Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Japan. 1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Constitution of the Empire of Japan. Tokio, 1889. General Outlines of Education in Japan. Tokio, 1884. Foreign Office Reports. Annual Series and Miscellaneous Series. S. London. Résumé statistique de l'empire du Japon. Annual. Tokio. Returns of the Foreign Commerce and Trade of Japan for the year 1894. Tokio, 1895. Annual Statement of the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions. Imp. 4. London. 2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Adams (F. O.), History of Japan, from the earliest period to the present time. 2 vols. S. London, 1875. Alcock (Sir Rutherford), The Capital of the Tycoon; a Narrative of a three years' Residence in Japan. 2 vols. 8. London, 1863. Arnold (Sir Edwin), Seas and Lands. 2 vols. London, 1891. Japonica: Essays on Japan. 8. London, 1892. Batchelor (John), The Ainu of Japan. 8. London, 1892. Bickersteth (M. J.), Japan as we saw it. 8. London, 1893. London, 1880. Caron, Account of Japan (1635). In Vol. VII. of Pinkerton's Collection. 4. London, 1811. Chamberlaine (B. H.), Things Japanese, 2nd ed. 8. London, 1892. Dixon (W. G.), The Land of the Morning. Edinburgh, 1882. Gleanings from Japan. 8. Edinburgh, 1889. Griffis (W. E.), The Religions of Japan. 8. London, 1895. Harris (Townsend), First American Envoy to Japan. [Journals.] 8. London, 1895. Heine (W.), Japan: Beiträge zur Kenntniss des Landes und seiner Bewohner. Fol. Leipzig, 1873. London, 1893. 2 vols. 8. London, 1894. Paris, 1893. Landor (A. H. Savage), Alone with the Hairy Ainu. Lane-Poole (Stanley), Life of Sir Harry Parkes, K.C.B. Layrle (J.), La Restauration impériale au Japon. 8. Leupe (P. A.), Reise van Maarten Gerritz-Uries in 1643 naar net noorden en oosten van Japan. 8. Amsterdam, 1858. Metchnikoff (L.), Empire Japonais. Geneva, 1881. Murray's Handbook for Japan. By B. H. Chamberlain and W. B. Mason. 4th ed. 8. London, 1895. Murray (D.), Japan, in "Story of the Nations" Series. 8. London, 1894 Norman (H.), The Real Japan. London, 1892. The Peoples and Politics of the Far East. 8. London, 1895. Reclus (Elisée), Géographie universelle. Vol. VII. L'Asie orientale. Paris, 1882. Rein (Dr. J.), Japan nach Reisen und Studien. Vol. I. 1880. Vol. II. 1886. Siebold (Ph. Franz von), Nippon: Archiv zur Beschreibung von Japan. 8. Leyden, 1834-37. Sladen (D. B. W.), The Japs at Home. 8. London, 1892. Taylor (B.), Japan in our Day. 8. New York, 1871. Titsingh (Isaac), Nipon o dai itsi ran, ou annales des empereurs du Japon. Ouvr. corr. sur l'original japonais-chinois par M. J. Klaproth. 4. Paris, 1834. Tristram (Canon), Rambles in Japan. 8. London, 1895. Ussile (J.), A travers le Japon. Paris, 1893. Vladimir, The China-Japanese War. London, 1895. Wüllerstorf-Urbair (Baron von), Reise der oesterreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859. Beschreibender Theil von Dr. Karl v. Scherzer. 2 vols. 8. Vienna, 1865. Younghusband (G. J.), On Short Leave to Japan. 8. London, 1894. LIBERIA. (UNITED STATES OF LIBERIA.) Constitution and Government. THE Constitution of the Republic of Liberia is on the model of that of the United States of America. The executive is vested in a President, and the legislative power in a parliament of two houses, called the Senate and the House of Representatives. The President and the House of Representatives are elected for two years, and the Senate for four years. There are 13 members of the Lower House, and 8 of the Upper House. The President must be thirty-five years of age, and have real property to the value of 600 dollars, or 1201. President of Liberia.