V. 
The New Civilization, Laws, and Commerce, of Japan. 
Civilized as Japan has been during the past ages of her 
history, she has attained a yet higher position among the 
nations of the earth, during the last ten or fifteen years. 
Contact with Western civilization and Western manners, has 
shown this ingenious little people the necessity and the 
wisdom of adopting new modes of action, education, and 
government, if they would preserve their position in the 
family of nations, or advance their power and influence. 
The story of the opening up of Japan, is an interesting 
one, and comes in very appropriately here. The Americans 
were the. first people to succeed in establishing commercial 
relations with that country. In July, 1853, a fleet of 
American vessels entered the harbour of Yeddo, under the 
command of Commodore Perry. After some delay, he 
succeeded in delivering to the agents of the Japanese 
Government, a letter addressed to the Emperor of Japan, by 
the American President, requiring protection for American 
seamen wrecked on Japanese shores, and requesting that 
commercial relations should be opened between the two 
countries. No answer was vouchsafed at that time, 
Japanese haughtiness and insularity disdaining the idea of 
reciprocal intercourse with foreigners. However, in Febru- 
ary, 1854, Commodore Perry returned with a larger fleet, 
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