JAPAN.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 281, 29 June 1860, Page 3

JAPAN.

The state of matters in Japan appears to be getting worse and worse; and the foreign community there is living in great apprehension. Ou the-25th of February, tvvo Dutch captains, Captain Do Vos, of tKe brig Christian Louis, and Captain Dekker, of the brig Henrietta Louise, were murdered in Yokohama. They were* walking through the streets, and,,it is said, had given no. offence,- being respectable quiet ,raen, when they were attacked by,some Japanese with swords. Captain -De Vos was killed almost immediately, and Captain' Dekker was pursued a short way before he waa despatched. No cause is assigned • for this act. The Japanese ,aye a high-spirited people,- and have been known to commit suicide when insulted by foreigners ; it is not impossible that the unfortunate captains may have committed offence'without intending to do so, ot they may have been sacrificed to expiate the acts: of other foreigners. The burial of Mr. Alcock's servant was attended by officials. The mission to the coal mines is said to have been a failure; but it has been found that Hirado coal can be advantageously used by all steamers

when it i*3 mixed with an equal portion of Welsh coal.; ..■■ , - -•■■ •;• ;'. ■ •; " ; ' ■;■■■'•/ \.. ■' ;■■ Tlie imitative power's of the Japanese must be very great,'for muskets and rifles are now made by them as well as in Europe, and the retainers of tho.princes are daily taught their exercise and use." " ........ , , r . ■ . ■

There Is an idle story going about of one* of the Japanese Ministers having, in the heat of a recent discussion, laid his hand upon his sword and exclaimed, ' Let us rid ourselves of these treaties and fight for freedom.' '. "'■ ' At Hakodaci good feeling exists between the foreigners and Japanese, and articles are exported from there which are held back at, the other ports; Copper, iron, tin, and coal exist in the island of Yezo ; and the ores are said to possess from 75 to 85 per cent, of fine metal.: ■ ■ j Russian influence is there said tp be supreme ; there are always two Russian men-of-war in the bay, and large consular mansions. The Japanese Ministers !to New. York were to have sailed before this time in the Powhatan, and one of their own steamers was to accompany them under the direction of Lieut. Brooke, late of ;the United States surveying ■ schponer, Feninwi'e Cooper.' . • -1 • .■',"■•••■