-Joseph James Cheeseman. The President is assisted in his executive function by five ministers—the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of the Interior, the Attorney-General, and the Postmaster-General. Area and Population. Liberia has about 500 miles of coast line, and extends back 200 miles on an average, with an area of about 14,360 square miles. The total population is estimated to number 1,068,000, all of the African race, and of which number 18,000 are Americo-Liberians, and the remaining 1,050,000 aboriginal inhabitants. Monrovia, the capital, has an estimated population (1891) of 5,000. Other towns are Robertsport, 1,200; Buchnam and Edma, 5,000; and Harper, 3,000, with suburbs, 8,550. For defence every citizen from 16 to 50 years of age capable of bearing arms is liable to serve, and in 1892 a small steel gunboat of 150 tons, armed with 4 Nordenfeldt quick-firing guns, was built for the Republic. Finance. For 1883 the revenue was officially returned at 34,8027., and expenditure at 31,4937.; for 1884, revenue 38,000l., expenditure 32,5007.; and for 1885. revenue 40,0007., and expenditure 32,5007. For 1888 the revenue was esti mated at 35,0007., and expenditure 33,000. The principal part of the revenue is derived from customs duties, while the expenditure embraces chiefly the cost of the general administration. A debt of £100,000 at 7 per cent. was contracted in 1871; of this the interest, unpaid since August, 1874, amounts to £147,000. Commerce. The principal exports are coffee, palm oil, palm nuts, cocoa, sugar, arrowroot, ivory, hides. The exports and imports combined probably do not exceed 500,000. The quantity of coffee exported in 1889 reached one million pounds, one half of which went to Germany. There are no statistics regarding the extent of the commercial relations of the Republic with the United Kingdom, the 'Annual Statement of Trade' issued by the Board of Trade not mentioning Liberia, but only 'Western Coast of Africa' (excluding the British and other colonies, but including, prior to 1891, the Congo Free State and the Niger Protectorate). The value of the trade thus indicated was as follows in five years: The chief articles of import from Western Africa to Great Britain in 1894 were palm oil of the value of 32,969.; nuts, 14,0351.; caoutchouc, 24,5351.; ivory, 11,7127. The British exports to Western Africa consist mainly of cotton manufactures, of the value of 129,6627. in 1894. Money, Weights, and Measures. The money chiefly used is that of Great Britain, but accounts are kept generally in American dollars and cents. There is a large paper currency. Gold is bought and sold by Usanos, 314.76 English troy grain, each of 16 Akis. The Weights and measures are mostly British. In the trade with the interior of Africa, the Ardeb is the chief measure of capacity for dry goods. Gondar Ardeb contains 10 Madegas, or 120 Uckieh, or 1,440 Dirhems, and is equal to 7.7473 British imperial pints. The Kuba is the chief liquid measure; it is equal to 1.7887 British imperial pint. Diplomatic and Consular Representatives. 1. OF LIBERIA IN GREAT BRITAIN. Envoy and Minister.-Edward Wilmot Blyden, accredited May 14, 1892. Consul-General. -Henry Hayman. There are Consuls in London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Hull Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Southampton, Swansea. 2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN LIBERIA. Consul.-Colonel F. Cardew, C. M.G., Governor of Sierra Leone. Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Liberia. 1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION. Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions. Imp. 4. London. 2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Blyden (E. W.), Christianity, Islam, and the Negro Race. London, 1887. Leipzig, 1858. Die Negerrepublic Liberia, in 'Unsere Zeit, Vol. III. 8. Johnston (Keith), Africa. London, 1882. Ritter (Karl), Begründung und gegenwärtige Zustände der Republic Liberia, in Zeitschrift für allgemeine Erdkunde,' Vol. I. 8. Leipzig, 1853. Schwarz (Dr. B.), Einiges über das interne Leben der Eingebornen Liberias, 'Deutsche Kolonialzeitung,' Dec. 15, 1887. Berlin. Stockwell (G. S.), The Republic of Liberia: its Geography, Climate, Soil, and Productions. With a history of its early settlement. 12. New York, 1868. Wauwermans (Colonel H.), Liberia, histoire de la fondation d'un état nègre libre. Brussels, 1885. Wilson (J.), Western Africa. 8. London, 1856. LUXEMBURG. Reigning Grand-duke.