The Press.
London, England, 1857-03-14 00:00:00

FOR SUPPORTING LORD PALMERSTON-CONTRIBUTED BY

44 TAE T------T."

1. Because he was a member of the Government
which introduced the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill.
2. Because he has appointed four Low Church
bishops.
3. Because he is the idol of " The Record."
4. Because he was so polite to Sergeant Shee on
the question of Tenant Right.
5. Because he has got all the patronage of the
Crown to give away.

A MODEST JOB is at this moment being perpetrated,
we suspect, by Mr. Wilson of the Treasury. The
Euphrates Valley Railway scheme (believed to be at
the bottom of the Persian war) has received great
support from the Government. The advantages of
the scheme are, principally, that the line of railway
will traverse 1,000 miles of country in the possession
of independent tribes of Arabs; that it will require
some 15,000 cavalry in military possession of the
country to secure the freedom of transit, and sub
sidies to the Arab tribes not to attack the cavalry or
pull up the rails; in a word, its advantages are so
great, that peace has been made with Persia without
any special reference to the plan, and that the rail-
way itself as a transit route is virtually adjourned
sine die. But it' the Government cannot get their
railway; they are determined to have their telegraph,
and so they have subsidised the Euphrates Company
with 12,5001. a year for the overland port►on
of a telegraph, in a country where, from the
opposition of the inhabitants and the impossibility to
secure the line from ►nterruption, a railway is im-
practicable. What distinction exists between tele•
graph wires and posts and a line of rails which,
under the circumstances, renders the erection of the
one practicable and secure, and the laying down of
the other impracticable and unsafe, perhaps Mr.
Wilson will tell bi§ constituents at Westbury, op
Devonvort. •

MARCH 14, 1857.

if ittraturt.

The Kingdom and People of Siam. With a
Narrative of the Mission to that Country
in 1855. By Sir John Bowling,. Two Vols.
London : J. W. Parker and Son.
HOWEVER widely opinions may vary as to Sir
John Bowling's conduct at Canton, we appi e-
bend that there will be perfect agreement as
to the merit and usefulness of his account of
Siam, just published. It is not indeed free
from faults as a literary production. It bears
many marks of haste and carelessness ; it is
disfigured by unnecessary repetitions ; and it
consists to a great extent of extracts from
previous works, which, if published at all,
might have been included among the appen-
dices. But on the other hand the account of
Siam is so full and interesting, and includes
so much information on the present state of
that kingdom, of its rulers and people, that it
deserves, and we have no doubt will receive,
a warm welcome from all classes of readers.
The personal character of the author appears
tp advantage in this work. He was sent to
Siam in March, 1855, on a special mission to
conclude a commercial treaty with the King.
12'..0m first to last he appears to have been
singularly fortunate. A treaty between England
and Siam hail been concluded by Captain
Burney in 1820 ; but some of its conditions
were unsatisfactory, and others had been
infringed by the Siamese Government. The
mission of Sir James Brooke in 1850 was com-
pletely unsuccessful. It was the good fortune
of Sir John Bowriug to meet with a most
favourable reception, and to be able to say :
In the treaty I concluded with Siam, every advantage
obtained by Captain Burney was re-asserted and confirmed ;
securities against the infringements of the treaty were
obtained; and many points were conceded by the Siamese
to which Captain Burney was not able to obtain their
consent.
The treaty, with accompanying documents,
is inserted at full length, and so far as we can
judge appears to be eminently successful.
Every part of the author's narrative indicates
him to be a man of humane sentiment. He
speaks with generous warmth of the many
admirable points in the Siamese character; and
when he has occasion to speak of the Chinese,
who seem to form nearly one-half of the total
population of Siam, he praises their industry,
orderly habits, and mildness. Nearly all the
active trade of Siam is in their hands, and
their affection for their children is especially
noted:—
That strong parental affection which has been remarked
as one of the characteristic virtues of the Chinese is almost
invariably exhibited. Fathers are constantly playing with
and carrying about their children ; encouraging their
gambols, teaching them to observe, pleased when they are
noticed by strangers, and generally deeming their children
objects of pride and pleasure. With rare exceptions,
the Siamese women are well treated by their Chinese
husbands.
Of their industry it is said :
I believe there is no class of settlers who, under proper
control, are so likely to be useful—that the very quality,
the passion for acquiring wealth, which leads them to
dare all danger and difficulty, is a most valuable recom-
mendation. Their own habits of subordination—their
inborn and inbred respect for authority—their gregarious
spirit, which drives them into associations of every sore,
private and public, praiseVrthy and pernicious—only
require a thorough knowledge of their character to be
turned to the best account.
There is nothing in the whole work to in-
dicate that the author would willingly have
originated those hostilities which have already
been so calamitous to Canton. He was, how-
ever, accompanied in his mission by the Mr.
Parkes who took a prominent part in the
Canto' dispute; and it is not difficult to see
that this gentleman exercised great influence
Over Sir John's mind, and prompted him to
insist on points of etiquette which, but for the
e.x.treme good sense and good temper of the
ha!ig of Siam, might have disconcerted the
objects of the mission. When the question
was raised with what ceremonies the reception
should take place, the author writes in his
personal narrative :
Discussions have taken place as to the mode of recep•
t len, and Parkes very properly insists that the same ceremonial
+.holl take place as when the Ambassador of Louis XII%
arrived. They slid they hail no records, but wished to
receive me as the envoys of Cochin China, Birmah, and
other Asiatic sovereigns have been received. I did net