It was about the middle of the sixteenth century that two brothers, descendants from Yoritomo, became rivals for the office of Tiogoon. The princes of the empire took no part with the one or the other. Domestic strife raged, and the end of the contest was the death of both the rival brothers.

The mightiest prince of that day was the Prince of Owari, who, on the death of the brothers, immediately set up for himself as Tiogoon. One of the most sagacious as well as the bravest of his adherents was an obscure man named Hide-yosi or Fide-yosi. His station was so lowly that, even in his own time, his parentage was matter of doubt; but his zeal and talents commended him to the notice of his master, and he became the trusted friend and confidential adviser of the Prince of Owari, who, by his aid, succeeded in being appointed Tiogoon. Men's minds had been wrought to such excitement by the civil strife, that when the prince triumphed over his opponents the reigning Mikado did not dare to breast popular opinion, and therefore conferred on him the office. The new Tiogoon of course rewarded his faithful ally, and conferred on Fide-yosi a high military appointment. Recently, the Prince of Owari was murdered by one who usurped his office; he, in his turn, shared a like fate, and now the hour had come for Fide-yosi. When all was in confusion, he seized upon the office for himself, and so well known were his talents and power, that the frightened Mikado at once, without hesitation, approved and confirmed him in the office, and he took the name of Tayko-sama (the Lord Tayko). With his title thus legitimated, in the confidence of his abilities he trusted to himself for the rest, and has left behind him a name among the most celebrated in the history of Japan.

He was a statesman and a soldier, and displayed on the throne all the energy and ability which had contributed to place him there. He put an end at once to the civil commotions by giving to the opposing princes of the empire work to do in the invasion and conquest of Corea. He was about marching to subdue China when death arrested him, in the year 1598, at the age of sixty-three. The Japanese to this day consider him as one of the ablest men their country has produced. During his reign he made large progress in the work of reducing the sovereignty of the Mikado almost to a shadow; and, enthralling him by more and more burdensome ceremonials, and a most rigorous seclusion,-all under the seemingly loyal pretext of profound deference and respect for his heaven-born authority,-he quietly left him to "wield a barren sceptre."

Tayko-sama left an only son, six years old. To secure him in the succession, his father, on his death-bed, caused him to marry the granddaughter of one of his own most particular friends and counsellors, Tyeyas, Prince of Micava, from whom he obtained a most solemn promise that when the boy should have attained his fifteenth year he would have him recognized as Tiogoon.

Tyeyas proved unfaithful, became Tiogoon himself, and his descendants to this day hold the office, while a veil of mystery covers

up the fate of the wronged son of Tayko. As to the Mikado, Tyeyas pursued the policy of his predecessor, and, depriving him even of the little power which Tayko had left to him in temporals, he reduced the once absolute autocracy which he represented to a mere ecclesiastical supremacy, and brought him down to the utter helplessness and dependance which this day mark his condition. And this is, in brief, the history of events by which Japan has come to present that singular and unique feature in government of one empire simultaneously under two sovereigns.

The residence of the Mikado is at Miako; that of the Tiogoon is at Yeddo: each is surrounded with imperial splendour; the one is monarch de jure, the other de facto. But however absolute may have been the usurped authority of the Tiogoon in the beginning, it has been subsequently very much modified; and certain it is that at this day the rule of the Tiogoon is by no means arbitrary. He cannot do just what he pleases. The laws of the empire reach him as they do the meanest subject. These laws are unalterable, and are exceedingly minute in detail, controlling almost every action of life. The Emperors, both spiritual and secular, are just as much enthralled by them as the humblest man in the kingdom. In times of usurpation or political trouble, they may, in some few instances, have been set at nought, but these are exceptional cases.

There are two prominent features in the Japanese system of government: the one elemental, the other practical, and the two serving as the bases of almost everything else in their polity. The first is feudalism, or something very similar to it; and the second, exhibited in the practical illustration of the government, is a system of checks and balances, founded on an all-pervading secret espionage, ramifying through all classes of society, from the highest to the lowest.

