NOTES FROM JAPAN.

Southland Times, Issue 1156, 10 May 1869, Page 3

NOTES FROM JAPAN.

(From the ' Arguß* Correspondent.) Japan is still trembling from the effects of the violent disruption of the dual sovereignty of the empire. It is a strange revolution. No war of dynasty, no conflict of principle, but a mere battle of intrigue among the powerful nobles. The poor 1 Tycoon, who was at no distant period looked upon as the " coming man" of Japan, has been hustled off his throne, and the spiritual Emperor (with about as much knowledge of politics as the Archbishop of Canterbury rriight have of artillery practice) reigns in his stead/ One advantage attends, the claim of the Mikado in the peaceable traditions of his office. The spiritual ruler of Japan has from all time been regarded as essentially a man of pesce. If War arid bloodshed happened at bis gates, he was conveniently supposed, in his saintly character, to be totally ignoraD fc of what was going on outside. By the religion of his country, and of which he is the recognised head, the destruction of human life under any circumstance is held to be sinful, and prohibited. Therefore it is no longer that fighting men are at the head of official affairs—^inflammable spirits, prone to fly up into fierce Contention at any moment, and on any pretence. The ploughshare and the pruning-hook are supposed to be ascendant symbols just now. Nevertheless, the Mikado rule has to be supported, and the Mikado followers continue to fight for him under his peace-heralding banner, whether he likes it or not. Out of this anomalous condition of affairs arises much inconvenience to foreign powers; and a Berious paralysis of trade. The Tycoon has still many adherents, who hold their own in their various provinces, each with a little army of devoted men at arms. Foreign diplomatists are perplexed in their action. Hepresentatives of foreign nations scarcely know which rule to recognise. The Aniericari Government sold to the Japanese an iron«clad steamship, the Stonewall. The Stonewall vras , paid for by the Japanese G-overnment, and sailed with the flag of the Tycoon at her main-mast-head. Before she reached the Japanese waters, the revolution had commenced, and now the American Minister, not seeing his way clear to recognise in Tycoon or Mifcado the assured sovereign of Japan, interdicts delivery to either,' and takes temporary possession of the ship. Proclamations of neutrality were issued by the British Minister, and owners or agents of British Vessels were cautioned against conveying anything contraband of war for the use of either of the belligerents: This interdiction, coming at a time when scarcely any other trade was open, has been a great temptation to its infringement. At present the Mikado's rule is openly accepted at Yokohana and by the foreign residents. A Japanese doctor, Matsmoto, one of the ; most eminent aud accomplished of the native physicians taught by Europeans, was in the immediate service; of the Tycoon at Yedo. Having displeased the present authorities, by demurring to exhibit strong partisanship for the new order of things, he was arrested violently in the house of an Englishman, Mr Hare, of Yokohama, and marched off in the custody of twenty of the soldiery of his sipiritual Majesty. Great indignation and stir rose immediately among the European community, and after a determined utterance from Sir Harry Parkes, it was promised that the doctor should be restored in safety at Yokohama. There was much correspondence on the subject, ( but the Mikado Ministry eventually conceded the right of sanctuary to the house of an Englishman. Yedo* is now open for foreign settlement. The Japanese lease a certain portion of the city land in allotments, at a rate of rental which starts from a« upset price, and is raised by competition. The term for occiipa- • tion is for five years, after which the Gorernment propose that the rent shall be increased or decreased, according "to the flourish or decay of the city." This proposition, in the view of Europeans, gives rather too much advantage to the landlord. The Japanese Government have just issued paper money for the first time. The notes are printed, and pictorially embellished in a very rude fashion, and are easily to be initiated. They are payable on demand at the Saibausho, Yokohama, or Yedo ; but are taken as yet -with some distrust. A Japanese banker was garotted in the suburbs of Yokohama, and robbed of a considerable sum of money, very recently ; but this peculiar usage of civilised nations is very rarely exhibited. A rowing . match between the crewa of two TJnited States gunboats ended in the winning-crew getting over five miles in thirty-nine minutes ten seconds. The race : was pulled in the launches of the respective ships, twelve in one boat, and fourteen in- the other and successful boat. A cattle disease, attended by a serious mortality, has appeared in aome country districts, and has occasioned as much anxiety as. might be expected among a peop,e who consume beef bo sparingly. Mercantile operations just' now are very 'cramped, and business transactions confined to small dealings in merchandise. At Yedo the vast army of retainers of the daimioa formerly created a large demand for produce and cheap manufactures imported into Yokohama, but these are now dispersed. In any; case, no considerable extension of business— mo great opportunity for commercial enterprise— can be 'hoped for until the people of Japan havt decided upon the form of government ;they will adopt, and the monarch thej will obey,