The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-14 00:00:00

LIT ERAT URE.

A NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE ROUND THE
WORLD, DURING THE YEARS 1835, 1836,
AND 1837. Br W. S. TV. RiaCIIENBERGER, M. D.
In 2 Vols. London, Bentley, 1535.
This is the history of an expedition undertaken by the
Government of the United States, with the intention of
entering into commercial treaties with the Sultan of Muscat,
the King of Siam, and the Emperor of Cochin-China. It
was conducted by Mr. Roberts, an American of great
ability, spirit, and enterprise, whose premature death at
Macao only prevented its entire success. Mr. Roberts
had succeeded in obtaining favourable treaties from the
Sultan of Muscat and the King of Siam, and had touched
upon the Chinese coast, when death arrested his patriotic
progress. The author of these volumes was Surgeon to
the expedition, and enjoyed the best opportunities for ob-
serving all that occurred during the voyage, either novel
or interesting. The spirit of Yankee triumph in which it
is written is at times uncommonly amusing. Everywhere
our author found, to his no small gratification, that the
greatness and glory of the United States, above all other
nations, ancient or modern, had preceded him. But
making due allowance for some pardonable mistakes
in this way, these volumes are replete with details as in-
teresting as any to be met with in the annals of fiction. In
what fairy legend will the reader find a passage mere like
a rich vision of the imagination than the following account
of the interview between his magnificent Majesty the King
of Siam and Mr. Roberts, the American Envoy ?
The extent of the audience-chamber is thirty-five by seventy feet
The middle of the floor, about one-half of the whole width, is raised
eighteen inches above the rest, leaving a sort of lobby on each side,
equal to one-fourth of the breadth of the whole room, and extending its
entire length. A row of six pillars, three feet square, stood en each
edge of the middle floor ; and the wall, ceiling, and pillars, were hung
with red gilt paper, and the floors were carpeted. Chandeliers and
lamps of various patterns were suspended from the ceiling, and nume.
rous Chinese paintings and mirrors adorned the walls. From a central
point, the floor gently rises in an inclined plane up to the throne, at the
farthest end of the apartment. The throne Itself is about six feet
high, and large enough for one man to sit upon cross-legged; it ii of
gold, or richly gilt, and ornamented with diamonds and other precious
stones. Behind it is a piece of ornamental architecture resembling an
altar. A royal chat, an umbrella having five tops, one above the other,
and diminishing in size, shades the monarch's scat; and on each side,
extending to the pillars, were six other chats or chattahs, arranged so
as to form an arc, which separates the King and court.
Mr. Roberts and his companions entered the middle door of the front
of the hall, and, passing round the screen, found themselves in the pre.
sence of his Magnificent Majesty, and the royal court of the magnificent
kingdom of Thai. His Majesty, a fat man of about fifty, sat like the
god Boudah, cross-legged upon his throne, enveloped in a rich mantle of
gold tissue, chewing betel, and squirting saliva into a golden urn.
Numerous attendants prepared his betel, and with large fans circulated
the air about his Majestic Obesity, as he sat in the pomp and circumstance
of state.

