The revenues yielded by the different provinces are stated to amount to 2834 tons of gold, or (at 10,0001. stcrl ng per ton), to 28,340,0001. sterling. The emperor, how iever, only benefits by the revenue of the five provinces of his own fief or government. But, as before mentioned, he is entitled to two•thirds of each mine that is opened ; and he is said to possess a late treasure, disposed in chests containing each 1000 tads.
From the genius of their government, and jealousy of foreign interference, it does not appear that the Japanese have any external political relations. Their most natural allies would be the Chinese ; yet it is certain that they do not treat even the Chinese merchants, who frequent the harbour of Nangasaky, with much ceremony and respect ; and the Dutch at Japan seem to be reconciled to mortifi cation, without gaining any adequate compensation by traffic. Though these last have been established at Japan about two centuries, their trade has declined, instead of having increased ; and as we have no right to infer want of vigilance on the part of the Dutch in watching over their commercial interests, we must suppose, either that they have nothing to offer the Japanese worth their ac ceptance, or that these latter are not to be seduced, by any means, to make an inconsiderate surrender, or depart from their maxims of state. When we reflect how often the independence of nations is sacrificed to commercial toleration, we must give the Japanese rulers credit for great pi udence in their councils. The chief articles which the Dutch carry to Japan are bullion, European cloths, silks, spices, printed linens, sugar, sapan wood, tin, ivory, tortoise-shell, horns of the sea unicorn, which last is highly valued by the Japanese as a medicine. But, as before stated, they are restricted to the dispatch of two ships annually from Batavia. The cargoes of 13 ships between 1784 and 1793 inclusive, amounted to 3,534,521 florins. The returns made from Batavia to Japan during the same period, which consisted principally of copper and camphor, amounted to 2,764,879 florins.
The Chinese send annually 12 ships from Ningpo, (or Simfo, as it is called by the Japanese,) five of which ar rive in June and sail in October ; the other seven arrive in December, and sail in March or April. They import chiefly sugar, ivory, tin plates, lead, silk stuffs, lkc. They export copper, camphor, japanned wares, gold thread, buffalo horns, sowaas (an artificial metal) painted and co loured paper, umbrellas, and particularly the dye-fish, used as a mediCine in China. Besides these, a kind of sea plant, and large dried mussels, called awaby, consider ed a great delicacy. Each Chinese vessel, or junk, being about equal to a ship of 4(.0 tons, it would appear that their cargoes must be very considerable ; yet Krusenstern remarks, that two ships of 500 tons each might stow away what is conveyed in all the twelve.
Kmmpfer has divided the Japanese history into three epochs, the fabulous, the doubtful, and the certain. The
first reaching beyond the Mosaic xra of the creation, our acquaintance with it must be particularly unprofitable. The second, being mixed with the Chinese history, and from the admission of Chinese symbols, demonstrates that Japan, in the earlier stages of society, was connect ed with China, and tends to lix a common origin. The certain period begins with the hereditary succession of the Dairis from 660 years before the Christian sera, to the year of our Lord 1585. In the reign of Gonda, the 90th Dan i, Japan was menaced by a great invasion from the Monguls, the invading fleet and army, amounting to 240,000 men, being dispersed and almost annihilated by a futions tempest, the Japanese piously ascribed their deliverance to the interposition of the gods. In 1585, the generals of the crown, or Kubos, assumed the supreme power, and these continue to reign uncontrolled, the Dairi having his separate court at Miaco, and presiding over the religious and literary concerns of the empire.
We shall present our readers with some account, (for which we are indebted to KJ usenstern,) of the reception of the Russian embassy by the Japanese ; this relation may serve both to amuse the leader, and to illustrate the na tional character. Notwithstanding the national character for jealousy of the arrival of strangers on its coast, yet the Russian ambassador seems to have expected a favour able result to his mission. From the extent and conti guity of the Russian dominions, his excellency seems to have flattered himself that the offer and assurance of friendship of a powerful monarch would meet with a dis tinguished reception. But we cannot blame the policy, which viewed with jealousy and distrust the interference of so formidable a power as Russia in commercial pur suits. Whatever the arguments and motives of the Japa nese politicians were, the Russian mission failed com pletely in its object, and even the permission formerly obtained, of sending a ship annually to Nangasaky, was recalled. Krusenstern is pretty liberal of abuse and sar casm on the closeness of Dutch policy at Japan. It was not to be expected that the Dutch would favour the views of the Russian ambassador, or assist in opening a door of commercial competition to his nation. His excellency the counsellor of state and chamberlain Resanoff, the Russian ambassador, and an adequate suite, arrived in the ship Nadeshda, in the harbour of Nangasaky, in October 1804. On the arrival of the Nadeshda, the first step resorted to by the Japanese was, the depriving the ship of its powder and fire arms, even to the officers fowling-pieces. This measure was defended on the principle of national etiquette, the subjects of a foreign power not being allowed to go about armed in his Japanese majesty's dominions. But whatever the mortification and feelings of the ambassador were, their situation appears to have been particularly irksome to Krusenstern and his crew. At first they were prohibited from going ashore, and even from rowing about.