-Adolf, Duke of Nassau, born July 24, 1817, married, April 23, 1851, to Adelaide, Princess of Anhalt; succeeded November 23, 1890, on the death of King Willem III. of the Netherlands, who was also Grand-duke of Luxemburg. Offspring.-1. Prince Wilhelm, born April 22, 1852; married June 21, 1893, to Marie Anne, daughter of Miguel, Duke of Braganza; issue, Princess Marie, born June 14, 1894. II. Princess Hilda, born November 5, 1864; married September 20, 1885, to Frederick, son of the Grand Duke of Baden. The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg was included from 1815 to 1866 in the dissolved Germanic Confederation. There is a Chamber of Deputies in the Grand Duchy of 45 members, elected directly by the cantons for six years, the half renewed every three years. By the Treaty of London, 1867, Luxemburg is declared neutral territory. It has an area of 998 square miles, and a population (Dec. 1, 1890) of 211,088 (105,419 males and 105,669 females), or 212 inhabitants to the square mile. The population is Catholic, save 1,058 Protestants, 1,009 Jews, and 100 belonging to other sects. The chief town, Luxemburg, has 18, 187 inhabitants. The revenue for 1893 was 10,159, 498 francs, and expenditure 8,573,271 francs. In the budget estimates for 1895 the revenue is set down at 9,429,300 francs, and the expenditure at 8,837,765 francs. The debt consisting of loans, mainly for the construction of railways, was, in 1893, converted into a single loan of 12,000,000 francs at 3 per cent. For commercial purposes Luxemburg is included in the German Zollverein. There are 270 miles of railway, 1,083 miles of telegraph wire, and 84 post-offices in the Grand Duchy. Books of Reference. Coster (J.), Geschichte der Festung Luxemburg. 8. Luxemburg, 1869. Luxemburg, 1867. Bussum, 1892. MEXICO. (REPÚBLICA MEXICANA.) Constitution and Government. THE present Constitution of Mexico bears date February 5, 1857, with subsequent modifications down to October 1887. By its terms Mexico is declared a federative republic, divided into States -19 at the outset, but at present 27 in number, with 2 territories and the Federal District-each of which has a right to manage its own local affairs, while the whole are bound together in one body politic by fundamental and constitutional laws. The powers of the supreme Government are divided into three branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative power is vested in a Congress consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate, and the executive in a President. Representatives elected by the suffrage of all respectable male adults, at the rate of one member for 40,000 inhabitants, hold their places for two years. The qualifications requisite are, to be twenty-five years of age, and a resident in the State. The Senate consists of fiftysix members, two for each State, of at least thirty years of age, who are returned in the same manner as the deputies. The members of both Houses receive salaries of 3,000 dollars a year. The President is elected by electors popularly chosen in a general election, holds office for four years, and, according to an amendment of the Constitution in 1887, may be elected for two consecutive terms of four years each. In the event of a vacancy in the presidency otherwise than by lapse of time, the succession is vested in the President and Vice-President of the Senate and in the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Congress successively. Congress has to meet annually from April 1 to May 30, and from September 16 to December 15, and a permanent committee of both Houses sits during the recesses. President of the Republic.-General D. Porfirio Diaz; first elected in 1876; present term, December 1, 1892, to November 30, 1896. The administration is carried on, under the direction of the President and a Council, by seven Secretaries of State, heads of the Departments of :-1. Foreign Affairs; 2. Interior; 3. Justice and Public Instruction; 4. Fomento, Colonisation and Industry. 5. Communications and Public Works; 6. Finance and Public Credit. 7. War and Marine. B |