Except a long space, eight feet wide, In front of the throne, the whole
floor was covered by nobles, courtiers and magnates of the land, in silk
and gold costume, the fashion of winch was a long tight jacket with
short skirts, somewhat resembling the cut of an ancient coat of mail.
There were several Arabs and Persians present, in rich Cashmere shawl
turbans, contrasting their splendid statures with the squat forms of the
Siamese; and their expressive countenances, strongly marked by the
jetty whisker and antimony.shaded eye, outshone them in intelligence.
Perhaps three hundred individuals composed this goodly company; every
one crouching upon his knees and elbows, with the head bent upon the
ground. The hall only admitted a subdued light. Jewels appeared to
advantage, and the dianends and carbuncles on the King's person glit.
tered and flashed all around like miniature lightning.
It was particularly remarked by several officers, that, notwithstanding
the stipulation that our party should not appear in the presence armed,
being contrary to court etiquette, many of the Siamese wore swords.
Such was the spectacle hall and court presented when the American
Embassy passed the screen. There they removed their hats, and, as
they advanced to the open alley above mentioned, made three bows ac-
cording to previous agreement. At the lowest end of tine alley, at a
great distance from the throne, they sat down upon the carpet, carefully
turning their feet behind, that his Magnificent Majesty might not be
shocked by the sight of those lowly, booted members; for they did not
consent, like the Anglo-Bengal mission under Mr. Burney, to leave
their shoes outside and appear barefoot, at the risk of finding, as he did,
that they had been stolen.
Previously to his audience with the King in 1533, when negotiating
the Treaty which was now being concluded, Mr. Roberts positively re.
fused to take off his shoes on entering the presence, except on the con-
dition that he should keep on his hat. After a great deal of discussion,
it was no longer insisted on that he should appear barefooted, and ho
was the first foreigner who, with his shoes on, saw his Majesty of Siam.
After being seated in this novel, and therefore somewhat uncoms
fortable position, they made three Siamese salams, and the whole court
knocked their heads three times on the ground. His Magnificent
Majesty expressed his satisfaction by squirting saliva into the golden
spittoon, and renewing his quid of betel and areca-nut.
In front of the mission were displayed a part of the presents brought
by Mr. Roberts, the whole being too bulky for such a pageant. Imme-
diately after the salams were performed, a low, murmuring sound arose
from behind the throne, which the interpreter stated proceeded from the
King's secretary, reading the list presents ftom the Government of the
United States to his Magnificent Majesty.
This over, the King addressed to Mr. Roberts several questions,
which were filtered through three interpreters or secretaries. One
crouched near the throne, and repeated in a low tone his Majesty's
words to another, more than halfway down the hall, who repeated them
in a still lower tone to Piadade, the interpreter, who, being crouched
near Mr. Roberts, whispered the sentence in his ear. The replies were
made through the same medium in the same manner.
When the King finishes his question, the secretary makes three sa.
lams and mentions the King's titles before he repeats to the second, and
lie goes through the mire ceremony to the third. The answer begins
with three salams from the interpreter, who repeats a string of titles,
" rhra, Putie, Chucka, Ka, Rap, Si, Klau, Si, Kla, Mom, Ka P'rah
Putie Chow," Mr. Roberts, " Ka Plira Raelia, Tan, Krap, Thun, Hie,
.Sap, Thi, Fe, Ong, Thu'e, Plira, Bat;" then follows the answer and
three salams. As this form is invariable, it may be readily conceived
how slow and fatiguing the intercourse with his Majesty must be. Nor
is one certain that his expressions or words are faithfully conveyed to
the "golden ear." Mr. Robert Hunter told me, that some years ago
he had an audience with the King, who inquired whether he was not
then making a great deal of money in his business. Mr. Hunter
replied, that at first he had done very well, but for the past year he
had last a great dell. The interpreter conveyed the answer thus :
" Mr. Hunter made money very fast the first years, but the last he
has not made so much." When Mr. limiter explained the difference
he had male in the answer, the interpreter replied, that he dared
not tell his Magnificent Majesty any thing so unpleasant as to say,
" Mr. Hunter had actually lest money!"
A similar incident occurred in the present audience. The King
stated that the Americans were on a footing with the English, which
Mr. Roberts denied; saying, that such was not the spirit of the Treaty.
The secretary nearest the King translated the reply; that Mr. Roberts
admitted it, and was very much obliged tv his Majesty. Mr. Hunter,
who was present, informed Mr. Roberts of the misinterpretation. He
repeated what he had at first said, which was then correctly rendered.
During the interview the King inquired after the health of the

--- -
The Custom.house is a low shed, or rude Icck-up place, for the ware.
housing ofgoods; and connected with it is a wooden cage, in which
slaves are confined front the time of their arrival from the coast of
Africa until they are sold. A sale of these poor creatures takes place
every day at sunset, In the public square, where they are knocked down
to the highest bidder. The cage is about twenty feet square, and at
one time during our short visit, there were no less than one hundred
and fifty slaves, men, women, and children, locked up in it! The num.
ber imported yearly is estimated at from six. to seven thousand. There
is an import duty levied upon them, varying from a half-dollar to
four dollars a head. depending upon the port in Africa from which
they are brought. Some individuals on the island own as xasny as
two thousand, valued at from thre.s to ten dollars each.
The Americans took leave of the Sovereigns of Siam and
Muscat, impressed with a grateful remembrance of their
friendship. Mr. Buschenbergcr is of opinion that what-
ever be the commercial results of this expedition, it will
open a new field to the zeal of the American missionaries.
The illustrations consist, among others, of beautiful views
of the cities of Canton and Macao.

