The Sun. — 1867-08-10 (London, England)

NEW AMERICAN PROTESTANT CHURCH. Paris, July 14, 1867. The corner-stone of a new Protestant. Church, for the accommodation of the American residents and visitors in this capital, was laid yesterday in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. At the- conclusion of the ceremony the United States Consul at Paris, John G. Nicolay, gave a dinner, at which all the principal American citizens now here; and several eminent European friends of the United States, were  present. In tho evening there was a tasteful display of fireworks in honour of the occasion. Who is responsibie for this ? What has the Vniteci St4tee Vomtil dope that he should be  through private sources estimated at £350,384, the total amounting to £:351,384. The Springfield Republican tells the story of the sad suicide at Monson, where a Japanese student hanged himself :—Ashiwara, ono of the six Japanese youths who have been pursuing their studies at Monson for several months, committed suicide by banging, on Sunday evening. He was last seen alive about half-past 8 o'clock p.m. on that day, not far from the place where his body was found, and probably committed the act of self-murder soon after. His absence from his boarding house all Sunday night roused suspicion and alarm for his safety, and on Monday search was commenced by a number of the citizens, and about 8 o'clock in the evening, 24 hours after his appearance, his body was found suspended from the limb of a tree in a retired spot about a mile east of the village, and a little distanco from the highway. Beside him on the ground lay his hat, coat, and umbrella, and around his neck was tightly knotted a strip of cotton cloth which he had taken with him from his house, showing that the act was one of mature and deliberate premeditation. His watch was found going, and his money safe, and all the contents of his pockets undisturbed. His last walk on Sunidayevening last was taken alone, an unusual circumstance or the Japanese, as they generally go out in groups of three or four, or quite often the entire six take their strolls together. Ashiwara, also was gone horn home for a long time on Saturday on a similar solitary excursion, and doubtless then meditated the act of suicide. His body was immediately removed and the remains prepared in the Christian order for burial, his countrymen assisting in the sad offices. The cause of the act was undoubtedly extreme depression of ,spirits, resulting principally from a chronic disease which Lad for many months afflicted him, and from which there was little or no hope of relief. The dejection and melancholy may have weighed upon the unfortunate man so heavily as to produce during the last days of his life positivesinsanity, though from his mild and retiring disposition it would not have been of very decided manifestation. Ashiwara was about thirty years old, and left a wife at his home in Yokohama, whence ho came by by way of San Francisco, arriving in Monson in November. He was sent directly to the care of the 11ev. Charles Hammond, principal of the Monson Academy, by the 11ev. Mr. Brown, the American missionary, while his comrades came from Nagasaki, by way of London, ultimately to Monson, but under different patronage. Tho deceased Japanese is spoken of by his instructors and acquaintances at Monson as a man of true and unusual nobility of character, and industrious and faithful to his duties. Ho was sensitive to the last degree on all points of honour or personal reputation, and during his stay in this country had won the esteem and sincere regard of all with whom ho had come in contact. During the first few months of his residence at Monson, he was often oppressed with home-sickness and earnest longing for his native land, but had lately seemed to overcome in a great degree these feelings and appeared quite contented. The Rev. Mr. Brown arrived at New York on a return visit to this country only a day or two since, and has been summoned to Monson by a telegraphic despetch for consultation as to the disposal of tho body of Ashiwara. This death among us of the stranger student from the other side of the globe, thousands of miles away, is a most sad event, and doubly painful from its peculiar and impressive circumstances.