judged expedient to assume an appearance of doubt, in order to furnish a plausible pretence for liberating the present pri soners without an open violation of their laws. It is a maxim in our law-books that "no fiction shall extend to work an injury, its proper operation being to prevent a mischief or to remedy an inconvenience that might result from the general rule of law. In fictione juris, semper subsistit æquitas." The fictitious opinion adopted by the Japanese, being for the purpose of preventing severity, came within this rule, and should not have been censured as diplomatic equivocation.'

The Japanese rescript then proceeds;

"In our country, the Christian religion is strictly prohibited, and European vessels are not suffered to enter any Japanese harbour except Nangasaki. This law has not been this year enforced át Kunaschier, because we wished to communicate with your countrymen, and orders have been issued to prevent firing against the vessel which is expected; but all that may henceforth present themselves will be driven back by cannon-balls. Bear in mind this declaration; and you cannot complain if at any future period you should experience a misfortune in consequence of your disregard of it. Among us there exists this law; if any European, residing in Japan, should attempt to teach our people the Christian faith, he shall undergo a severe punishment; and shall not be restored to his native country. As you, however, have not attempted so to do, you will accordingly be permitted to return home. Think well on this.

"Our countrymen wish to carry on no commerce with foreign lands; for we know no want of necessary things. Though foreigners are permitted to trade at Nangasaki, even to that harbour only those are admitted with whom we have for a long period maintained relations; and we do not trade with them for the sake of gain, but for other important objects. In future, therefore, it will be better to say no more about a commercial connection."

This paper was delivered to the Russians in the beginning of October, 1813, and its contents were exactly such as might reasonably have been expected from all which had passed; that is to say, that the disavowal of the Russian government having authorized the proceedings of Chwostoff should obtain the liberation of the prisoners, and that the haughty and fierce language used in the negotiation should make the Japanese desire to avoid future communication with them.

*To procure various medicinal roots, which do not grow in Japan, and to be informed of the events passing in other nations, are two of the important objects here alluded to.

It

It is among the ordinances in the Japanese system of seclusion, that any one of them who has resided in a foreign land is consequently incapacitated from serving the state: as also, that no foreigner shall be naturalized, or become a denizen of Japan. The unfortunate Mr. Moor, who offered himself, was rejected; and the apprehension that he had incurred disgrace, by endeavouring to separate his lot from that of his companions, so overcame him that he shot himself.

We will conclude this long article with a few reflections, to which the singular condition of the Japanese nation naturally gives birth.—Japan has been regarded as the geographical counterpart of Great Britain with respect to the symmetrical harmony of the old continent, the one being situated nearly in like manner on the north-west, as the other on the north-east. The difference in their latitudes is rather too great for this parallel: but, with better reason, the indus trious and enterprizing spirit of the people of Japan is sup posed to give them a nearer resemblance to the inhabitants of Europe than any other nation of the East. Most of the Europeans, with whom they have hitherto had intercourse, have been actuated either by an usurping or a monopolizing spirit, and have been eager to advance their own individual interest or the interests of their particular nation or sect. The intrigues of the Portuguese to keep the Spaniards from Japan, of one set of priests to keep out another, and of the Dutch for the exclusion of all Europeans except themselves, must have made the Japanese consider the natives of Europe as an extraordinarily selfish race; and probably they have hence been induced to feel little regret in abstaining from all communication with them, although they have constantly shewn high respect for European knowlege and ingenuity.

The first interest of every people is their security against foreign attempts. If it were not inconsistent with this secu rity, the retired and comparatively innocent and uncorrupt state of society in Japan would be one of the most happy in human existence: but it appears as if it were meant, in the creation of this world, that all the parts should have such mutual dependence as to induce a necessity for connection. The consequences to be apprehended from the Japanese excluding themselves from the rest of the world, and the rest of the world from having communication with them, are that they must be kept in ignorance of many things that are known to other nations, and may thus be rendered in some degree defenceless. While other countries have been advancing in knowlege and increasing in power, they have now. remained during more than two centuries in a stagnant

state,

state, shut out from all improvement. In all warfare, a consciousness of ignorance must create apprehension, and a consciousness of superior knowlege give confidence; and these feelings, joined to the superiority of European arms, would cause a body of disciplined European troops to be an overmatch for three times the number of Japanese. This danger can be obviated only by a free communication with other empires.

As the diminished power of the Spaniards and Portuguese, and the inert state of missionary-influence in the East, are circumstances not unknown to the Japanese, they inust be convinced that they have no longer reason to apprehend danger to their independence, or any renewal of attempts with that object, from those quarters; and therefore it is not merely possible, but we think that it might without much difficulty be contrived, to make the Japanese government comprehend the danger to themselves of persevering longer in their present system. An address for this purpose should advise them to open their ports, not partially to ships of this or that nation, but generally to those of every people against whom they were not in hostility; and to give encouragement for their own ships in like manner to have commerce with other countries. Such measures would obtain for Japan her proper weight among the nations of the world, and would constitute her best protection.