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF IRISH LIFE.
Three Vols.
Colburn, London, 1836.
- - - - -

The chief fault of these volumes is, that there is too great
a sameness in them. The writer certainly " discourses elo-
quent music," but her strain is always pitched in one key.
When you have read one of her Irish stories, you may be
said to have read almost the whole of them, There is a want
of flexibility and variety in her invention, which is ever tread-
ing the same grouod, and seems to lack the power or the
inclination to open up new sources of entertainment. Yet
her tales are clever, despite this blemish ; no one can deny
that they are true to homely Irish Life—especially the one
entitled " Servants," which contains some of the shrewdest
and justest touches of character that ever proceeded from
a lady's pen.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

( From the Hampshire Telegraph.)

PORTSMOUTH, MAY 12.—Letters and papers from Malta to the 25th
ult. state that her Majesty's brig Rapid, Lieut. Hon. G. H. Kinnaird,
had run on shore on the 14th upon the coast near Bona, on her return
from Malta to Tunis. The Carysfort, as soon as intelligence of the ac.
cident was received at Malta, on the 21st was dispatched by the Com-
mander-in-Chief to afford assistance. The crew were all saved, but
there was very slight hope of getting the brig afloat again. The Con_
fiance steamer, Lieut. Stopford, arrived at Malta on the 19th ult., and
the Megwra steam packet on the 21st, both from Gibraltar. The Bar-
ham frigate, Capt. Corry, returned to Malta on the 23d from Athens.
The Andromache, 28, Captain Baynes, sailed on Sunday, with a de-
tachment of the 24th Regiment on board, for Plymouth, where she ar-
rived on Monday, and embarked other detachments, and proceeded on
Wednesday to Quebec. The Andromache will be permanently attached
to the North American and West India station.
The Barrossa transport, with the last division of the 71st Regiment,
and drafts for the 66th and 83d Regiments; and the Vimelia, Eliza..
both, and Arab, with a number cf the 7th Hussars on board, sailed yes.
terday se'nnight from the Cove of Cork for Canada. The Calcutta trans-
port, Lieutenant Binstead agent, with the Maria, Lieutenant Crawford,
and Stenton, and the Marquis of Huntley, have also received on board
there ihis week 24 officers, 179 men, and 177 horses, of the Ist or King's
Dragoon Guards, with which they will proceed to the same destination
on Monday.
The Medea steam-frigate, Commander Nott, arrived on Tuesday, and
this morning embarked Captain Williams, two subalterns, and 100 men,
of the 24th Regiment, for Quebec, whither she proceeded this afternoon.
The Snake, 16, Commander Milne, arrived from Carthagena, at Ja-
maica, on the 22d of March ; the Comus, 18, Hon. Corn. Cary, on the
21st March, from a cruise ; the Cornwallis, 74, Captain Sir R. Grant,
s.:iled on the 19th of March for Bermuda, and the same day the Satel-
lite, 18, for Barbadoes ; the Reindeer, 28, for England, and the Wan.
derer, 18, Corn. Bushby, for a cruise, left March 19; the Nimrod, 18,
Cam. Fraser, and the Champion, 18, Corn. King, arrived on the 10th
March from a cruise; the Crocodile, 28, Captain Polkinghorne, left
Halifax on the 19th March.
The Bellerophon, 74, Captain Austen, went out of harbour on Tues-
day, and sailed this afternoon direct to Malta.
The Termagant brigantine, Lieut. NV. J. Williams, fitting in this
harbour for the coast of Africa, will be ready for sea on the 21st inst.
The Portland, 52, Capt. Price, and Buzzard brigantine, were paid off
yesterday at Plymouth.
PROMOTIONS •ND APPOINTMENTT.—Messrs. William J. C Clifford
(1835), Benjamin Fox (1534), J J. B. E. Frere (1832), and Philip Pipon
(1833), Mates, are promoted to the rank of Lieutenants; Messrs. John
Reid and Robert Barnard, Assistant Surgeons, to the Britannia; Mr.
William Rcbetrts, Additional Assistant Surgeon, to the Cornwallis ;
Mr. J. C. Harrison, Mate, to the Bellerophon; Mr. Macdonald Baur..
chier, Mate, to the Madagascar; Messrs. Richard L. Byron, and Charles
Basset Bayley, Mate, to the Cruizer; Mr. Edward F. Dent, Midship.
man, to the Modeste; Mr. Alexander Knight, Supernumerary Car-
penter, from Victory to the Temeraire; Mr. John Collins, Supernu-
merary Boatswain, from Victory, to be Boatswain of the Modeste.
ROYAL MARINES—Mr. Elliott, son of Capt. Sir W. Elliott, R.N.,
Sir. Adair, son of Col. Adair, R. hi., and Mr. Farmer, son of Captain
Farmer, R.M., are appointed Second Lieutenants of the Royal Marines;
Capt. Richard C. Steele is appointed to the Royal Marine Artillery, and
Capt. Leonard of the Plymouth, has exchanged with Captain Clarke, of
the Woolwich Division.

