1864. | Geography. 465 
a future critic of Livy and of Niebuhr may probably find other 
analogies between the form and government of the city of the Seven 
Hills, and the rudely defended haunt of Heba robbers, Under-the-Stone. 
For the present their Alban or Veientine assailant has been repulsed, and 
the Capitol, Olumo, the builder, stands firm. Other rumours of wars 
come from this neighbourhood. War was being carried on, and it is 
to be hoped is now stopped, against the King of Ashanti. Little is 
to be gained by throwing away in the swamps of Western Africa the 
lives of Englishmen, valued in this country, in the almost vain hope 
of destroying the lives of a few score black fellows whose lives are 
accounted nothing worth in their own land. Such is the common 
argument against this war, the justice or injustice of which we have 
not seen discussed. 
There are in this country ambassadors from Madagascar, and 
in France some from Japan. The former are described as gen- 
tlemanly, intelligent men, evidently accustomed to the European 
dress, and at ease in European society. The predecessors of the 
latter have lately published their ideas of our characteristics for the 
benefit of their fellow-countrymen. The introduction to their 
book has been translated, and it is to be hoped that before long the 
whole of this interesting narrative may be reproduced in this country. 
Naturally the differences between their habits and our own attracted 
their attention, and in this way we learn much of those peculiarities 
which are most difficult for us otherwise to discover. Thus the height 
and massiveness of our houses struck them as remarkable, and 
suggested great danger in case of earthquakes, betraying the secret of 
their own low and slight style of architecture. Partitions of paper 
supported by a few slight beams, topped by a shingle roof of the 
lightest material, would topple to pieces like a card-house at the 
slightest vibration, but at the same time would do as little damage as 
the cardboard edifice itself. Their ceremonious behaviour towards 
their friends of various ranks was so remarkably different from our own 
unceremonious nod, or even more dignified bow, that they could not 
but remark upon our utter want of common decency according to their 
ideas on this matter. Foreigners are not likely soon to be excluded 
from these islands again, for the Mikado, the spiritual ruler and repre- 
sentative of the Conservative feeling, has given permission for them to 
remain five years longer. The lower classes show quite as much good 
feeling towards strangers. A sailor, one of fifteen belonging to the 
‘Star of Peace,’ who alone swam to shore after the wreck of that vessel 
and the capsizing of the long boat, was most hospitably received 
by the inhabitants at Kadsusa, and at length forwarded to Yoko- 
hama. It is to be hoped that this kindly spirit may not again be 
disturbed by any champion of British independence, and that some con- 
sideration will be shown for the feelings and customs of the natives. 
The Prussian Scientific Expedition, which was sent a few years 
ago to Japan and China, is now preparing for the publication of the 
results of its discoveries. The artist announces a series of views, 
which are to be issued at the expense of the King of Prussia, in parts, 
the first of which is ready, and embraces six large views of Yeddo. 
