The following letter, from a passenger by the P. AL Steamer which left Shanghai on the13th October, will interest outreaders.
Steamer "China," 10th Nov., 1870.
Lat. 33.36. lon. 156.28 W., 3,396 miles from Yokohama.
You may perhaps be interested in a few articulars of our voyage, which I am happy to say has, up to the present time, been of the most pleasant description. You will see from the dating of this letter, where we were at noon to-day—some 1,680 miles from San Francisco, which we expect to reach on the 18th. With exception of two or three wet days, and a strong head wind which has marred our progress considerably, although not otherwise interfering with beantifal weather. At Nagasaki, Kobe and the enjoyment of the voyage, we have had
Yokohama, we found many North German vessels, laid up, useless, not daring to go out, forfear ofthe French cruisers. At the last-named port it was said the" Dupleix" (French man-of-war) had come into _har-hour, and steamed round the "Hertha," and "Medusa" (Prussian men-of-war) in' a de-fant manner, but it was also stated that she only sailed into port to reconnoitre, and then sailed cwt again Anyhow, there was a very strong feeling on the subject, and much bitter discussion while we were there. During the two days (15th and 16th Oct.) we were at Nagasaki, the beautiful bay (in the heart of magnificent scenery) presented quite a lively appearance, from the ships in harbour being dressed out in all their flags, and the constant booming of guns from the men-of-war, in honour of official visits, and the anniversary of the Mikado's birthday. That great American statesman the Honble. Mr. Seward, who was leaving for Shanghai just as we arrived, also, I believe, came in for a share of the glory. His visit here, and at the other ports of Japan, seems to have been quite an event in the several communities. The Royal salute, fred from half a dozen ships at once, in honour of the Mikado, had quite grand effect to the ear, as the sounds reverberated among the mountains, and to the eye as soon from the top of one of the cliffs, The day happened to be Sunday, and the Preacher at the English Church wasin the middle of his discourse, when the saluting began. He paused for a moment or two, finding it of no use to goon his ordinary' tone of voice; and then with stentorian Iungs he held forth, rivalling the roar of the cannon! But the effect was more singular than edifying. The Bungalows on the hills look very pretty indeed, and I should think no place could be more delightful than Nagasaki, for Shanghai residents to go to for a change.
After passing through the Inland Sea, and witnessing the magnificent scenery there, we arrived at Kobe (Hiogo) on tie 18th, leaving the following afternoon. This ab place took me quite by surprise, as it must do every one, I think, who visits it for the first time. The houses are numerous and well built (of course I speak of the foreign settlement), and new ones are springing up in every direction.
There is a fine brand Bund, well protected from the sea, and the roads are wide and handsome, or will be so when entirely finished, contrasting with your narrow ways at Shanghai. Altogether the place is much larger than could' have been expected in so short atime since it has been opened; and from all I could learn, business is' fairly prosperous and prouusing, although the effects of the war in Europe have been rather detrimental. It was pleasant to meet some old Hankow and Shanghai friends here. It happened to bea grand festival day when we arrived at Kobe, occasioned by the re-opening of a celebrated temple, (Ikuta,) and the whole population seemed to have turned out in honour of the event. Jugglery, theatrical performances, peepzhow exhibitions, and other amusements seemed to be going on in every street, as wellasatthe great temple itself; and if one may judge from the peals of laughter and general merrie ment which prevailed, both young and old must have enjoyed themselves very much. This first contact with the Japanese in large numbers left avery favorable impression on my mind, as to their humour, and keen sense of the ridiculous in particular. The theatrical performances, which were both serious and comic, took place on large platforms supported on huge cars drawn by hundreds of children and pushed along by men, all dressed in the gaudiest and most grotesque manner. Some of the actors, and certainly all the jugglers, appeared remarkably clever and amusing. We thus saw the place under its happiest aspect.
On the 21st October we arrived at Yokohama, and after tiffin I started with two others by stage (four horses) for Yeddo—distant about 17 miles, and which, after a drive full of, novelty, we reached in about three hours. The next day was devoted to the "sights of Yeddo," and having been most fortunate in obtaining the services of a gentleman, as guide, to whom one of our party had a letter of introduction, we sww everything: that was worth' seeing, But it would take sheets of foolscap, much more the small sized paper I write upon, to give you anything like a just idea of the "sights" we essed, or of the character-istles or idiosyncrasy of the Japanese people, to which they testify. Suilice it that we visited the tombs ut the Tycoons, the summer palace (where the Duke of Edinburgh was located, in 186), numerous temples, pleasure, grounds, the official quarters of the city, castles, moats, tea gardens, business localities, and other laces—all very striking, and all peculiar! japanese. "We found the people of all, classes exceedingly polite; and although we had two mounted Yaconina (two-sworded men) who followed us wherever we drove, however great the distance, their presence, so far as—protection went, seemed quite unnecessary. But it is more, I believe, asa part of the political machinery of the country that this jerked attention of the Japanese Govern ment is extended to all foreigners visiting Yeddo. During our progress went over some of the scenes of Udodshud and hard fighting, which led the abolition of Tycoonship and the establishment of the single system of sovereignty which now exists under the Mikado. Ruined temples, blackened walls, dismounted guns, the destruction of fine old trees, and general devastation ut the place, mark' the site of some of the sev rest con! 3. We also visited the Foreizn Ufice, and the War Office, in the official quarter, which is remarkable place, full ut the residences or castles of i Psinees, and of the Mi-hich stands within the innermost mast, and to which no foreigner is admitted, except on very special occasions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.