The Mikado, or religious Emperor, appears to be once more
the actual ruler of Japan, and his government is decidedly favourable to foreigners. The fullest reparation was offered to the British for a recent attack on Sir H. Parkes and the Legation, and twenty Japanese were condemned to death for firing on some French sailors. The French Minister only required the execution of eleven, and is condemned in England for cruelty in sanctioning even that. The accusation is most unjust. The murderers, with• out the smallest provocation, wantonly fired on the sailors while bathing, and killed eleven of them, and M. de Roche took only life for life. The Mikado, it appears, is determined to stop these out- rages, and has issued a decree declaring attacks on foreigners infamous, and those guilty of them common felons, liable to death without the privilege of suicide, which, it must be remembered, prevents forfeiture of property. It is believed that this decree will be religiously obeyed.
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