Glasgow Courier. — 1864-05-26 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

JAPAN.  The Courier de Marseilles publishes a letter from Japan, which states that no improvement has taken place in the relations between the Japanese Government and the representatives of the foreign Powers. The indirect impediment thrown in the way of all commercial dealing between natives and foreigners, and the edict published forbidding the natives to use foreign articles imported into the country have reduced the treaty of commerce to a dead letter. The Tycoon had quitted Jeddo and retired to Miako at a distance from foreigners. As a proof that he did not intend to return to Jed7lo lie had suffered his palace there, which had been destroyed by fire, to remain in ruins.- He had, moreover, taken with him all his property, together with the Empress, his officers, and his entire household. The Suikoe, in which he sailed, was escorted by six Japanese ships of war. The Daimios followed, and were breaking off all intercourse with foreigners. The absolute authority exercised. by the Tycoon and the nobility compelled the people to obey their edicts, for should they resist the worst consequences would ensue. The Russians suffered the murder of some of their officers to remain unpunished, but they arc only waiting for an opportunity to enter the Yellow Sea. An idea may be formed of the value of the trade between Japan and foreign nations when it is known that there were 24,000 bales of silk exported from Japan last year, representing a sum of 2,500,000. The company.of the Messa,Yeries Imperiales is about to establish a postal counnunieation between Marseilles and Japan.  A deputation of Englishmen proposes to wait on the Marquis de Boissy and give him a respectful invitation to visit England on the sth of November next. Accounts from St. Petersburg state that the National Bank of Russia has commenced receiving deposits bearing interest, and that it has introduced the system of cheques. In consequence of the plunder and cruelties committed on seine subjects of Brazil, the Brazilian Government has ordered a naval demonstration to be made against Monte Video. A very important decision has been made in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, in which it was held that the Treasury notes of the Federal Government are not legal tender for the extinguishment of a groundrent where the covenant required lawful money of the United States. This ruling, if confirmed by the higher courts' may lead to important consequences. Last week the second great international steam ploughing snatch, under Imperial auspices, took place at Melum a town about 30 miles south of Paris. Some new French inventions were entered for competition, and the trials came to a conclusion on Friday. The first prize of £6O and a large gold medal have for the second time come to England, the winners being again the Howards, of Bedford. At a recent masquerade ball in Madison Square, New York, where everything was as gorgeous as if there were no war, or debt, or depreciated greenbacks, the hostess appeared in a coronal of living flame. Attached to her hoop skirt was a small gasometer and a connecting pipe., passing up between the elaborate braids of her back hair, secured the brilliant triumph at the risk of the wearer's life. "The loss of a life," says the Siede, "has just occurred in Paris from the practice of keeping flowers in bed-chambers. A lady residing in the Rue des TroisMoulins had received from a friend a quantity of May lilies, which she placed provisionally in a largo closet slept in by her daughter, a weakly child, aged six years. At night the mother forgot to remove the flowers, and the door was closed, but in the morning, not hearing any movement in the closet, she went to see if her daughter was not yet awake. The child's sleep did not seem natural. The mother attempted to awaken her, in Vain-' and on a medical Man being called in he declared that she had been poisoned by the carbonic acid gas emitted from the flowers."