The following gentlemen qualified for Lieutenants on Monday
Messrs. G. H. Wood and a D. Keane (Portland) ; Hon. C. Elliott (Pan-
taloon) ; W. H. Haswell (Bellerophon); C. M. Luckraft (Hersules) ;
Francis Martin (Portland); Isaac N. T. Saulez (Bellerophon); R. W.
Clerk (no ship); W.D. Blaquiere (Britannia) ; 11. C. Toby (Bellerophon).
John Crocket, Esq, (Assistant Surgeon of this Dockyard) is ap-
pointed Junior Surgeon and Medical Storekeeper at the Royal Naval
Hospital, Plymouth, vice George Johnstone, Esq., appointed Surgeon of
the Thck-yard, Chatham, in the room of David Rowlands, Esq., super.
annuated. Mr. Peter Suther, Surgeon of the Victory, will succeed Mr.
Crocket as Assistant-Surgeon of this yard.

(From the Devanport Independent.)
PLYMOUTH, MAY 12.—We are much gratified in stating that Lord
Minto has been pleased to confirm Acting-Lieutenant Fox, of her Ma-
jesty's brigantine Buzzard, to the rank of Lieutenant ; and Mr. J. W.
Elliott, Assistant Surgeon, to the rank of Surgeon, for their zealous
services on the coast of Africa.

The Portland, 52, Captain David Price, was paid off into Ordinary,
yesterday (Friday). Her Majesty's brigantine Buzzard, Lieutenant Fox,
will be paid off this day (Saturday). Her Majesty's ship Russell, 74,
Captain Sir W. Dillon, will be paid wages this day, and will sail immedi.
ately for Lisbon.

The Rochester lighter was taken on the grating slip on Monday, to
have her copper cleaned and repaired.

The Pilot, 16, will be launched from this dockyard about the 24th
instant,
The Alonzo transport sailed yesterday (Friday) for the north coast of
Spain.

The steam.ressel Messenger sailed on Thursday, with marines,
for Pembroke. The Duck lighter sailed on Thursday with stores fur
Pombroke.

The ilamadryad, 46, was warped alongside the Jetty ca Thursday,
to Le taken into dock.
The Ranger packet, having had her defects made good, was taken out
of dock on Thursday.

The brig Grecian, 16 guns, having on board Mr. Walker, assistant-
tracer-attendant, and a party of riggers and seamen, arrived on Saturday
from Pembroke.
Thu crew of the Royal Adelaide was paid pages on Wednesday.
The Lyra, packet, Lieut. Ladd, will sail this day for Falmouth, to
take the mail to the West Indies.

The frigate, Portland, wai warped alongside the Sheer.tailk on Wed.
neulay, to have her masts taken out.

In Harbour—Royal Adelaide, San Josef, Talbot, Weazle, Buzzard,
and Lyra packet.

In the Sound—Russell, and Jupiter troopship.
The Castor, 36, Capt. Collier, and Harlequin, Commander Ersklne,
were at Barcelona, on the 14th April.
The Clio, 18 guns, from Tarragona, the Hotspur, transport, from Fal-
mouth, and the Blazer, steam packet, from Alexandria, arrived at Malta
on the 2d April.

The Rainbow saild from Jamaica on the Ilith of March for England.
The Lords of the Admiralty have ordered that the Lieutenants of the
Royal Navy, who hold the appointment of Director of Police in the
several dockyard establishments, shall not be allowed superannuation
on retirement from office; and, in consequence, the five per cent., that
Las been stopped from their pay, as a contribution to the superanuation
fund, has been returned to the parties.

