Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-10-10
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
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T, rnb)ished regularly on MONDAYS, WEDNEs-
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TERMS OF ADVERTISING:
NEWS FROM JAPAN.

The following news is furnished by the U.
g. Minister to Japan:
The japanese government is expecting to
make new coinage of native gold and SILVER,
m the basis of the assays which We're made tor
that government at the United States Mint
The machinery for the purpose has been order
ed, but not yet received from Europe.
The civil war in japan is over and peace re-
Yeddo from Italy, Belgium, and Prussia
Perfret ] cordiality and unanimity exist between
the foreign legations. They have selected a
site for the foreign settlement in Yeddo, at
the mouth of SumedagaSa river, which enters
the Bay of Yeddo near the centre OF the city,
and the site of the settlement is directly upon
the waters edge Within this foreigners are
to be allowed to rent land and houses under
the treaties.
The Japanese Government proposes to build
a large two-story hotel, to be conducted on the
Western plan, to contain about sixty roomS Tor
the especial use of foreigners. An American
architect has been employed to make plan tor
the building and they have already sent to San
Francisco tor furniture. 1t is expected that
all will be ready by the first of January. Ac
cording to the terms of the treaty, it is to be
understood that no one is to be admitted TO
Yeddo except for purposes OF trade, which
means exports and imports only, and which
does not mean the erection Of geog- shops or
the promscuous intercourse OF visitors. Such
intercourse would be full OF danger IN the pre-
sent unsettled condition OF p ,bhc sentiment IN
regard to foreigners IN Japan.
Mr. Van Valkenburg gives full account CT
the prosecutions Ct the Christians, OF which
the telegraph has heretofore given us imper-
~ MOI
Roman Catholics, descended from the Chris
tan converts left there two hundred years ago,
the time japan was closed to foreign inter
course. They are scattered throughout the
Empire, and there are no new converts. ~
large portion of these Christians reside on the
island of Kin Stu, aud Nagasaki is their CEN
tral point where there is n Roman Catholic
bishop and several priests. SO tar as possible
they have hitherto held their worship in secret
and in the night. The Government must have
had notice of these meetings for long time,
but it took no measures about them until the
Buddhists and Iintoo priests complained bit
tery that their revenues from burias and other
religious ceremonies were rapidly falling Oft.
These complaints became so numerous that
the local government OF Nagasaki caused the
arrest Of sixty-three men, women and children,
in valley little outside OF Nagasakl. They
we're confined in small prisons erected tor the
purpose. 1t was not known that any torture
lad been inflicted, or what was their intended
punishment. The misisters appealed to The
Governors of Nagasaki to release the prisoners
They declared themselves unable to 40 so: us
the prisoners We're arrested as criminals under
the imperial laws of Japan. They, however,
gave assurances that none OF the prisoners had
been tortured, and that the wants OF those ar
rested and their families would be provided for
In the future no arrests would be made without
direction of the Supreme Government Alter
wards two more were arrested The govern
ors, in this case, denied that they were arrested
for being Christians, and renewed all previous
assurances.
Mr.. Van Valkenburgh then addressed an
earnest remonstrance to the Iycoon's govern
ment, No answer had been received when the
steamer left, but it was understood that orders
had been forwarded by the Gorogio to Nagasaki
for the release of the prisoners The Secre-
tary of State now urges upon the Japanese
government the abrogation of the law which
proscrbes Christianity. -
Mr.. Van Valkenburg had just completed
tour With Commander Goldsborough in the
Shenandoah through the Japanese ports. He:
Ras saluted from the forts at Hokodadi, which
was the first salute ever fired in honor of for.
eign minister in that port He found in the.
village of Mowery, on the shores Of Volcano
bay, an aboriginal and peculiar class, differing
from the other inhabitants Of Japan in tea
lures, manners, and religion The official au-
thorities at Hakodadi on the 4th OF July fired
anational salute in honor Of independence, and
the governor gave as toast '"rhe prosperity
the United States and the lasting friendship
oJapan" On the 18th Of July he visited
Neegata, finding there population of thirty
i've thousand He was received with great
distinction.
On the 18th he landed at Nanon, which he's
apOpulation Of fifteen thousand. No Amerl-
can vessel had ever before visited the harbor.
tie found there that the tributary princes IS
sue paper money, redeemable in national coin,
and that they maintain lotteries like those ln
some parts Of the United States.