It might also be practicable to have such an address written in the Japanese language: but, whether it was composed in that tongue or in any other which they could translate, it would be a striking novelty to them to receive an embassy or a visit from Europeans, for a purpose to which no other motive could be assigned than a regard for general benefit. We say general benefit, because probity and temperance, though not in an equal degree with licentiousness, communicate themselves by example.

say,

In answer to the question, in what manner and by whom could such a mission be sent to Japan? we would With much propriety by a Sovereign Prince, or by some benevolent society: but, we think, with most probability of effect by the former. If this worthy experiment shall ever be made, it will be desirable that no commercial advantage or favour of any kind should be sought; and that no considerations of an interested nature should be allowed, even in the most distant degree, to enter into the motives for promoting such an undertaking. The commander of the ship employed should therefore be instructed not to enter, but to anchor without, the port of Nangasaki; to decline a

supply

supply of provisions, or other presents; and, as soon as he could be satisfied that his dispatch was in a proper channel for being delivered, to weigh anchor and entirely depart.

ART. IV. A Botanical Description of British Plants, in the Midland Counties, particularly of those in the Neighbourhood of Alcester; with occasional Notes and Observations; to which is prefixed a short Introduction to the Study of Botany, and to the Knowledge of the principal Natural Orders. By T. Purton, Surgeon, Alcester. Embellished with Eight coloured Engravings, by James Sowerby, F.L.S. Crown 8vo. 2 Vols. pp. 795. 11. Boards. Longman and Co. 1817.

WE

E have occasionally stated our opinion of the advantages obviously resulting to the improvement of botanical knowlege from the publication of provincial Floras: but the plan of most of the works of this description has usually been limited to a bare enumeration of species and varieties, with their respective habitats; interspersed with such remarks as the observation of the author has led him to make. The Midland Flora now before us, however, is constructed on a more exten-, sive plan, which will no doubt render it peculiarly valuable to the botanists residing in the counties to which its pages refer. Besides a short introduction to botany, of which we shall speak hereafter, the author has given an excellent view of the generic and specific characters of the plants of the midland district; and, independently of its accuracy, we believe that it is very complete at least, such is the opinion which our own information on this subject induces us to form. In the first 23 classes, we remarked little novelty; indeed, Mr. Purton seems on the whole rather averse to the introduction of new names and new arrangements, though sanctioned by the recommendation of Mr. Brown, and of the learned and elegant author of the Flora Britannica. Thus he retains the names Sison Inundatum, Hyacinthus non scriptus, Nymphæa Lutea, Euphrasia Odontites, Valantia Cruciata, and continues to consider Cheiranthus Cheri as the common Wallflower. Holcus and Parietaria with him still hold their places in the class Polygamia: he declines to admit Apargia and Cnicus; and he preserves the old arrangement of Carduus, Serratula, and of the interesting tribe of Orchis, which Mr. Brown has so admirably elucidated.

1

In the class Cryptogamia, which is now the favourite field of the enthusiastic lovers of the science, Mr. Purton exhibits gratifying proofs of diligent and successful research; and, in this department, he has presented a catalogue incomparably

richer than we had expected to receive from the district in which he resides. Of the Pilularia Globulifera, he observes that he found it at Coleshill-pool in Warwickshire, covering the shore to a great extent; and he then goes on to remark; • This must be the rarest of our indigenous plants, as it is not mentioned in the Cambridge, Oxford, or Bedford Floras; nor is it noticed as a Warwickshire plant in that accurate and laborious work, Dr. Withering's Botanical Arrangement. It shews how readily it may be overlooked, as such quantities grow directly in the neighbourhood of many eminent botanists, who have been for years exploring the very spot. (P. 520.) Two very beautiful figures of the Riccia Glauca are given; executed by Sowerby from drawings by Miss Purton. The specific character of this plant is as follows; Leaves smooth, channelled, 2-lobed, bluntish, crenate, glaucous. Capsules towards the base. Seeds pointed at each end.' (P. 573.) The following observation is added: Last autumn must have been particularly favourable to the production of this plant, or I should have found it before. The figures in the English Botany do not in the least resemble any of my specimens; but the description is tolerably correct. The annexed figure is certainly a very accurate delineation of the plant. It grows in a circular form singly, or in patches; each lobe of the frond, in the circumference, is broad, with a scolloped edge; turning inwards. It is attached firmly to the ground by radical fibres.'

The Agaricus Cantharellus and Agaricus Cantharelloides of Mr. Sowerby are removed by Mr. Purton, and we think on good grounds, to the genus Merulius. He has followed the arrangement of Dr. Withering in regarding Agaricus Conspersus and Agaricus Cinereus as distinct species; and Agaricus Ficoides is, in compliance with the same authority, considered as distinct from A. Flabelliformis. This plant,' says the present writer, surely differs sufficiently from the last described, to entitle it to a place as a distinct species. I know it is considered by great authority as a variety only; but I have watched its progress, and it differs very materially; in the wet state, the former (A. Flabel.) becomes smooth and very much like tanned leather: the latter, on the contrary, changes to that state which gives it the appearance of a candied fig: added to this it is a much larger plant, and is also without the radiated stipes.' (P.658.)-Two beautifully executed figures of Peziza Crispa, from drawings by the same ingenious relative, are inserted: but this plant has been already presented to the public in his English Fungi by Mr. Sowerby, to whom specimens of it were sent in 1810.-Specific character, Sessile, in clus8 ters;