The Sun. — 1864-08-11 (London, England)

AFFAIRS IN TAPAN.—The following is an extract of a private letter, dated Yokohama, May 26 : " May in Japan seems to be the season for panics. Last year, about this time, if you recollect, letters spoke of a panic, and the same thing occurs again now. The twosworded gentry are swaggering, insulting, and fiercer-looking than usual—the Japanese money-changers of note have been imprisoned, the governor is excited, and things are beginning again to look unpleasant. To satisfy, or rather allay, the feeling of alarm amongst the people on shore, the soldiers are loaded with ball cartridge. On the 23d two old Japanese hulks, the representatives of Japan's fleet, moved from the proximity of the fort of Kanagawa and sailed for Yeddo, in all probability to take station behind the forts there. This gave rise to a report that at midnight the fort and grins on the hill near the town were to open fire, and, as you may imagine, this considerably frightened the nervous among the dollar grinders, especially as it blew great guns all night. However, the forts and guns on the hill thought better of the matter, and all were allowed to sleep in peace. A few days before a startling paragraph appeared in a daily paper that some Daimiu was marching on Yokohama with a large force, and might be expected. The prince in question was moat likely einoking his pipe at home—at all events, he had not yet turned up. Politically matters are bad. Sir It. Alcock visited Yeddo and the Gorogia the 16th; the result of the interview was not satisfactory. The French minister followed a few days after with the same result. The Coromandel's officers, during their stay at Yeddo, counted over 100 guns mounted in the forts. It seems likely that if you do consent quietly to leave this place and retire gracefully to the mantrap at Nagasaki, they will be foolish enough to try force. If a number of half-drunken, determined men wore to make a night attack on the foreign settlement, and at the same time the guns (of the number of which we know very little) pitch into the ships and town, a good many of we poor devils ashore would come to grief, especially the ladies, o f whore there are many fresh arrivals. Of course what would follow would be a severe retribution, and give the Burton party a lot to talk about; but this would be no consolation to the unfortunates murdered, The Dutch join us in the Simousaki affair—but if any attempt is made on Yokohama this Simousaki affair would in all probability stand over. Messieurs les Japonais, you aro too late. Last year we were almost at your mercy—now the tables are turned--and have the goodness to wait another month for 1500 marines and soldiers and we are safe, at least, against murder. Acting Lieut. 11. Morris (promoted at Kagositua), of Racehorse, was turned out of the service on the 17th for drunkenness. Several other courts-martial come off shortly, I regret to say, for the same cffence. When the Japanese question comes again before the House of Commons I hope the give the country up' party Won't win. Next to England it is the finest place in the world, and nature was kinder to it than to England. In the hands of Englishmen it would, indeed, be a paradise. It would be a thousand pities to relinquish our footing in such a land—rich as it is in all that man could desire."— Army Gazette.