This is the latest notice of the animal in question, and like most of the preceding ones, fails in one important particular, that the writer does not describe what he saw himself. If the information of major Latter was founded in truth, and its credibility cannot, apparently, will be contested, though the transmission of a single horn does not prove anything, it is singular that seventeen years should have elapsed, and nothing, so far as we know, been seen of the Tibetan tso'po by Hodgson, Csoma de Körös, or any of the other recent travelers in Central Asia. A solution has been proposed for the representations upon the pryramids, and the unicorn of Southern Africa, by showing how the oryx, when viewed in a certain position, presents only one horn; and that its fierceness and fleetness also answered other particulars mentioned concerning the unicorn. But this mode of obviating the difficulty goes on the supposition that the oryx was so rare as not to be often seen, and never to have been handled, both which notions are erroneous; and besides these, there are other difficulties. There is, however, apart from all theory on the subject, something in the almost universal credence that has been given to the existence of a one borned cervine or equine animal, which is in itself no mean argument, that at some period it has existed. The giraffe and gnu, though mentioned by the ancients, were deemed fabulous until rediscovered in comparatively modern times; and the stories of the seaserpent, sea-ape, and some other aquatic animals are not yet satisfactorily cleared up. Among the witnesses which we have cited in reference to the unicorn, whose several statements could by the least probability have been known to each other, there runs a striking uniformity, sufficient to identify the animal. It has been urged against the possible existence of the unicorn, that the bones of the forehead being solid, prevent the growth of a horn; but this objection is grounded only on our present knowledge and usual experience, which are not very stable foundations in these days of investigation.. A horn or horny secretion might as well proceed out of the crown as from the end of the nose. Besides, among birds, we have an instance in the Palamedea of a real horn proceeding out the head, which serves it as a means of defence. And among cetaceous animals, the narwhal presents a familiar instance of one horn developed at the expense of the other; which we suspect will be found to be the case in the present instance, should the unicorn ever be discovered. The argument of analogy against a single horn is thus removed, while at the same time, it is maintained so far as regards the uniformity which runs through nature of having the two halves of the body correspon

dent. It may be that it does not now exist, (though there is still unexplored room enough in Central and Southern Africa for it to roam,) but like the dodo and the blue antelope has become extinct in modern times. There may also have been two species, as the accounts of its existence in Asia are full as credible, and much more ancient, than those proving an African species; while the Cape of Good Hope and China are almost too remote for the range of the same animal.

W.

ART. VI. English intercourse with Japan: a brief sketch of the attempts which have been made to carry on a trade with Japan by the English.

In the brief sketch of Dutch intercourse with Japan, given in a previous article, mention was made of the arrival of William Adams, the first Englishman known to have visited Japan. He no doubt brought with him strong prejudices against the Spaniards and Portuguese, for he had been a master in the navy of the Virgin queen. With the rest of his shipmates, he suffered ill treatment on the first arrival, and this is said to have been aggravated in his case by some injurious representations of the Portuguese. At length he was liberated from confinement, and soon found means to show himself, as Charlevoix calls him, un homme de merite. He built some small vessels after the European model for the seogun, and by these and other services became a favorite at court. The patronage he enjoyed does not seem, however, to have been very splendid, as he besought permission to return home in 1605; and we find him nine years after, second in the English factory at Firando, with a salary of £100 per year. Adams was not allowed to leave Japan on his petition in 1605, but was directed by way of compensation for his involuntary exile to invite the visits of his Dutch and English friends. His letters probably had their weight with the Dutch E. I. Company, now in the first years of its existence, and induced them to send their first ship to Japan in 1609. Three years after this, one of his letters addressed to his countrymen in Java, fell into the hands of captain John Saris, one of the commanders of the English E. I. Company, who acting on its invitations sailed for Firando early in 1613. Captain Saris had letlers of recommendation from king James I., with which he repaired to the court of Gongin at Suruga, and where he was well received.

He subsequently paid his respects to the heir apparent at Yédo, and returned to Firando, with full permission for himself and countrymen to carry on a free trade. Saris then returned to England, leaving Richard Cocks at Firando, as factor for the English Company, where be remained until their establishment was given up in 1623. The interval appears to have been one of considerable trade on British account, the Company sending vessels from England, and employing native junks in traffic with Siam, Lewchew, and other places. From 1614 to 1620, persecution raged almost without intermission against the Catholics, nor were victims wanting in 1622. A part of these last sacrifices may be placed to the account of a conspiracy against the seogun, detected or said to have been detected in that year by the Dutch. The blows aimed at the Portuguese and Spaniards fell in part upon the interests of their rivals, though their persons remained secure. Disappointed in their expectation that the trade with Japan would lead to a better access to China, and thus benefit their general interests, and finding that it was by itself a losing business, the English E. I. Company recalled their factor, and abandoned their establishment at Firando, in 1623.

