XVII.] 
JAPAN AND THE FOREIGN POWERS. 
333 
was established by violence, and confirmed by treaty several 
years ago. 
Shortly before our arrival a quarrel took place between Japan 
and the European powers about, as the Japanese themselves said, 
a breach of international law, which caused much irritation in 
the country. A German vessel coming from Nagasaki, where 
the cholera was raging, on the advice of the German minister 
broke the quarantine prescribed by the Government, and without 
further precautions discharged her cargo in the harbour of 
Yokohama. That the cholera in this town was thereby made worse 
is indeed not only unproved but also undoubtedly incorrect, 
though many Japanese in their irritation positively affirmed that 
this was the case ; but the words that were uttered by Japan’s 
feted guest, ex-President General Grant,^ that the Japanese 
Government had the right without more ado to sink the vessel, 
have left a memory in the minds both of the Government and of 
the people, which may in the future lead them to a perhaps 
unwise but fully justified exertion of their strength were such 
a deed to be repeated. 
The first impression of the Japanese, both men and women, 
is exceedingly pleasant, but many Europeans who have lived 
a considerable time in the country say that this impression is not 
maintained, a circumstance which in my belief depends more on 
the Europeans themselves than on the Japanese. For the 
European merchants are said not to find it so easy to cut gold 
here with a case-knife as before, and the ambassadors of the 
Great Powers find it day by day more difficult to maintain their 
old commanding standpoint towards a government which knows 
that a great future is before the country, if inconsiderate ambi¬ 
tion or unlooked-for misfortune do not unexpectedly hinder its 
development. Another reproach, that the Japanese can imitate 
what another has done, but is unable himself to invent anything 
^ General Grant, as is well known, visited Japan in the autumn of 1879. 
He left Yokohama the day after the Vega anchored in its harbour. 
