Yedo and Peking

"THE Empire of Japan has been all but closed to the inhabitants of other nations for more than two hundred years. Except a few Dutch and Chinese, who were kept almost like prisoners at Nagasaki, no foreigners have been allowed to reside or trade in the country since about the year 1636.... The news of the success which attended the English and French forces in the earlier part of the late war with China was quickly wafted across the "Eastern Sea" to Yedo, and, doubtless, had no little effect in inducing the Tycoon and his Ministers (in an evil hour for them) to open their country to foreign intercourse. It is to be hoped that this re-entry into the great family of nations will not bring on those dissensions and wars which marked the period between 1560 and 1636, when the experiment was last tried; for it is well known that, ever since foreigners were expelled from Japan, 'the land has had peace.' "