The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-19 00:00:00

SIAM.-A NEW KING.

Our readers will probably remember that, about
two years ago, there appeared in the columns of the
Erpress some genuine letters from a royal prince
of Siam, his highness Chau Fit Moiigkirt. This
prince is the sovereign ruler of Siam, and his acces-
sion to the throne is big with important events to
that kingdom, and promises to confer great advan-
tages to the trade of this country, as there is now a
prospect of g' • • g more than was contemplated by
the unsuccessful eaubassi of Sir Janes Brooke to the
court of the late king. The death of his late ma-
jesty was viewed with much apprehension, as it was
generally believed that a struggle would take place
for the sovereignty and involve the country in a civil
war. Yet notwithstanding the number of aspirants
to the throne all has passed over without bloodshed,
noise or tumult of any kind. In fact the day which
witnessed the demise of his lute majesty (April 3) was
one rather stiller than usual, and a would have been
hard to believe that a king had fallen were it not for
the appearance of the shaved heads of the nobles as
they passed from the palace in their boats. The
evening of the king's death an order was heralded
for every faithful Siamese to manifest his grief by
the usual sign under penalty of fine and scourging.
The next day Bangkok became a gigantic barber's
shop, and multitudes who had cultivated the much
admired tuft with pride and satisfaction mourned in
earnest as the razor removed it, no more to have a
place on the cranium for a year to come. The
aspirants for the throne were two sons of the late
king, and three of his half-brothers, two of whom
were successful competitors, and succeed to the
throne, the elder as king, and the younger as second
or vice-king. This last office has been vacant since
the year 1832. The present monarch is well known
abroad, having made himself popular by his free in-
tercourse with foreigners, his creditable progress in
the English language, and his attention to some of the
modernsciences. 'fheyounger brother or vice-king also
speaks the English language with some degree of
fluency, and has paid considerable attention to the
arts and customs of civilised nations. There is little
doubt but that for the future a different and more
enlightened coarse of policy will be pursued towards
foreigners, indeed we are assured by our correspon-
dent, who is high in the confidence of the King,
that his Majesty has stated that if the English and
American ambassadors should return, they would be
kindly received, and liberal treaties be negotiated
with them, at the same time remarking that their
treatment and want of success in their late visits was
wholly owing to one man.
The peace and quietness which has attended this
change of dynasty, so uncommon amongst eastern
nations, was in a great measure no doubt, owing to
the length of time which the late King lingered,
his illness having commenced sonic time in January
last, his death taking place at .1 a.m. on the 3rd of
April. This circumstance gave the pniklang (chief
minister) an opportunity to make complete ar-
rangements, such as collecting forces, stationing
guards in different parts of the city to keep the
people quiet, and taking other precautions to pre-
vent the other aspirants from an attempt at gaining
the throne by force. Soon after it became apparent
that a change was inevitable, and the number of
aspirants were known, many of the -iamese them-
selves were exceedingly fearful that the King's death
would be followed by anarchy and confusion, and
that blood would be shed.
The following letter from Dr. Bradley, an old and
well-informed resident at Bangkok, and sent to our
Singapore correspondent for publication, will be read
with interest:
Bangkok, April 10,1851.
Mr. Editor.—His Majesty, the late King of Siam, de-
parted this life on the morning of the 3rd inst., Mere break
of day. His Royal Highness 1. 1. Chnnfah Mungkut, was,
early on the sante morning, escorted with all the honours of
state tram his temple to a place which had been specially
fitted up for him within the royal palace walls. Be was
then ceremoniously disrobed of in, priestly garments, and
clothed, not as a king, but as one who waits an appointed
time, or rather a day, which their astrologers say is an aus-
picious day. for his coronation. Some peculiar notitm has
led him and his counsellors to think that it would not be so
well to he crowned in their fifth month as in the sixth.
Hence the day atipuinted for his coronation is the kith day of
i May. It is understood that he will not take possession of
' the royal palace until after his coronation. Ile styles him-
self now the president or acting King of Siam, the name or
title fixed upon to be given him at his coronation is the fol-
lowing—Sotudet l'hra Paramendr Maha Mungkut.
His brother to have titles equally honourable, though
the part he will take in the government must necessarily be
a little lower than that of his elder brother.
A perfect change has taken place in the dynasty of
this kiintdom, with su much peace and quietness, that but
few of the inhabitants of this city knew the hour it hap-
pened until it was all over. None of the missionaries heard
of it until eight or ten hours after it transpired. It is a very
remarkable eircumstance, considering the state of public
feeling but a few weeks since, and the fact that this is a
heathen people, that this great revolution has taken place
without the shedding of a drop of human Mood. All parties
that were iu a menacing and fearful attitude towards each
other have completely submitted to him whom the High
Council of the kingdom has elected to become the late
King's successor, and there seems to be universal satisfac-
tion produced by the change. But a few days be•
fore his (loyal Highness left the priesthood, 1 had
the pleasure, in company with my colleague, Prof. John
Silshy, of a %sry friendly and familiar interview with him
at his temple. Ile received us in an upper room, and gave
us a pleasant entertainment, and spoke encouragingly to us
of his purposes when he shall come two full power us King
of Siam. Oho of the improvements he proposes to make is
to have his reign practically a limited monarchy ; the spirit
of what he said was, that he could not think that it was
good either fur king or people to have only one will to rule
a kingdom, as had been the case during all the late reign.
Another encouraging thing, he said, was, that he was
pleased with the proposition we made ut having a high
school established in Bangkok for the purpose of teaching
Siamese youth the English language and the sciences con-
nected with it, and that he would give this subject due at-
tention at the beginning of his reign.
This prince and his brother are here universally under-
stood to he the particular friends of the English and Ame-
ricans, consequently as they come into power u great
change becomes apparent in the feelings of all classes as
manifested toward the American missionaries and other
" white-faced " foreigners. Ile who is to be vice-king
hail excluded himself from all intercourse with the Eng-
lish and the missionaries for more than a year, and it could
not he determined what were his motives. Now he mani-
fests a desire to cherish friendly intercourse with them. A
few nights since he had all the few remaining white-faced
merchants of Bangkok iu his presence, and received their
hearty congratulations. Some two or three evenings after
that he requested all the missionaries to visit him ; nearly
all did so, and held a very familiar conversation with him
on the intents of the country. Ile intimated that it
was the intention of his brother and himself to have quite •
!lunatic: of new ships built,and also toprocure two steamboats.
Our old Siamese teachers who hail been frightened from
our employ by the oppressive measures of the lute King,
have returned to um, feeling themselves to he now free to
labour fur us, and to have tt appear that they are indeed
our friends, because " the powers that are to all human
appearance the friends of the English and Americans."
Now in my opinion is the time, the very time appointed
by him who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, for
the governments of England and America to send ;heir
ambassadors to Siam to negotiate a new treaty. I have no
doubt that almost every reasonable desire on their part
would be promptly granted. Thanks to the good seam of
the English government, but more especially to him who
rules in the councils of nations, that war hes not been deter-
mined by them against Siam, but contrariwise, pacific
This is OtAllike.