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

LITER 4 TUBE.

2e Kinytlom a tol People of Siam. Ity Sir Joint
Bowetsu, F.R.S., her Avsty's Plenipotentiary
in China. J. W. Parker.
Exactly two tears ago the warlike English pleni-
potentiary in China was engaged on a mission in
Slant, the conduct of which was in the highest de-
gree judicious and successful, standing in curious
aontrast with the course which he has lately adopted
in China. Sir John ilowring went to Siam for
tl• purpose of negotiating a treaty of commerce
with the king of tins country. Unlese such a treaty
mold be effected commerce with the Siamese was
practically impossible. I fireet duties were paid at
Rae rate of 21'11. its. for each SiallnexsC fathom of a
chip's beam. British subjects were comparatively
unprotected. There was no resident consul, and, in
act, none of the machinery existed by which the
nn of omeree werefacilitated. Sir John ef-
L7lll purpose in a masterly manner. lie ap-
pears to have acted with as much perseverance
as forbearance, and obtained terms which lie could
scarcely have anticipated. The magnitude of what
the plenipotentiary obtained may be unagined when
we consider its important effects upon the Siamese
economy. The consequences of a full carrying out
of the provisions of the treaty will be a total revo-
lution in all the financial machinery of the govern-
ment—a thorough change in the whole system of
taxation, a destruction of a large proportion of the
existing sources of revenue, and an annihilation of a
great number of privileges and monopolies, which
Rave not only been lung established, but have been
held by the most influential nobles and the highest
functionaries of the state.
Sir John arrived in the Bay of Siam, March 24,
1154,and was visited at first by custom-house officers :
Our means of communication were intrieate enough: we
emontuniested to our mandarin teacher in Chincee ; be
bansdatc,l into Cantoneee ; a Cantonese man interpreted into
Nolen; end from one of the &Jetta of Fookien, there was
an "overturns into Siamese.
On the 28th he received a letter from the King,
brought by three high officers, in ant ornamented
ease of gold. Other letters followed, but it was sonic
Rate before arrangements could be settled as to the
mode in which the Plenipotentiary should proceed
to Bangkok. Sir John endeavoured to proceed in
the Rattler, but this was objected to by the
authorities. A compromise was effected, and he
went up the river no the king's boats, and the
Nattier followed twenty-four hours after.
At twelve o'clock, eight state boats, and eta accompanying
boats, come to (wort Ur to Bangkok. NUM .. =KM&
ant : it had the gilded and emblazoned inure of as idol at
he prow. with two flees like vane. grandly ornamented.
Near the stern was a raised carpeted divan. with .caret end
Bold curtain.. The boat was also richly giblet], and hat a
Nil like .1 &h. Many of the boats were punted to resemble
Ishes,with eyes in the stern, and had long tails. The captain
Mood at the head; but the boat was .teens] by two persona
with ears, who continually excited the rowers to
went themeelvee, and called up the epirit of the
most active competition. The shouts were sometimes
&Meninx, as beat after boat responded to the appall. In
Meat particulars the proves d= reserubkd that of the hunch
ambassadorLa lies, Rom Louis XIV., and the pictorial
iwpreeentations given by him are very accurate. One of the
mugs sang had twits bunlm, " Row, row, I smell the rice,"
weaning the meal at the mid of the journey. They often
dipped their drinking-nweele into the river and partook of
the be ickish waters. The boats had from twenty to forty
lowan, MI clad in scarlet faced with green and white, with a
menu. helmet tile cape, having two tails pendent over the
shoulders. We (Minuted that five hundred Teen must have
been enraged. They serve in vaamiage four month, in the
year, sad axe freed from servitude during the remaining
t.
Various endeavours to throw difficulties in the
way of the negotiations, and the usual disputes about
etiquette, took place, but the Plenipotentiary was
uniformly successful. In the meantime the two
kings were invariably kind, condescending, and
bospdable. Both appear remarkable attached to the
English, and acquainted with English customs and
products:
He took me to his privete apartments, ornamented with
Beautiful pendulee and watches, statue. of Queen Victoria
and Prince Albert, handsome barometers. thermometers, Sic.
Be then led me through two or three small chambers, where
were fine "minx= of Chinemporeelain wryer., and other
costly decorations.. Almost everything second togliah. There
were many new books on the shelves.
Again :
lie then talked to me of presents for her Majesty, end
said he should like to send her a royal crown. but the cost of
the jewi Is would be too greet for is finances. I mid tint
bee Majczty would he far better Mewed with a dams& and
leis wetly mark of his regard, in the shape of some pine of
&anew manufacture. lie said her Majesty had not whim
to him, but he thought of writing to her Majesty, and egad
me about the style of the letter. I immured, that as Ms
Najeaty's English was perfectly intelligible, on au
In his own manner, uncorrected,would be more
than any letter in whose composition an Englishman
be called in to assist. Ire made a gnat many inquiries with
respect to philosophical instruments, showed me his
prem. end hie private letter-book, and gave me li=
&Mt, ,to. which I promised should be sent out. • •
I said we had come in much ignorance, and hew net
what the king renewed, but I should be moot homy Is wad
from England any objects of interest. The biag mid be
should Blur to have astronomical and philorephienl Whs.
meats, modals of engines, a good telescope, an
.anaillery
sphere, the model of a ectseruzeanser, a code of signals, en
hydrometer, a veritominw, and specimens of dile most
approved instruments ml war, one as muskets, pinata
swords, ale'.
