フィラデルフィアにおける小栗忠順の通貨交渉　新聞記事

THE JAPANESE AT PHILADELPHIA.; The News from Japan Its Effect Japanese Doings in Philadelphia visit to the Mine How the Yankees Were Outwitted value of Japanese Coins. COINS OF JAPAN,

Special Correspondence of the New-York Times.

PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, June 13, 1860.

Capt. DUPONT's mind was considerably relieved this morning by receiving an early telegraphic dis-_ patch from New-York, containing a summary of the news in this morning's TIMES. He was much gratified to find that the story of the murder of the Tycoon had dwindled down, first to the assassination of a Prince, and last to the disposal of a couple of Dutch merchants, Without designing any reflection on our Dutch friends, I think I may say that almost everybody here is glad of it. Our New-York Aldermen may rest in peace, and refrain from hari-kari -- they have got a enhance to spend that $30,000.

It is somewhat ludicrous to notice the remarkable knowledge of the Japanese opinions that some people pretend to have From reading the Philadelphia papers, and the dispatches sent, or purporting to be sent, to New York from this city, innocent people might be led to suppose that the Prince Ambassadors had taken the reporters into their special good graces -- thrown off all reserve, and told the knights of the quill all their secret thoughts concerning the news, its effect upon themselves, their mission, and their country, and in short all the points of interest that the most indefatigable and pertinaciously impudent reporter could hope for in his most extravagant expectations. But, your readers may rest assured that nothing of the kind has as yet been done; that if the news has been communicated to the Princes, they have kept “mum” as to what they think of it, that Capt. DUPONT, Capt. LEE and Lieut. PORTER, are too discreet to tell what little they know on the subject, and all the stories about the Ambassadors being “much affected,” in “great trouble,” “exceedingly annoyed,” “much chagrined,” or anything of the kind, are purely fanciful. If the Ambassadors were in that state of mind, I do not think they would let outsiders know it. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that if a Paixhan gun was let off unexpectedly close to SIMME-BUZEN-NO-KAMI’s ear, he wouldn’t mind it more than the pop of a champagne cork. Indeed, I do not think he would mind it so much, for the latter would perhaps appeal to his special personal weakness. I believe the immovable gravity of the three princes has been preserved inviolate-except on the occasion of the Baltimore fireworks, when one of them momentarily forgot himself, and gave vent to an exclamation of surprise. He recovered himself, however, almost instantaneously. The stories about the princes evincing the “greatest interest,” or “the deepest concern,” about anything, are the fabrications of the uninformed or the over-zealous. The princes have the stoicism of the Indian who swallowed a quart of camphene and half a pound of cayenne pepper, without even coughing or sneezing!

The Japanese feature to-day has been their visit to the United States Mint, which I think has pleased them more than anything since their reception by the President. The rapidity with which their movements from the hotel and into the Mint were made, saved them from an unnecessary exposure to the crowd, and Col. SNOWDEN’s excellent arrangements inside gave them an opportunity of viewing in comparative privacy the more important operations. Through the courtesy of Capt. DUPONT, myself and other representatives of the Press secured an early admission, and an excellent opportunity of seeing all that was to be seen. Shortly after the time set, 9 1/2 o’clock, two of the Prince Ambassadors, accompanied by about a dozen of their suite, arrived in charge of Capt. DUPONT and a few members of the Councils’ Committee. They were immediately escorted to the room of Col. SHOWDEN, Director of the Mint, and courteously invited to take seats. Without unnecessary delay, Col. SNOWDEN proceeded to receive them formally. He said he was happy to welcome them to the Mint of the United States. The President had directed that he should explain to them in the fullest manner all the various operations of the Mint as performed in the United States, that they might understand our system of making coins. It would afford him much pleasure to comply with these instructions of the President. Besides giving them a view of the various operations, he would have in their presence some of their own coin melted and assayed, in order that they should fully understand the process, and to set forth for us a full understanding of the currency of their empire, and for them and their Government a full understanding of ours. This would promote a mutual agreement on the subject. He trusted that their Government would be influenced to decide upon the same degree of “fineness” of gold that has been adopted by the United States, and also by other Governments -- the nine-tenths pure metal, and one-tenth alloy of inferior metal. He trusted that this arrangement would be found advantageous to both Governments, and to the commercial interests of both nations.

The Ambassadors replied briefly, acknowledging the kindness of the reception, and assenting to the necessity of regulating the relative value of our national currencies.

