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Leader (1850-1860), 24th September 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1078, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      X 078 f HE L E AD EB , [ No . 496 . Sept . 24 , 1859 .

      Untitled Article

      tion protesting against the proceedings of General iHarneyjattd declared the island to be British property > "He also sent a message to the Vancouver ' s legislative Assembly , in which it v ? as declared that the British forces would be landed on the island , and i -which he announced his belief that the unwarrantable and discourteous act , so contrary to the usages of civilised nations , had originated in error , and been -undertaken without the authority of the United States Government ; and in support of his opinion further

      quoted a letter of Mr . Marcy ' s , in 1855 . He stated that her Majesty ' s ships Tribune and Plumper ihad been ordered to land a detachment of Royal Engineers and Marines for the protection of British -subjects , and that the officer in command had been -ordered to be conciliatory , but firm in maintaining British rights . At San Juan were three British and four American men-of-war . A number of Americans and English , on hearing of the dispute , started for San Juan . A report that a British steamer had opened fire upon the Americans was not credited .

      The Washington correspondent of the New York Herald gives the following account : — ' * General Harney sent troops to San Juan to protect the white settlers from the savages , who were committing most atrocious murders . Nothing inimical to the British Government was intended T > y such a movement . The jealousy of Governor Douglass was needlessly excited . " No collision with the British troops or subjects is apprehended by the Government . No doubt need "be entertained that the title to San Juan will be

      amicably adjusted , as the President must be perfectly aware of our rights , and willask for nothing more . The North-Western difficulty will ,, doubtless , Tbecome a matter for negociation between the Government of Great Britain and that of the United States , as the treaty settling the boundary lias no provision for a settlement in such a case as lias arisen . The State Department has had this matter under consideration , and General Harney ¦ will receive instructions to act with great caution until the Government have compared views upon the subject ; . "

      Untitled Article

      News from Biarritz . —It is asserted that the result of the visit of the King of the Belgians to Biarritz was successful . Messieurs Blanqui and Boichot have arrived at Marseilles , stating their intention to avail themselves of the general amnesty . The King of the Belgians , Prince Richard Metternich , and Count Walewski , will prolong their stay at Biarritz until the departure of the Imperial Court , which will take place towards the end of the month . The journals of Compiegne announce that preparations are being made in the Palace of that town for the reception of the Emperor and Empress , and that invitations for the , grand hunting parties which their Majesties propose to give during their

      stay there have already been issued . Russia and Schamyi ,. — While , publishing Prince Bariatinski ' s report of the oapture of Schamyl and Ijihe fall of Ghounib , the St . Petersburg Gazette says ; ^ Schamyl , who is now 62 years of age , was born in the Aoul of Himry , on the Ko'issobou territory , where his predecessor , Ghazi-Mouhammed or Kasi-Moullah was also born , and fell when the fortress was taken on the 18 th of October , 1832 . It is needless to point out the importance of the victory which has placed in the hands of Prince Barlatinski the last bulwark behind which the power of the Imaum of the Caucasus found a refuge . The detailed report of

      these events will shortly , doubtless , enable us to form an exact appreciation of the material and moral xesult which the capture of Schamyl will have caused among the native populations . " Tim Kino cut Holland ' s Speech . —On the lpth inst . the King of Holland opened the Legislative Session of tho Chanibdrs of his kingdom . The royal speech , after stating that the Government of his Itajesty entertains the most friendly relations with « U countries , in exclusively occupied with internal < ju . enttons of improvement . Among the projects announced the most important is the construction < ff A line of railways throughout the country , and of *• new canal from Amsterdam to the sea . The

      execution of these great works Avouid render it necessary to observe prudence in employing the considerable excess over the expenses of the state , and would not admit of any reduction of taxes . The sinking fund would continue to act . The project of law for the emancipation of the slaves in the Dutch West Indian colonies not having been adopted last session * a modified project would be presented to the Chambers .

