Continental Monthly, Vol. 4, No 3, September 1863: Devoted to Literature and National PolicyVarious
History
Continental Monthly, Vol. 4, No 3, September 1863: Devoted to Literature and National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
'In Scotland, the Right Hon. the Earl of Kintore, Rev.
Dr. Guthrie, Professor Sampson, Dr. Bell, and the
Provosts of the principal towns.
'In Ireland, His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, Lord
Gough, Lord Roden, Lord Talbot de Malahide, the Right
Hon. Judge Crampton, Sir W. Hamilton, Astronomer Royal,
and the Right Hon. J. Whiteside, M. P. Under the
auspices of the Lord Lieutenant, Earl of Carlisle.'
In China, while occupied as Medical Missionary and United States
Consul, he published a newspaper in the Chinese language; in
London, also, he rendered valuable service in vindicating our
Government from the attacks of Lord Brougham and Sir John Bowring.
In all his various efforts, Dr. MACGOWAN received the
highest commendation from the press, as well as from his learned
audiences. We therefore call the attention of our readers to the
present essay, on the important subject of 'Japanese Foreign
Relations,' as from the pen of one familiar with the history and
bearing of the questions of which he treats.--ED. CONTINENTAL.]
Strolling recently from Nagasaki toward the volcanic mountain Simabara,
the writer was compelled to retrace his steps by the yaconins, or guards
of the prince of Fizen, and thus he failed to accomplish the object he
had in view--that of searching for the monument erected, it is said, to
commemorate the expulsion of foreigners from Japan, and the suppression
of Christianity, bearing an impious inscription, forbidding Christians
and the God of the Christians from ever appearing in that 'Eden Minor.'
Whether the monument still exists or not, it is certain that the spirit
of the edict of Gongen Sama, which expelled Europeans forever from the
country, and enjoined natives to slay foreigners, still actuates the
ruling classes in the insular empire of the Pacific. Hence the
exclamation of the daring and potent prince of Kago, who, in 1853, when
the American treaty was before the Daimios, in council, placing his hand
upon the hilts of his swords, said: 'Rather than admit foreigners into
the country, let us die fighting.' He was overruled--a decade has
elapsed, and his forebodings of evil have been realized. One of the
results of the concession to Americans has been a despatch from Earl
Russell to the British minister at Yedo, which says: 'It would be better
that the Tycoon's palace should be destroyed than that our rightful
position by treaty should be weakened or impaired.' When a British
minister threatens to burn a palace, Eastern Asiatics know full well
that the torch will be preceded by a bombardment and followed by
_looting_, which in Anglo-Indian parlance means plundering. Thirteen
ships of war, two of them French, are at Yokahama, within a few hours'
sail of the palace which adorns Yedo, the proud metropolis of the 'Land
of the Rising Sun,' awaiting an answer to a British ultimatum.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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