The footing thus lost was never regained. Indeed, no visit to Japan by English vessels is recorded for half a century after this, except that of the fleet of lord Weddell in 1637. But Desima had already been constructed when this visit took place, and the British fleet was refused access to the prisoners, perhaps because it had touched at Macao on its way. The civil wars of England had long been succeeded by the restoration of Charles II., when the ship Return was sent by the E. I. Company, in 1673, to attempt to reöpen the trade with Japan. On its arrival at Nagasaki, the captain was asked what religion he professed, and how long his master had been married to a Portuguese princess, and if they had any issue. Information as to the fact of this state connection, the Japanese must of course have derived from the Dutch. Inquiry was also made why forty-nine years had been permitted to elapse, and no attempt been made by the English to renew the trade. The answer was, that the greater part of the interval had been passed in civil commotion and foreign wars. Several conferences ensued, which turned chiefly on the Portuguese, and the difference between the English and Portuguese. A month after the arrival of the Return, it was announced on the part of the seogun, "that his subjects could not be permitted to trade with those of a king who had married the daughter of his greatest enemy, and that the English ship must sail with the first fair

wind." The captain then asked liberty to sell his cargo, inasmuch as he had brought it so far, but this also was refused, though the officers themselves said they were very sorry that no trade could be allowed. He was only permitted to pay in merchandise for the supplies he had received. On leaving Nagasaki, after more than three months' stay, he inquired if he might come again, on the demise of the queen. This he was recommended not to do, because “the royal word, like the sweat of the human body, when once escaped, re. ëntered not again." During his whole stay he was harassed with questions, but often surprised to find his inquisitors better acquainted than himself with European news. He seems to have been perfectly right in ascribing his repulse to the invidious suggestions of the Dutch, for it seems hardly credible that the offer of trade should have been refused by the Japanese government for no other reason, and influenced by no other arguments, than the one adduced.

Another century nearly elapsed, when the last expedition of Cook passed down the eastern coasts of Nipon, after the great navigator's death, and decorated several of its capes with English names, which still keep their places on the charts. Twelve years later, 1791, captain Colnet skirted the western shores of the Japanese Archipelago in search of some point where trade might be opened, but was everywhere repulsed by the boats of the coast guard. Wood, water, and other refreshments were, however, furnished him without pay. The year

after captain Colnet's voyage, a select committee of the English E. I. Company, (appointed to take into consideration the British trade to the East Indies,) reported that it could never be an object for Great Britain to carry on a trade with Japan. sion was, that the Japanese were now through the medium of the Chinese. England to Japan, the defalcation in up in bullion or by drafts on Bengal.

The argument for this conclusupplied with British woollens Were these sent direct from exports to China must be made The Japanese copper received

We have obtained a few additional items respecting the voyage of captain Colnet from Thomas Beate esq. of Macao, who accompanied the vessel. "The Argonaut was a merchantman of 400 tons and upwards, employed in the fur trade with the northwest coast of America, and was sent to Japan with an assortment of peltries to endeavor to opeir a trade. She coasted along the northwestern shores of Kinsin, guided by such Dutch charts as could be obtained, which, however proved to be so erroneous as to induce the idea that they were simulated on purpose to mislead. She passed near Tsusi-sima, but anchored at only one port, where she was surrounded by boats full of arms and closely guarded from all intercourse with the people on shore. The officers supplied her with water and other refreshments, but requested the captain to begɔone, refusing all proposals to trade. One or two junks were approached, but their crews appeared to be much alarmed, and were solicitous to avoid all intercourse. After making several inef fectual attempts to trade, the Argonaut left the coasts, and stood over to Corea."

in return for these woollens, to whatever market it might be sent, would interfere with the produce of the British mines. The result would be, as predicted by these sage economists, "the exchange of our woollens for copper which we have in abundance, instead of for teas which we have not, and will always be required." The committee add, "supposing that, woollens, lead, and curiosities for a cargo to Japan could be made up to £8000, copper to the value of £30,000 or £32,000 must be received in payment, to the prejudice of our mines. Thus Great Britain would gain on the one hand £8000 while the loss on the other would be £32,000." How happy would the merchant of the present day be to transfer to his own leger this statement of profit and loss, so deprecated by the honorable committee.

In 1796, captain Broughton, in H. B. M. schooner Providence, visited the Japanese islands for the purpose of discovery, and passed sometime in surveying and refitting on the coasts of Yésso or Matsumai. He was kindly treated, supplied with refreshments, and even boarded by fishing boats as far south as the bay of Yédo. Being in a public vessel, he of course made no attempt to open a trade. In 1803, the ship Frederick was sent to Nagasaki from Calcutta with a valuable cargo of British goods. Captain Torrey, who commanded her, was refused admittance to the harbor, and required to leave the roads in twenty-four hours. The merchants of Calcutta were probably led to make this attempt by the representations of M. Titsingh, who, as Dutch resident at Chinsurah, had been their neighbor for many years. This gentleman seems always to have looked back to Japan and to his stay there with the fondness so often felt toward an old residence, the discomforts of which are forgotten, while the agreeable recollections still remain.

In 1808, two years after Louis Bonaparte had been crowned king of Holland, the British frigate Phæton, captain Pellew, entered the harbor of Nagasaki in search of Dutch ships, with orders to "sink, burn and destroy." An accidental rencontre took place on her being boarded by the Japanese officers, accompanied by two of the Dutch factory, and the two gentlemen were detained for a short time as prisoners of war. Notwithstanding this, the governor of Nagasaki obeyed the requisition, and furnished the ship with needed supplies. Opposite accounts are given of the effect of these proceedings of Pellew; one is, that everything was yielded at his demand; and the other, that preparations were in progress which would have cut off the frigate, had she not hastily put to sea. According to the Dutch version, given by M. Doeff, this unfortunate occurance had no resul