Col. SNOWDEN then informed the Ambassadors that he would first give them a view of the general arrangements of the Mint, and subsequently the details of assaying their own coin. He requested the audience to amuse themselves in other parts of the building, but those present, who fortunately did not number over twenty or thirty, seemed to think themselves all individual exceptions, and followed in the train. The Embassy were then shown the operations of melting, refining, assaying, alloying, boiling, cutting,???, weighing, cleaning, polishing, counting, and packing the coin of the United States. They did not express the slightest astonishment at the hogsheads of gold, silver and copper coin, and tons of the precious metals that passed under their notice. They all, however, from the first Prince down to the lowest officer, examined the various operations with intelligent attention, and apparent interest, though the Princes refrained from expressing surprise, or eager curiosity in any degree.

One commendable peculiarity I ought to notice with reference to the females employed in the Mint -- they all behaved themselves far better than the wives and families of our Congressmen, or the fair occupants of our leading hotels wherever the Japanese have been. Throughout the examination of the rooms where the females were employed, there was none of that exhibition of impertinent curiosity and undaunted effrontery that have characterized the ladies heretofore. One of the Naval Commission remarked that he was glad that the Ambassadors had an opportunity to see that we had well-bred ladies, who could also be of some use. Female human nature, however, suffered an irrepressible conflict when it was announced that TOMMY was in the room, and had just gone. The girls of the room where the gold pieces are filed to exactly the proper weight prevailed upon some gentlemen to have TOMMY come back, and back he came, in company with his namesake, Councilman THOMAS, of Philadelphia, for whom he has funned quite an attachment. The two or three favored girls were introduced, and the Japanese beau made his sweetest bow, and soon retired. The disappearance of the Japanese from the room was, however, the occasion of quite a revolution in the demeanor of the girl. They took possession of places at the windows where they thought they could view unobserved the personnel of the Embassy, and their eyes glistened through the chinks, like so many diamonds studding the window-frames.

A propos of TOMMY, let me say, I think his love adventures have become somewhat magnified. Though decidedly good looking, and a pet of the ladies, he is not an Adonis, nor do I believe he is sighing, crying or dying for love. He smiles sweetly on all, and bestows upon one the bouquet he gets from another, In short, TOMMY is something of a male coquette, and, I think, takes too much delight in general admiration to break his heart over the loss of one assortment of crinoline. His hair is just as sleek, his trowsers as unruffled, and his appetite as good as when he landed. Therefore I conclude that TOMMY’s love scrape will not result disastrously to himself. He never forgets his duty to his superiors, and though, as I have said, the son of a Prince, waits until the princes go first, and bows lowly as they pass.

Among other operations illustrated to the Embassy, was that of precipitating silver by pouring nitrate of silver into salt water, separating the silver from the acid instantaneously. Also, the medal-copying machine and scales that weigh a hair! The Ambassadors were also shown the valuable collection of coins of all countries, including those of Japan, and presented, with a set of the American coins: Cent, three cent, five cent, ten cent, quarter dollar, half dollar, silver dollar, gold dollar, quarter eagle, gold three dollars half eagle, eagle and double eagle. These were laid on a velvet cushion surrounded by twenty-three stars, and in closed in a morocco case ornamented with American emblems.

After this general inspection, the Ambassadors were shown to a private room, and the outsiders being requested to retire, the details of melting, refining and assaying their own coins were practically illustrated in their presence. The results of this assay are given in the following, kindly furnished the Press by direction of Mr. SNOWDEN:

Written to explain the Coins in the Collection of the United States Mint, and especially for the Visit of the Japanese Embassy. June 13, 1860.

The coins are of gold, silver, brass, copper and iron.

The principal gold coin is the cobang, of which we have three sizes, according to the changes which have been made within the past sixty years. This coin is of oval shape, very thin, soft and easily bent; it is largely alloyed with silver, but the silver being taken out of the surface by a solvent, the coin looks like fine gold, until it has been a good deal worn. This accounts for the very pale color of the first specimen; and of another, in which we have scratched off part of the surface, to show the true color.

No. 1 is a cobang, supposed to be about sixty years old. It weighs 201 1/2 grains; it is two-thirds gold, one-third silver; or, as we express by thousandths, it is 667 thousandths fine. Its value, including the silver, is $5 95.

No. 2, cobang, coined within a few years past, weighs 174 grams. It is four-sevenths gold, and three-sevenths silver, very nearly; the exact fineness in thousandths being 568. The value, including the silver, is $4 44.

Nos. 3 and 4, cobangs, of very recent date; brought by the Embassy for assay. They are exactly alike, except one small mark. The weight is 138 3/4 grains. Their fineness is about 571 thousandths, which is precisely four-sevenths, and appears to be the definite legal standard. The value, including the silver, is $3 57; without the silver, $3 41.

Nos. 5 and 6, two small rectangular coins, with a gold surface, which (by specific gravity) are about one-third gold. The weight is 25 1/2 grains. Their name and place in the series are not known to us.

No. 7, rectangular coin, is half the weight of the cobang No. 2; but (by specific gravity) contains little more than one-fourth gold; the remainder appears to be silver. This piece, also, is not understood.