To explain this, we must briefly advert to the several grades of society. We have already spoken of the two Emperors. The Mikado is supreme in rank and nominally recognised as such; but he has not a particle of political power, is not allowed to have troops, and is literally from birth to death shut up at Miako, in his little principality of Kioto; with the revenues of which and the rich presents sent him by the Tiogoon he must be content. Even in his own principality he is governed for, as an independent prince, by some grandee of his court; so that there never lived sovereign with less of sovereign attributes allowed him. But for the tenacity with which the Japanese cling to their ancient usages and laws, the Mikados would, doubtless, have long ceased to form a part of the cumbrous and complicated machinery of government. Formerly it belonged to them to name or appoint the Tiogoon; they may, indeed, nominally have this power, but it is without any real value, as the office of Tiogoon has for a long time been hereditary.

But, politically insignificant as the Mikado is, he is venerated with a respect little if at all inferior to that rendered to the gods themselves. Living in mysterious, though, for the most part, indolent seclusion, he is venerated because he is inaccessible; and is, in truth,

a prisoner, who must find, if he find at all, solace for his confinement in the golden chains and ornamental prison-house of his captivity. No wonder that the abdication of a Mikado is common in Japanese history. As to the Tiogoon, he commands the revenue of the country, has at his disposal an army, and is anything but a prisoner. Once in seven years he makes a visit, surrounded with royal pomp, to the court of his brother sovereign, whom he takes care to keep at all times under the surveillance of unsuspected secret spies. He sends, too, in the intervals between his visits, embassies with rich presents to the shadow king of the holy coast, and receives in turn what he probably deems a valueless bundle of blessings and prayers.

The hereditary classes in society are said to be eight in number; and, except under very peculiar circumstances, no one can leave, through life, the class in which he was born, without a forfeiture of respectability.

Class 1.-These are hereditary vassal princes of the empire.

Class 2.-These are hereditary nobility, below the rank of princes. They hold their lands as fiefs, subject to knight service or the rendition of military service to some of the hereditary princes. If they belong to some of the imperial cities, their military service is due directly to the Tiogoon himself. The number of armed vassals required of them is regulated by the extent of their respective domains. These hereditary nobles have generally sub-vassals on their lands, who are bound to furnish their several quotas of fighting men. Out of this class, governors of provinces, generals, and officers of state are selected.

Class 3.--This includes all the priests of the kingdom; seemingly those of the ancient religion of Japan, Sintoo, as well as of Buddhism. Class 4.-This is composed of the vassal-soldiers furnished by the nobility of class 2.

These four classes are the higher orders of Japanese society, and enjoy certain privileges of dress. They carry two swords, and wear a species of loose petticoat trowsers, which none of lower rank dare to put on.

Class 5.-These constitute the higher portion of the middle classes, such as medical men, government clerks, and other professional men and employés.

Class 6.-Merchants and shopkeepers, who rank low in Japan, no matter what may be their wealth. Any one of the classes above this would be disgraced for ever should he engage in any trade or traffic. The richest men in the empire belong to this class, and yet they are not permitted to spend their money in a luxurious or ostentatious style of living. Sumptuary laws impose restraints which they dare not violate. They are not allowed to wear even the single sword, unless they purchase the privilege by becoming the menial followers of some great lord, at the price of a considerable sum of money.

Class 7.-This is composed of retail dealers, little shopkeepers, pedlers, mechanics, and artisans of all descriptions save one, to be mentioned presently. Painters and other artists belong to this class.

Class 8.-This consists of sailors, fishermen, peasants, and agricultural and day labourers of all kinds. The peasants seem to be a species of serf attached to the soil, like the ancient villein of feudal times, and belong to the landowner. Sometimes they are hired and worked "on shares," the agriculturist paying the proprietor a certain proportion of the crops.

The exception alluded to among mechanics in class 7, is one which is supposed to have originated in one of the superstitions of the Sintoo religion, which tabooed all who had defiled themselves by coming in contact with a dead body. Whether this be the origin of the exception, we know not; but the fact is well established, that tanners, curriers, leather-dressers, and, in short, every one in any way connected with the making or vending of leather, is placed under ban or interdict. Those of this prescribed class cannot dwell in the towns or villages that are occupied by the other classes, they are not even numbered in the census of the population. They dare not enter an inn, tea-house, or any public place of entertainment. If they are travelling and want food or drink, they must wait outside of the wall of the house, and there be served in their own bowl or platter; for no Japanese, not of their own class, would ever touch or use the vessel out of which they had taken food. Out of this class come the public executioners and gaolers throughout the empire. In short, they are shunned like the leper of old.

