The imprisonment of the Dutch was aggravated by many degrading conditions imposed by the Japanese Government. Their position bore some analogy to that of the English and other foreigners in Canton previous to 1839. In both cases the Europeans endured indignities at the hands of Asiatics for the sake of profit, but beyond that point it is the differences rather than the resemblances which are significant. The humiliation of the Dutch in the island of Deshima was indeed unmitigated so far as it went, but it was neither capricious nor spiteful. Once the yoke was peacefully adjusted, what remained of life to the Dutchman was made as agreeable to him as to a cockatoo in a cage. His jailors had no particular animus against him; they had a purpose of their own to serve in keeping open, through the foreigners, a channel of communication with the West, and they had as valid reasons of State for tethering him as one may have for tying up his ox or his ass. These purposes once served, however, the Japanese did not revel in harshness or cruelty.[2] With the Chinese it was otherwise. They also had a political object in restricting the barbarians, only they were never satisfied with its attainment, but continued heaping up insults on their victims to the utmost limits of their submissiveness. The petty trade which the new-comers were able to do at Nagasaki was, in the beginning, managed through the existing agency of the Dutch, from whom, however, there was nothing useful to be learned, much indeed to be unlearned; and in a few months it was the Dutch themselves who had to go to school to the interlopers. As commerce had been kept entirely in the hands of the Government officials, there had been no opportunity for the rise of any mercantile class among the natives: that was to be a product of the new era. II. THE OPERATION OF THE TREATIES. Japanese preparations for trade at Yokohama--Mr Alcock's arrival as consul-general--Assumes the rank of Minister--The situation as he found it--The establishment of diplomatic intercourse at the capital--The location of the foreign settlement--The currency--The low value of gold--Its rapid exportation--Friction caused by conditions of exchange--Efforts of Mr Alcock to set matters right--Report by Secretary of H.B.M. Treasury--Japanese double standard, gold and copper--Japanese courage in meeting difficulties--The Daimios' coinage--Beginnings of trade--Amenities of residence--The charm of the people--The two Japans, official and non-official--Complete despotism and complete submission.