There are again evidences of unrest in the political world, Stray references to the possibility of further changes in the persrmnel of the government hare given place to the circulation of various rumours in which names of retiring and probable incoming ministers are mentioned very freely. 'It may doubtless be regarded as highly likely that a partial reconstruction of the Cabinet will be effected within the next few weeks. What the immediate cause is it is impossible to say, save perhaps in the case of the Minister' of State for Agricultureaud Commerce. Mr. Iwamura's brain is said to be affected, and it is known that he has not really been in a fit state to retain the supervision and control of an important branch of the executive for some time. Several prominent men are nained as his probable successor: Viscount Shinagawa, at present Director of the Imperial Estates Bureau, Mr. Yoshikawa, now Vice Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Mutsu, here on leave of absence from his post as Representative of his country at Washington, Mr. Mayeda, the present Vice-Minister of the Depart-at. ment, and Lieut. General Takashima. Some of these are also given by certain of the Tokio journals for the office of Home Minister, now hedin conjunction with that of Minister President of State by Count Yamagata. It seems quite likely that the Minister President will resign his portfolio and confine himself to the increasingly arduous duties of the higher office. The War Office and the Department of Education are the other departments in which changes are looked for, Lieut-Gen Takashima or Major-General Kawakami Doing, the favour ites for the former post, and Mr. Mutsu or Mr. Kaki, Controller of the Museum, for the latter. The present occupants of these two posts are General Oyama and Viscount Enomoto. It will be remembered that Viscount Enomoto's not improbable resignation was brought forward a little while ago, in connection with his virtual nomination by some of the party for the leadership of the Daidushi, The reason underlying the other case is not announced, though considerable interest is centred upon the question of his successor. It has been reported, though apparently with but feeble warrant, that count Ito, would resume: office, relieving Count Yamagata of the Minister Presidency of State. Little weight need be given the report assuredly, in face of the circumstances connected with the Count's wilfully persisted-in resignation of a few months back, I doubt if the leading Choshin statesman will be tempted to resume the leading office in the State until after the opening of the Imperial Diet. Count Yamagata's ministry was regarded by many as sufficiently stable at Least to effectually bridge the comparatively short intervening time, but unless the leading vernacular papers are to be completely distrusted, events may disturb even this moderate prediction, Meanwhile party work proceeds apace, and everything tends to foreshadow a hight: important union of the main Liberal anc Radical parties, the Aikokukoto, theJiyuto, and the Daidoha, For several weeks the papers have had more or less lengthy notices and intimations regarding the amalgamation, which strikes a foreign observer ax the natural and necessary outcome of the published views and principles of the three societies. A broad agreement has already been reached by the respective committee-men of the Aikokukoto and the Daidoha, and on the 7th instant the Jiyuto is to hold a general meeting (for which special summonses have been sent out to members) at which the question of union is to be discussed and settled. The urgency and significance of the movement appear to be duly recognised, and it is a matter for congratulation that at last there is a clear prospect of the construction of a strong, militant, Liberal party. Count Itagaki, who is the principal support and hope of the movement, is now in the capital awaiting the ceremony of the formal opening of his party, official sanction for which has been applied for and granted. The meetings are tu be held at the Kossikan, Kokikicho, Tokio.
Although little has appeared in the public prints on the subject, it is beyond question that a large amount of distress and destitution exist throughout the land. We have had evidences of the fact near by, and in Tokio numerous sad and painful cases have been reported. The price of the principal staple, rice, still keeps up, though there is uow happily 'a prospect of a speedy and sensible drop in consequence of a decree made known in the columns of the Official Gazette last week, authorising the employment of the Central Famine Relief Fund for the purpose of relieving the condition of the rice market," There is an
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