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      JAPAN , AND ITS FUTURE . Avert able and interesting paper , read by Mr . Lawrence Oliphant , before the British Association last week , contains the following observations : — "From the little we know of the internal resources of Japan , it is probable that we shall find a more profitable source of trade in its mineral than its vegetable productions . Unless we have been totally misinformed , these former are of vast extent and great value . We know that the principal profits of the early Portuguese settlers were derived from the export of gold and silver . So lucrative was it that Krempfer remarks , 'It is believed that , had the Portuguese enjoyed the trade of Japan but

      twenty years longer , upon the same footing as they did ior some time , such riches would have been transported out of this . Ophir to Macao , and there would have been such a plenty and flow of gold and silver in that town , as Sacred Writ , mentions there was at Jerusalem in the times of Solomon . ' At a later period the Dutch carried on this same traffic to so great an extent that a native political economist , writing in 1708 on the subject , computes the annual exportation of gold at about 150 , 000 cobangs , so that in ten years the empire was drained of 1 , 500 , 000 cobangs , or about two millions and a-half sterling . The gold is found in various localities . That procured from Sado has the reputation , of

      being the finest , and it is stated that the Ore will yield from loz . to 2 oz . of fine metal per l £ lb . The mines in Garonga are stated to be very rich , the copper ore raised also being impregnated with gold . The ore from Satsuma yields from 4 oz . to 6 oz . per ljlb . These are the principal mines . Gold dust is found in some of the streams . Copper is superabundant , as is evident from the lavish use made of it for ornamental purposes . For a long period the Dutch received : at Nagasaki , in exchange for their merchandise , Japan , copper . This , however , as well as the sale of gold , has been stopped for many years . The Government allows no more copper to be produced now than is absolutely necessary for home

      consumption , which is comparatively very small . It will be for us now to develope more fully one of the most important elements in the wealth of this vast empire . By the treaty recently concluded , gold and silver coins may be exported from Japan , but not as cargo . The exportation of copper coin , as well as copper in bars , is prohibited , but the Government engages to sell from time to time , at public auction , any surplus quantity of copper that may be produced . Iron abounds in various parts of Japan , the mines of which are extensively worked , — much more so at present than those of copper . Judging of articles of casting of their own construction , the ores must be of excellent quality .

      Specimens of wrought iron , cast and blister steel , have been examined with very satisfactory results . The wrought iron is usually hammered , and in small flat bars , varying from 121 b . to 20 lb . e ^ ch . This is probably to be attributed to a want of proper machinery for heavier bars , and its being better suited to their purposes . The steel of which , the swords were composed which we procured at Yeddo was of admirable temper and quality . I have already alluded to the Ipcal mines which exist in the Island of Kinsui—one of them is distant only seven miles from Nagasaki . They are a government monoply . Hitherto the coal brought for sale since the opening of trade at Nagasaki has been surface coal , and consequently

      inferior in quality ; it is described as small . xt burns slaty ,. leaving considerable ash , and is very light . There can belittle doubfc that good coal is to be found in the island , when tho mines begin to be properly worked . By the treaty of Yeddo coals , zinc , lead , and tin are to be exported , at a duty of 5 per cent . The vegetable productions of Japan , which are most probably destined to become articles of commerce , are camphor , vegetable tallow , rice , wheat , drugs , isinglass , seaweed , &o . Among manufactured articles we may mention lacquer ware and porcelain , but it is almost impossible at this

      early stage of our commercial relations to predict either their character or extent . It would be well to remember that , while wo have achieved a great rosult in thus oponing to tho world this prosperous and happy community , we have also incurred serious obligations towards them , and are bound not to take advantage of their ignorance and inexperience in their dealings with western nations . We can only hope to commend our civilisation to them by maintaining a high moral standard , both in our commercial and political intercourse . They are sufficiently

      enlightened to appreciate : a policy , influenced by higher , considerations than those involved in the accumulation of Wealth . Unless we follow such a policy , it is not too much to predict that we shall lose alike their confidence and respect , and involve ourselves in complications disastrous to our commerce and discreditable to our national character Of all the nations of the East , the Japanese are the most susceptible to civilising influences ; and I quote the words of an eminent Chinese and Japanese scholar in saying that in one respect they are far in advance of their ancient neighbours the Chinese , in that their attention is directed to obtain a knowledge of other nations . Their own efforts * in this way will form their greatest security . Their

      soldiers once formed the bodyguard of the King of Siam ; their consuls once examined Spanish ships in Acapulco ; their sailors once took a Dutch governor but of his house in Formosa , aud carried him prisoner to their rulers ; their Princes once sent an embassy to the Pope ; their Emperor once defied the vengeance of Portugal by executing her ambassadors . The knowledge of these historical events remains among them . We may reasonably hope for a great preponderance of good results from an extension of an intercourse which has recommenced so peacefully . Let us indulge the expectation that the land of the rising sun may not only soon be fitted for taking her place among nations , but also among Christian nations , and with all the institutions , and liberty , and purity of the best of those nations . "

