PREFACE. 
The Empire of Japan has been all but closed to 
the inhabitants of other nations for more than two 
hundred years. Except a few Dutch and Chinese, 
who were kept almost like prisoners at Nagasaki, 
no foreigners have been allowed to reside or 
trade in the country since about the year 1636. 
A great and unexpected change has now taken 
place; Japan has not only opened some of her 
ports to foreign trade, but has also sent her 
Ambassadors to visit many of the principal Courts 
of Europe and America. 
The news of the success which attended the 
English and French forces in the earlier part of 
the late war with China was quickly wafted across 
the “ Eastern Sea ” to Yedo, and, doubtless, had 
no little effect in inducing the Tycoon and his 
Ministers (in an evil hour for them) to open 
their country to foreign intercourse. It is to be 
hoped that this re-entry into the great family of 
nations will not bring on those dissensions and 
wars which marked the period between 1560 and 