Before we proceed to speak of the singular system by which these various classes are governed, it is proper to premise that originally the kingdom was subdivided into sixty-six or sixty-eight principalities.

These had been previously independent kingdoms, and were continued, as principalities, under the rule of their respective princes subject, however, to a forfeiture of the rights of the governing family in case of rebellion or treason. This penalty of forfeiture was incurred by many of the reigning princes, and advantage was taken of the circumstance, as often as it occurred, to split the forfeited principalities into fragments; so that, instead of the original number, there are now no less than six hundred and four distinct administrations, including therein, principalities, lordships, imperial provinces, and imperial towns, of which last the Tiogoon himself is the ruling head.

1. There is under the Emperor (Tiogoon) a grand council of state, consisting of thirteen, which governs in the Emperor's name. Of these thirteen, five councillors are taken from the first class we have named, the hereditary princes and vassals of the empire; the remaining eight are taken from the second class, the old nobility below the rank of princes. There seems to be among these a head councillor of state, whose powers and functions are not unlike those of a grand vizier in Turkey. He is called "Governor of the Empire," and all the other councillors are subordinate to him. He decides upon all affairs of moment; has the universal appointing power; receives returns from all the authorities of the empire; may, on appeal, sanction or reverse every sentence of death passed; and, in short, acts for the lay Emperor in all these and some other exercises of sovereignty.

To this grand council, too, belongs the very important power of dethroning the Tiogoon. Important resolutions of the council are always laid before the Emperor, who generally assents without delay or investigation. Should he, however, dissent, a mode of proceeding is pursued which we will describe presently. It is doubtful whether all these high offices are not hereditary; and under these are

2. Inferior state functionaries, in regular and interminable gradations, consisting of lords, guardians of the temples, commissioners of foreign affairs, governors, ministers of police, superintendents of agriculture, &c. No relative of the spiritual sovereign, however, is ever put into any of these offices.

3. The vassal princes still govern the principalities, or such fragments as may be left to them, with an outward show of their former sovereignty; but it is only show. The princes themselves can do nothing without the consent of the Tiogoon and council. And here we find in full development that system of espionage of which we have spoken. The prince himself, besides being surrounded with a multitude of private spies, unknown to him, who watch his domestic as well as public business and doings, has also two official spies appointed by the chief of the grand council, and these, in truth, conduct the administration of the principality. These are known as secretaries, and both are never permitted to reside in the province at the same time. They alternate yearly. The families of both secretaries reside constantly at Yeddo. The secretary who is in the principality, therefore, leaves his family behind him in the capital as a hostage for his fidelity. When his year expires he may rejoin them, and his colleague then, bidding adieu to his household for a year, takes his place. Each secretary, therefore, is a check on the doings of the other; it is the interest of each to report any misféance in the official conduct of the other; in short, they are spies on each other. But the jealous suspicion of the government is not satisfied with even these precautions. The family of the prince himself is made to reside at Yeddo, and he must spend each alternate year there near the Tiogoon.

And this feature of making officials serve in pairs, as spies on each other, we may here remark, once for all, pervades the entire polity of Japan. Everybody is watched. No man knows who are the secret spies around him, even though he may be, and is, acquainted with those that are official. The Emperors themselves are not exempt; viziers, grand councillors, vassal princes, provincial secretaries, all are under the eye of an everlasting unknown police. The wretched system is even extended to the humblest of the citizens. Every city or town is divided into a collection of five families, and every member of such division is personally responsible for the conduct of the others; everything, therefore, which occurs in one of these families, out of the usual course, is instantly reported to the authorities by the other four to save themselves from censure. It has well been said that Japan is a "government of spies."

We have said that the Emperors are not exempt. The Tiogoon