On all occasions the governin king ehowed him-
self eager to acquire know . The following
li
anecdote shows how early he displayed thin ten-
ding,:
• adesionery awalleah to me that the King, when a
=.47lcamyrag ea Ms studies, in the temple to which he
ladodreal whoa him many young men, wham
be was ha iff lasheithg in European sciences, end en-
=dim h hob lbs. ?rpm of knowledge. He
W view 1p the roucunn showy .—Two men
Wart time he Jtmglehafe• with the mime articles It pro-
danse—the Sees el the halm he .mite; they move
111•111 Mb. •1111011•11 to a yher whew Ore te woo valleble
matehi, mesas. The bash eh hide ha
INSOIII sang lag lb Nod Medea et
=his la
heir empties eaelmegee his hemp he the km
hill aim whelk wribehd. They still hoe as, eh ewes
he elltillieleL The hal his he Wimp, the heathers
ble mem fed dlk ; end ha they ha th• end ef their
jemmy, one eshewstml with ea an aimed worthier
awl heavy look he ear limeteg brought with ease a prod-
Sable and val Wile hememme.
The following I a description of the Laos popu-
lation:
I felt meat ihmeet la the Laos people from the frit.
Olen I heard had swede gad hest voice. se I pawed hag
Ile sheets, or deeded the melee 01 the Mennen • sack
an hg2slgleat hi he germlwit was the more d; La.
Osierea he sea/ hag, I head him playing es •
linrtnemlemeliWkimm*eswponed of reeds oethe
'll7sa asimmint newly feet in knob :It wee
be milk •gh ham the Phew Laos, and he gratified me
by pahhig it tee_m_heiwieme. On visiting the
beam of the Wet l- bars been often asked,
°Wel yea me the Mae." wlll you hear the singing
telll ea hem t• he hie of Lam I" and gores of ..e,-
M. I:wishes hello has leaintraluceal, to ex-
-111./aDvasHIS, vale ram resembk the graceful
ICA:If the shish abed era the Maine.* of the 1
"VII halm* ilme." illsmetimeie they hold gar- 1
Wee el illealle• alliali=panala la graceful varieties of I
allhale. or endive are moved about
la einfrie,r= mina The sing'—they are gear
wily the of isne—ass dew e:earns. They we
aemetimes sasemphoil by waive others, the map and
Illsamele ere lewd sham Bishop Pellegh, whets well se-
praled with the Leh Deeply epealts of their an ea west'
=llbeetwalese, awl meihil. Them ino= will
's
ehelleas mesa : eh pigs the lamehao
mew step nwamees het the lake of imperils, eXlan•
She ham la seism he empeasel tongues of emerom
weeds. The leas le a sellsetice of shwa In eh
web,• hi at homy, hen them le ow
&rho ilmtleaweil isgiallea et tbehmeath whia
him the vieela el a caper et 11•111 dhqr insidele,
a sew hie hi ia ewe bombe% ewe hit&
elgeggere no wih pod dreetedry. I hem th•
Leh ham of the Wahl emit eh he by theirlade to
graft wry weledly. Th s r lase enhed into the per
emu walk het heal yam, with trevnbllagty for the
semeande of disk Mama noir drem is Ilan grimed
thew that of the timer huh especially their mode at
=and e,a. leede, width was samara ',-
with whil•11011M. They were theweeme,
whit he the ashes of Bien • a serf of
NOW reef pmml ewe the shedders hil Neared
Se bah imi a bewleame silk Mae moped the
mat t we slime or mai was on the hut, and
ha hp ewe uneremed to the knees, though
Owe seemed as hately he simnel the feet learith their
gwarmh whew hey weadmi doh. Aimed hew 'path
=hew whae ben Imes. wessgrot hams held be wee
pay. They am of esaevs hew, Opts*
wait owl prestal enownewi.
bee• 1.111:1865'et =llr he Stow orwards. wilatilig
domed aa aelleesstle aseemPlehmenat f among the Ohm
bag. do frephly tale head= to exhibit he shim
ham of flialir, ear, end hith chid only be poked lg
vilnlit =King we read :
wir Whew= with the thread Xisg was in ell respects
ISINS apeeelli• I hoed him • gentleman of very mitt-
hied thiwelowillip—plet, ems modest in reasaws—
=lit wwwwhesti howledge, sad huh la the
dleslnalke. Nb hie he pea with all the
Ileisala hi elder that en had in a vell-regablei