the British Isles, if another Ireland were added to them; and to form an idea of how densely the population is packed upon that area, we must suppose the people of the French Empire to be inhabiting such a kingdom. The three islands of Nipon, Kiu-siu, and Sikok constitute the real empire over which the Taikoon rules. He claims and exercises a feeble sovereignty over Yesso likewise; but there is every reason to believe that the better portion of the latter is still in the hands of unsubjugated aborigines. Nipon, the seat of government, and bearing the same relation to the empire that England and Scotland do to the rest of the United Kingdom, is in every respect the most important portion of Japan. In shape it has been compared to a man’s jaw-bone; but we think a huge centipede, curving through 600 miles of latitude and varying from 50 to 200 miles of longitude in width, will bring it better before the reader’s imagination. On either side we see its numerous legs represented by capes, promontories, or tongues of land projecting into the sea, and forming an endless succession of noble bays and promising harbours. These projections appear to jut out from the central back-bone of mountains which extend throughout its whole length, and that entire ridge is studded with extinct or dormant volcanoes, peerless amongst which rises sharp into the blue vault of heaven the great mountain of Fusi-hama, which is said to be visible in clear weather throughout the major portion of the island. Besides Nipon there are the islands of Kiu-siu and Sikok, which resembles it much in geographical outline, although from being a little more south their climate and products partake of a more tropical character than those of Nipon.
All these islands are washed on their eastern shores by a great stream of warm water, which, like the gulf-stream of the Atlantic, flows ever to the north-east from equatorial regions. This stream modifies the climate of the Japanese Empire to a very great extent; preserves it from the desolating extremes to which China in a similar latitude is so sadly subject; but at the same time causes its shores to be swept by tempests in no wise inferior to those which renders the seaman’s career in our seas a life of danger and of hardship. The difference of temperature between the air and water, occasions during spring and autumn, dense fogs, increasing the perils of navigation as well as in adding still more to the resemblance between the climates of Nipon and Britain. The entire empire is said to be divided into sixty-eight great provinces, all but five of which are ruled over by great feudal princes, who even in our day exercise despotic sway within their borders. They yield allegiance, it is true, to the Taikoon or Emperor dwelling in Yedo, as well as to the Mikado or Pope dwelling in Miaco; but they have a strong voice in the councils of either, and do not always consider it necessary to comply with new rules or laws emanating from either the great temporal or spiritual rulers. This independence and power of the great princes serves as a great check upon the despotic powers of the Emperor, though at one time, before the great Taikosama crushed them, their opposition used to be carried to a dangerous and inconvenient extent.
An instance, however, of how limited the imperial power is in some senses, is to be found in the fact, that in recently granting permission to Europeans to trade with the empire, the Taikoon and council could only declare such ports open to us as lay within the imperial domains. And although it appears doubtful whether any of the princes could declare one of their own ports open to foreign commerce without imperial sanction, still we were told that the Taikoon might be resisted by the local authorities if he assumed in the initiative upon such a point. The five imperial, or reserved provinces, are supposed to support the expenses of the Taikoon and Mikado’s Courts; but the various princes all contribute in rich presents, which are duly acknowledged with certain complimentary or honorary distinctions.
In strange contradistinction to China, whence many of their laws and ordinances must have been derived, all rank and office in Japan is hereditary, and the old feudal system of Western Europe exists to-day in a well governed and powerful empire on exactly the opposite side of the globe. In Japan we have rough, strong-handed justice without what we should term liberty; but still the people of that country are a vast deal better governed, better protected, the laws better enforced, the public and private reputation of its officers and servants stand far higher, and a much better condition of social and moral polity exists, under the rule of the Taikoon and his princes, than can anywhere be found amongst the court, mandarins, or masses of China. The results of the two systems pursued in China and Japan have brought the former to decay, both politically and morally speaking, and given to the latter stability, prosperity, and a strong government. In both countries the systems have been worked out for centuries; the results are curious, and should be instructive.
In the absence of a representative system to assist the ruler in governing the state, the Taikoon in Yedo can only act through his council, elected from the great feudal princes of the empire and a proportion of a second class of the nobility who hold their letters by rendition of military service to either the Emperor or to the princes. This second class it is which fills all the offices of governors, generals, admirals and judges throughout the empire; and they thus bring into the Imperial Council a vast amount of practical knowledge as to the general condition and wants of the various portions of the empire. The acts of Taikoon and council can only become lawful when confirmed by the spiritual authority emanating from the Dairii, or Council of the Mikado, whilst over all hang the ancient laws and customs as a safeguard for the state and the community at large. The great secret of Japanese government—and, after all, it is that of all good government—is to possess perfect information; and to ensure this they have instituted a system the most extraordinary the world has ever seen, a system of reporting based upon mutual responsibility. Every man is responsible for some one else’s good conduct and obedience to the law. Every man, therefore, makes a note of his neighbour’s acts, and his neighbour takes notes for a similar reason.