aS business ior the m bs Of tho month vas
exceedingly limited the New Years holidays interfering
with the course Of trade. The market had tendency
downwards just before the holidays, but rapidly re
covered after them and the arrival Of The French
and English mails tho news BY which sent some eager
o e sc ss
quotations ~ this time last month very few parcels
OF really fine silk have been obtanabe and for these
tcfy uiku prices nave Deen p0iu-On8 bHih NV VI
Mybash selling for e920 This II will bs observed, We
do not consider establishing quotation parcel Of
Oshu 10 held for $780, but has not yet found buyer
We estimate total settlements at about 740 pcus Stocks
do not exceed 700 piculs.
In tea, during the early part Of the month owing TO
the occurrence OF the Japanese New Year holidays
scarcely anything done. When business was 70.
sumed the few transactions which took place were ~
prices higher than those asked before the turn OF the
year. and at present. about 900 picus having been set
tied q our quotations he major part Of which has been
bought since the arrival Of the last European mail tea
Aovxra x1a hoUof hu
now In hand, and nothing be done until they reduce
their pretensions What has been bought has been
chiefly medium and good medium sorts, with few par
cells Of nne Stocks are about s, 600 pcus
Since the departure Of last mail Europe, rates
OF exchange have weakened and the OF business
done has been extremely limited-some private sterling
has been placed at 4s sid. to Is sgd for four months
Bank paper has not been in demand. On London
"a 4kd Credits four months, s,rht a. 5kd do. six
months, sight, 4s 5,sd 70 4s 5xd. Boos buying 3s2