Year: 1861

Tyeooa-ReyaI Matrimonial Hnfelicifies


-Hn,esiine TronbIes-A Cioad in the


Mosiyon-Re,urn Of Secretary 0iiphant


The Mess Affair.


From Our Own Correspondent.


KANAGAwA, Sept. j, 1851.


can well imagine that in comparison with the
stirring events which are taking place nearer home,
and in which your readers have vital interests,
what may be going on in so remote corner of the
earth as Japan may seem matters OF small moment,
yet these TOO are part Of the worlds record and
progress and even here the fate of twenty-five mil
lions Of people hangs trembling in the balance.


Inquiry into the late attack upon the English Le-
cation at Yedo has shed little light upon that transac
ton, one without parallel in the modern intercourse
of nations, save that India may furnish the resem-
bIance in the history Of her European intercourse
Most of the assailans have paid the penalty Of their
darjng-some slain on tie spot, others driven by the
closeness Of the pursuit TO suicide, and yet Others
made prisoners From the latter class all the refined
cruees Of Japanese torture have failed to elicit any
information Of value. paper, however, has been
submitted 20 the examination Of the British Minister
said TO have been found the person OF one OF the
slain, the purport OF which was that the writer could
" no longer bear TO zee the Empire polluted by the
" foreigner and that though he was q humble
person, yet possessing bold heart be mg5t "be-
" stow benefit upon his country by causing the for
" eigner to retire." concluding, "on this purpose l
have set ont regardless Of lile" Here follows the
signature of the writer and eleven others.


The Government IL fully exonerated from any
compliciy in this affair on the contrary, Il maness
its desire to give all needed protection. The Lega-
tons at Yedo are protected by double stockades and
each is patroled and guarded by several hundred
men. The Consulaes at Kanagawa are similarly
protected by stockades, and ity guards to each. On
one point only are the Government TO susplcion


that they keep the foreign representatives ignorant OF


the true source Of the danger. They declare, for in
stance that this last attack WAS made by band Of
disconten.ed people, driven to desperation by the
high price of food and clothing which has followed
the advent Of the foreign trader. This declaration
finds no credence from any foreign representative,
save one, our own Minister. The premises taken are
not only false in themselves bat the whole circum
stances of the case forbid the idea that handful of
peasantry unskilled In arms have risen in sudden
emeute to do this deed. The well-known conditions
of japanese polty forbid the idea Your correspond
ent has beforetme, through your columns, more than
once expressed the opinion that the secret abetors OF
all these outrages were disafected Damios. Longer
observations and the tenor of events to confirm
this view. That large portion Of foreign residents,
among whom may include the English and French
representatives and residents generally, who have
heretofore suspected the Government itself Of conf
plicty in all the outrages that have stained a two
years intercourse, now adopt this idea, the only one
consonant to all the circumstances of the case.


To-day the whole Japanese mind is troubled by
the fear of imminent revolution in the State A dy-
nasty thrice usurped in less than three centuries has
its powerful enemies. Rnmors have been rife for
weeks past that the young Tycoon has solved the
Gordian knot Of bis troublss by committing suicide
Though this report, resting on popular umor, cannot
receive implicit credence. yet there are quite
sufficient to Justify the royal mind in following a
time-honored precedent. Ascending the throne at
the age Of fifteen, the young Monarch finds himself
a, the head of a troubled Empire, which threatens
any day TO break out In violent explosion. Pow
eru princes are arming themselves as if for some i'm.
pending conflict the complications Of newly under.
taken foreign policy are daily increased by the re-
luctance OF the old nobility for new measures; the
repeated assassnations Of those whom be is bound by
the faith of treaties to protect eliminates at length
in bold attempt TO assassinate an envoy to his
throne His projected marriage with the Mikados
daughter-an alliance always sought for by the tenn
pora sovereign wise union of the spiritualities
and tempcralities Of the Empire-a first agreed TO,
is broken off because the fair scion Of lustrioss
line feels herself in danger Of misalliance showing
forcibly that even royal love may not always run
smooth.


The factious followers of old Mito defiant Of
the Imperial power, the Prince Regent Of his realm
slain as ii were before his eyes and now but recently
an attempt made to assassinate one of bis Supreme
Council Of Five in broad day and in open street,
,ognizant that not the least improbable of events
would it be were he himself to share the fate Of
many royal predecessor in falling by the assassins
eel or The doctored cup, it would be no strange al
air indeedif he should Ay the evils that begirt him
lfter the old custom Of the kings of the land. The
,ustom Of naybosn by which an imperial death is
State reasons kept secret for weeks or months is
Inownto every reader of Japanese annals 1t is only
few days since that 900 retainen OF the house of
Kiusiu, of which family is the young Tycoon, made
night march through Kansgawa to Yedo on their
way from their provinces to the southwark.


A breakup Of this Government, If it comes would,
mid the claims Of contending rivals, carry Japan
pack to the times of three centuries ago, when every
powerful prince was in the field seeking such ALI.
nces as the interest of each dictated. Thus may we
rope that If the threatened wreck comes, liberal
oregn policy may yet prove the strong points on
which wise Government may rally as against the
lvded aims Of selfish chiefs.
Mr.. Oliphant, the Secretary Of the English Lega.