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demoralization which follows in the train of the former: so a few missionaries, to attend to their spiritual concerns, were added to the cargo. Both traders and missionaries were received with open arms. The traders were permitted to travel from end to end of the empire, and the missionaries to preach and make converts without restriction.

At the close of forty years, the Roman Catholic religion had undisputed possession of the field, and their influence was such, that a Japanese embassy was sent to the Pope at Rome, with letters and valuable presents. They met with a magnificent reception, and great was the rejoicing of the Church over 'a nation of thirty millions won from the heathen.' After an absence of eight years (those were not the days of steam) this embassy, together with the Jesuit Superior, who had accompanied them from Japan, returned to their homes. A very different state of affairs awaited them from that they expected. The King of Bungo, their friend, was dead, and his suecessor had published an edict banishing the missionaries from the island. Their schools and hospitals had been suppressed, and the missionaries themselves expelled or forced into concealment. This edict was published in 1587. From that time continued persecution, with the restrictions and decay of trade; was followed, in 1635, by the entire expulsion of all, accompanied with acts of great cruelty. Since then, until recent treaties, no foreigner has been permitted to land, All cast upon its inhospitable shore were killed or imprisoned; and, though previously adventurous and skilful mariners—strange as it may seem, yet apparently true—no Japanese subject ever voluntarily left its shores for a foreign country,

In 1854, Commodore Perry, on the part of the United States, inserted the entering-wedge of a renewed intercourse, by concluding a treaty with the Japanese Government, insuring simply hospitality and good treatment to shipwrecked sailors.

Four years later, a treaty, having for its basis the opening anew of the country to commerce, and the establishing of permanent diplomatic relations, was concluded by Mr. Harris, the American representative. Then quickly followed English, Russian, French, and Dutch treaties, having the same object, thus entirely revolutionizing the whole Japanese policy for the last two hundred years. Recent events, however, have shown that, from whatever cause the Japanese were induced to conclude these treaties, their wishes were entirely averse to them. All sorts of evasions have been persistently resorted to, in order to avoid complying with their provisions, We may reasonably conclude, however, that as the request for their ratification was, in each instance, backed by a formidable show of the iron 'dogs of war,' the fear of the consequences of a refusal may have had quite as much influence in determining their action, as the prospects of any benefit to be derived.

The system of government existing in Japan seems to be a somewhat complicated affair, and difficult to discover. If, as has been said, almost every stage of human existence is still to be met with in some part of the world and that from present, facts we may in great part reconstruct mentally the condition of times long past, that of Japan would seem to correspond most nearly with the old feudal system, in which the lord is every thing, the lower class nothing. The latter appear, however, to enjoy a considerable degree of freedom, since the lords are sufficiently occupied in fighting among themselves, and find no time to devote to their more humble neighbors.

The Mikado is the hereditary sovereign of the empire, descended from a long and uninterrupted line of sovereigns, and the really supreme ruler. He seldom exercises power or interferes in the government directly, however, his authority being delegated to the Tycoon,