No. 8, also rectangular, is called the gold itzebu, is one-fourth the weight of cobang No. 2, and of the same fineness, very nearly. Value $1 11

Nos. 9 and 10, are the new gold itzebu, brought by the Embassy for assay, and are one-fourth of the cobang brought by them. Value 89 1/4 cents.

All the silver coins are rectangular, and rather thick.

No. 11, an old half itzebu, silver, is one of several pieces which were given to an officer of the United States Exploring Expedition, about the year 1840, by some Japanese sailors who had drifted far out into the Pacific Ocean, and were picked up and taken care of. Afterwards, by the wreck of one of our vessels, all the coins were lost, except this one. It was our first specimen of Japanese coin. The weight is 41 grains, and, being near fine silver, is worth a little over 11 cents.

No. 12 is a silver itzebu, coined some years since, weighing 134 1/2 grains, 988 to 990 thousandths fine, and worth 36.9 cents. (Some specimens are fully 37.)

No. 13 weighs 28 1/2 grains, and appears also to be nearly fine; value about 8 cents. Name not known.

No. 14, a new silver itzebu, brought by the Embassy, (cut for assay.) It weighs the same as the old itzebu, 134 1/2 grains, but is 890 thousandths fine, which is near our standard, (900.) Value 33.28 cents.

No. 15, a large, thick piece of brass, oval, and cast, with a square hole in the centre; said to be a piece of “one hundred p’senny.”

No. 16, a copper coin, circular, with a hole in the centre. (“Cash.”‘)

No. 17, an iron coin, circular, with rough edges, and with a hole in the centre.

On the visit of the Japanese to Washington, it will be recollected, they were informed that our mint had discovered a recent depreciation of the value of their country’s coins. They were much pleased at this, and expressed a desire to witness the operation of assaying, which was accordingly provided for them to-day by the President.

Capt. DUPONT says the reason of this alloy of their coin was a pure measure of self-defence. It appears that some shrewd Yankees having discovered that, they valued gold less than we in proportion to silver the Yankees thereupon sent a vessel with $800,000 in silver and exchanged it for gold -- making $350,000 by the operation. The English soon got their eyeteeth cut, and followed suit, so that the Japanese were obliged, in self defence, to reduce the value of their gold coins, to keep their country from being drained of all of them; consequently, the “cobang,” their largest gold coin, has been reduced in value from $5 95 to $3 41 within a few years. So the Yankees were met on their own ground and fairly outwitted. The later cobangs are distinguished by a different number of stars on the edges. I believe two on each edge, instead of three as on the old ones. This last peculiarity was quite new to Mr. H.R. LINDERMAN, the private secretary to Col. SNOWDEN, who was quite courteous to the Press, and he thinks it will be new to the assayer.

Mr. LINDERMAN was so kind as to show me a copy of the medal which the President has ordered struck in honor of the Embassy. The obverse is the bust of Mr. BUCHANAN, with the inscription on the outer circle, “JAMES BUCHANAN, President of the United States,” and on the reverse the inscription, “In commemoration of the first Embassy from Japan to the United State, 1860,” surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves binding an American shield. Thirty-one to be struck in silver, and one hundred in copper.

Mr. LINDERMAN also showed me a copy of the medal struck in commemoration of the collection of Washington coins, made by order of Col. SNOWDEN. The obverse is the Houdon bust of WASHINGTON, surmounting a cabinet of coins, which is inclosed in a railing. The inscription is, “GEORGE WASHINGTON, Born Feb. 22, 1732. Died Dec. 14, 1799.” The reverse contains the inscription, “Washington Cabinet of Medals, inaugurated Feb. 22, 1860.”

The Embassy to-day was invited to visit the Mauchchunk coal region -- the most important of the Lehigh Valley -- by Mr. LEESENRING, the Superintendent of the Lehigh Valley Coal and Navigation Company. Capt. DUPONT thinks it would interest them, from the vast amount of unmined soft coal in Japan. It has not transpired whether the Embassy will accept.

The programme for the remainder of the afternoon consists of the reception of Com. STEWAET and officers of the Army and Navy, and, I believe, a visit to Girard College; but I think I have given enough already for one dose of Japanese. O., JR.

Special Dispatch to the New-York Times.

PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, June 13.

A portion of the Japanese Embassy, consisting of MORITA OKATARO, VARUS GENSIRO and half a dozen others, visited the Gerard College and the Penitentiary this afternoon. The great crowd nearly crushed them, and they begged to be allowed to go home. Luckily the three first princes were not present. Tomorrow the Japanese will witness a balloon ascension’ visit the gas works and receive presents. The Secretary of the Embassy has no sinecure. Invitations to all sorts of places, from barber shops up, keep pouring in. O., JR.