      Untitled Article

      A Grand Dttcal Campaign . —The inhabitants of a Vienna suburb were frightened out of their wits lately liy the sudden report of musketry breaking the peaceful quiet of their streets . The last time the ominous , sounds . were heard , Croats were the sportsmen and "Viennese the game . That was in 1848 . No wonder , then , that the poor burghers felt nervous at the repetition of the well-remembered crack of rifles . Had another revolution broken out ? Had a few daring madmen undertaken to establish liberty in the face of the Emperor and his armies ? No such thing . The exiled Grand Duke of Tuscany has lodgings in this suburb- His wife , Who is with him , does not like cats . The police , who are of course very attentive to the Emperor ' s cousin , had the feline race of the Whole neighbourhood at once put to death . But , alas ! two unfortunate Toms surthe tiles in

      vive the massacre , and are promenading shameless defiance of Imperial authorities . The Grand Duchess unhappily approaches a window . A shriek—a fall—where are the medical men ? But no—where is the Imperial army ? " Go saddle my horses , and call out my men . " The heroes of Solferino not being at hand , the private retainers ot the Grand Duke at once muster their forces , distribute weapons ; and after a few encouraging words , whereof nothing is recorded but Victory or Death , set out on the desperate expedition . Pop ! goes a gun at the first Tom ; but , unfortunately , the shot has missed , and off goes the animal scathless . A storm of bullets follows the flying enemy . Reckless of consequences , however , he reappears on a neighbouring chimney-pot , when the bold pursuers , nothing daunted , re-commence an active fusillade . &o the same noes on : the principal sport , however , the

      being that which madcap Tom makes of array of the Grand Duke of Tuscany , until , at last , the slaughter of the two animals is accomplished , ana the tranquillity of the neighbourhood rostored . Political Prisoners in Naples . — A lettoi ' from Naples says : — "It was just two days before crowus were flocking in to celebrate the / ete of the Madonna the Mother of Mercies . Among others in the , road were seven political detenuti who had been n" ™ tea by a jealous police , on tho denunciation of some secret informer . They were manacled , hound toga ther by a long rope , and girded by a largo body-m gendarmes } it Was not exceptional treatment , wr other , political " suspeote , " untried and unoondemned , are treated continually in the same way but , as the heat of the sum at raid-day is intense , » n ^ i , « linri wniicr . fl twentv-eicht miles from avo

      lino , the oppression of their manacles must » wvo mm beyond description . In fact , ope of the ™ fortunato sufferers , overcome by the heat and the length ox the march , fainted , and tho wretched party w < M compelled to halfc . The man ' s n ^ wa J gsco Esposito , a political " suspect . " f ortunately , * priest of Bari , called Campanolltt , met the geg ^ clarmes , and administered the consolations ot vm gion ' to the man , who was dying . At t £ wgJJ *« g he begged the commanding officer to > open t « manacles , but the key was not to bo found . £ »« brutality of the whole affU r made such an imp * ej

      his Majesty , little knowiaer that though the W » g is the fountain of mercy its source is too often closed , or that appeals , f W ™ % J nl humanity but rarely arrive at It . Tho sconu

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      CONSPIRACY TO ASSASSINATE THE SULTAN . A conspiracy to assassinate the Sultan has been discovered at Constantinople . Two hundred persons have been arrested ; among them Djafer Dem , Pasha-of Albania , who was apparently the chief . 'Some of the troops are suspected of participation . The affair originated with a fanatical party . A special tribunal has been created to try the persons , principally Circassians and Kurds , who were arrested on a charge of seditiously conspiring together . Each moment ' s information tends to deprive the senseless scheme of these men of its gravity , as it had no ramification ; and , so far as has been ascertained , no other persons than those now under arrest are implicated ..

      Untitled Article

      FOREIGN INCIDENTS .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 24, 1859, page 1078, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2313/page/10/