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JAPAN. 



.rpn. 500 tons each might stow away what is conveyed in all 



V ~~~V" P ' the twelve. 



Historical Xseinpfer has divided the Japanese history into three 



epochs. epochs, the fabulous, the doubtful, arid the certain. 

 The first reaching beyond the Mosaic sera of the crea- 

 tion, our acquaintance with it must be particularly un- 

 profitable. The second, being mixed with Chinese 

 history, and from the admission of Chinese symbols, 

 demonstrates that Japan, in the earlier stages of so- 

 ciety, was connected with China, and tends to fix a 

 common origin. The certain period begins with the 

 hereditary succession of the Dairis from G6'0 years be- 

 fore the Christian aera, to the year of our Lord 1 585. 

 In the reign of Gonda, the 90th Dairi, Japan was me- 

 naced by a great invasion from the Monguls, the in- 

 vading fleet and army, amounting to 240,000 men, be- 

 ing dispersed and almost annihilated by a furious tern, 

 pest, the Japanese piously ascribed their deliverance 

 to the interposition of the gods. In 1585, the generals 

 of the crown, or Kubos, assumed the supreme power, 

 and these continue to reign uncontrolled, the Dairi 

 having his separate court at Miaco, and presiding over 

 the religious and literary concerns of the empire. 



Account of We shall present our readers with some account, 

 ' lan (for which we are indebted to Krusenstern,) of the re- 

 ception of the Russian embassy by the Japanese ; this 

 relation may serve both to amuse the reader, and to il- 

 lustrate the national character. Notwithstanding the na- 

 tional character for jealousy of the arrival of strangers 

 on its coast, yet the Russian ambassador seems to have 

 expected a favourable result to his mission. From the 

 extent and contiguity of the Russian dominions, his 

 excellency seems to have flattered himself that the offer 

 and assurance of friendship of a powerful monarch 

 would meet with a distinguished reception. But we 

 cannot blame the policy which viewed with jealousy 

 and distrust, the interference of so formidable a power 

 as Russia in commercial pursuits. Whatever the argu- 

 ments and motives of the Japanese politicians were, 

 the Russian mission failed completely in its object, and 

 even the permission formerly obtained, of sending a 

 ship annually to Nangasaky, was recalled. Krusen- 

 stern is pretty liberal of abuse and sarcasm on the close- 

 ness of Dutch policy at Japan. It was not to be expected 

 that the Dutch would favour the views of the Russian 

 ambassador, or assist in opening a door of commercial 

 competition to his nation. His excellency the coun- 

 cillor of state and chamberlain Resanoff, the Russian 

 ambassador, and an adequate suite, arrived in the ship 

 Nadeshda, in the harbour of Nangasaky, in October 

 1804. On the arrival of the Nadeshda, the first step 

 resorted to by the Japanese, was the depriving the ship 

 of its powder and fire amis, even to the officer's fowling- 

 pieces. This measure was defended on the principle of 

 national etiquette, the subjects of a foreign power not 

 being allowed to go about armed in his Japanese ma- 

 jesty's dominions. But whatever the mortification and 

 feelings of the ambassador were, their situation ap- 

 pears to have been particularly irksome to Krusenstern 

 and his crew. At first they were prohibited from go- 

 ing ashore, and even from rowing about. 



At length, after six weeks negotiation, and on the 

 plea of the ambassador's health, a spot was assigned as 

 a walk, not exceeding 100 paces in length and 40 in 

 breadth, in the immediate vicinity of which were two 

 watch-towers. A debarkation of a single boat was at- 

 tended by a fleet of 10 or 15 vessels surrounding it; in 

 the same manner the boat was escorted back to the 

 ship. So strict were the Japanese, that the Nadesh- 



da was debarred intercourse with the Dutch ships, Japan. 

 and letters were not even allowed to be sent by them *'"/" 

 to Batavia. The ambassador alone was permitted to Account ef 

 transmit a report to the Emperor of Russia, translated 

 by the interpreters into Dutch with such scrupulous 

 accuracy, that every line of the translation termi- 

 nated with the same letter as the lines of the origi- 

 nal. This copy was deposited with the governor. On 

 the departure of two Dutch vessels, Krusenstem having 

 wished the captains a happy voyage, and made enqui- 

 ries after their health, received in reply a sign with 

 their speaking trumpet. For this silence, the chief oi 

 the Dutch factory apologised by letter to the ambassa- 

 dor, on the grounds that the captains had been forbid- 

 den to utter a word. Here our author breaks forth in- 

 to a violent philippic against the Dutch, for their mean 

 and servile compliance with Japanese prejudices, yield- 

 ed in the true spirit of gain ; and, though Krusenstern 

 may write under the influence of pique, we do not dis- 

 sent from the justice of his observation, that such con- 

 duct is unworthy of the character of an enlightened and 

 great nation. The important point being at length 

 settled, of the ambassador having permission to land, a 

 considerable building called Megasaky, was appointed 

 for his residence, and watched with as much care as the 

 seven towers of Constantinople. The situation of his ex- 

 cellency's quarters appears to have been selected with a 

 remarkable regard to security. The building was pla- 

 ced on a neck of land, so near the sea, that at high wa- 

 ter the tide came close to the walls. The windows 

 were armed with double lattice work, and consisted of 

 spaces about a foot wide, calculated to admit a very 

 moderate allowance of light. The whole habitation 

 was secured by a bamboo fence, even on the sea side, 

 the waves being deemed but an insufficient barrier by the 

 Japanese. Large gates, with double locks, at which 

 were stationed porters to take charge of the keys, and 

 who seem to have executed their trust with trouble- 

 some fidelity, were placed on the land and sea sides. 

 Besides, guards watched the spot, who did not slumber 

 on their posts. Though our author expatiates on this 

 barbarous intolerance of the Japanese, yet he does them 

 the justice to admit, that such materials as he required 

 for the repair of the ship were readily granted. The 

 supply of provisions was also liberal to the ship's com- 

 pany. The landing of the Russian ambassador on the 

 17th December, was attended with circumstances of 

 considerable pomp and ceremony. The Prince of Fi- 

 sen's boat, a barge surpassing in size and magnificence 

 every thing of the sort, (being 120 feet long,) was des- 

 tined for the reception of his excellency. The walls 

 and ceilings of the numerous cabins were varnished in 

 the handsomest manner, and the stairs of red wood so 

 highly polished, as to have the appearance of lacquer. 

 On the decks were spread mats and the most costly car- 

 pets ; and the whole boat was hung round with double 

 rows of various coloured silk. On the ambassador 

 stepping on board, the Russian imperial standard wa- 

 ved with the flag of the Prince of Fisen, whose guard 

 took their station close to the standard. The Japanese 

 fortresses were decorated with new flags and curtains, 

 and manned by troops in their best dress. An innu- 

 merable fleet of boats accompanied the ambassador to 

 the town of Nangasaky. So far his excellency was 

 ushered into his Japanese majesty's dominions in a 

 manner suitable to the representative of a powerful mo- 

 narch. But he had no sooner landed and Entered into 

 his dwelling, than he was locked up like a state crimi- 

 nal, and the keys were sent to the governor. The day 



