JAPAN.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 42, 12 February 1864, Page 5

JAPAN.

(From the JTolcohama Herald, !Noy. 25.) Yesterday, two of the Japanese Ministers waited upod the American minister, and announced the intention and readiness of the Tycoon's Government to pay the indemnity demanded by His Excellency, on apcount of the attack upon the Pembroke, in the Inland Sea. in June last. The indemnity, if accepted uoav by the TT.S. minister, is to be paid .to Messrs. Russell and Co. ; and is, we understand, ?of the amount of 10,000 dollars. This, however, has nothing to do with the settlement of the attack upon the "Wyoming in the same place. General Pruyn has referred the latter affair to his Government, and he will await their instructions before he demands; special reparation for that offence; The Pembroke was not materially injured in the course of Tsiouiu's attack upon her at Shimbnoseld ; , and, therefore, the penalty inflicted upon the Tycoon's Grovernment, and now agreed to "be paid by them, for even* an attempt to injure an American vessel in Japanese waters, must have a very salutary effect upon the conduct of the Daimios, and upon the Grovernment also. " Another important event of the week was an attempt of r an envoy o£the Grovernment to broach to the IVench minister the subject of closing this port, and the subsequent statement of .these views in a despatch from the Gorbjio to His Excellency. : Some people (natives) say that the Grovernment seriously entertain the notion of closing thispprt and opening another, to which trade would be induced -, and c others say, what is more probable, namely/that the Government make this extraordiuary! .proposition, merely for the purpose of goingthrough the form of a programme drawn up for them by' the Iffikado. .;. . „ . Whether they are acting seriously or merely for form ■ sake it is hard.to tell, and scarcely worth inquiring into, as in no case is the proposition at all likely to be entertained for one moment by any of the 'treaty powers.