---
An interesting trial took place on the 4th and sth of last month, be-
tween the Castor and Harlequin, off Taragonna, and a French brig in
company. Both days the Harlequin beat the Castor at the rate of one
mile per hour dead to windward, and both ships had a great superiority
over the French brig, the Harlequin sailing round her several times.
Some apprehensions are entertained respecting the Scorpion, which
sailed from Malta to relieve the Harlequin, on the 15th of February, but
up to the 10th of April, nothing has been heard of her.
The Swedish frigate Josephine, and corvette Nayade, arrived at Gib-
raltar, from Malta, on the llth ult., on their way to the Balti•. Th•
Talavera, 74, Captain Mends, left Gibraltar on the 11th ult., with two-
thirds of the 73d regiment on beard, for America. On the 7th and Bth
ult., the Dido and Wolverine, 16, loft Gibraltar for Malta.
The Harrier, 18, Commander W. H. H. Carew. A notice is given in
Tuesday's Gazette, that an account of proceeds of bounty arising ftom
the de-truction of proahs and boats at the island of Soogie, in the
Straits of Malacca, the 28th March, 1833, and at the island of A rroa, its
the same Straits, on the 21st of April, 1834, will be lodged in th• Re-
gistry of the High Court of Admiralty.

Commander Sir W. H. Peirson was complimented on his leaving the
Madagascar, wito a very elegant silver snuff-box, presented him by his
tnessmates, the gunroom officers, as a token of their esteem for him,
in his two-fold character as an officer and gentleman, during the period
of their servitude together. It was accompanied by a letter, couched in
friendly and complimentary terms, and signed by all the members of
the mess.

Two Bengal tigers, a male and female, and a female
rhinoceros, were landed a few weeks since from the Coromandel East
in:Hainan. the animals were consigned to the house of Messrs. F. L.
and E. Mangles. The tiger and tigress, striped ones, each about 18
months old, have been lodged in a warehouse belonging to Messrs. Mangles
and Abbot, in Wapping, since their arrival in England; and have become
so extremely docile that they allow a young man, named George Luttrell,
who has the care of them, to play with them. Their gambols wits their
keeper and others remind the spectators of the playfulness of kittens,
and there is not the least indication of ferocity about them. These two
fine animals are likely to become inmates of the Regent's-park Zoologi.
cal Gardens.

NOURNIAIIAL, THE LIGHT OF THE HAREM.
—" This romance," says the Courier, " is supposed to be the recital
of one of those well.known story-tellers who abound in the East, and
himself of this supposed source, has introduced into
iavcecrusisttyom of
accustomed
stty. :e
the erfleo n
r to
id
illiarilQlluioin ai
seatvopiclisnogf interest which are likely to render such a tale popu-
lar It abounds withsufficient
expectations
t a trichness..ns of
and
thosed
bsaetaiis,ftyietshoefili Oriental wrought
ntal imagery, and is replete with such fanciful and
richiy.tinted flights of imagination that the admirers of the captivating
legends and fictions of that clime will find ample verge for the indul.
genre of their taste in almost every page.”

I President, after that, of " all the great men of the United States,"
that of the crews of the Peacock and Enterprise; when they left
America ? where they had been ? what had been Mr. Roberts's state
of health in the three years he had been absent from Siam ? &c.
At the expiration of three quarters of an hour, a sharp metallic
sound was heard, and the audience was closed by drawing a curta;n of
I silk and gold across the hall, in front of the throne, hiding his Majesty
from view. Thu embassy then made three salams, and the whole court
bent neir heads three times to the floor.
During the audience water and betel were served. As the chamber
was open, swallows flew in and out, and occasionally alighted on the
chandeliers.
The following is a description of the slave market at
Zanzibar, an island belonging to the dominions of Imaum,
or more Innerly, Sultan of Muscat :

SECOND EDITION
SUN OFFICE, Seven o Clock

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
The LORD CULNCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at the
usual hour.

IRISH POOR LAW BILL.
Lord MELBOURNE moved that the Irish Poor Law Bill Order of
the Day be read, for the purpose of being postponed till Monday next,
in consequence of the indisposition of a Noble Duke (Wellington), in
whose absence the Government did not wish to bring forward such an
important measure.—(Hear.)
The Order of the Day for the second reading of the Bill was accord-
ingly read, and postponed till Monday next.

NEGRO SLAVERY.
Lord EFFINGHAM presented a petition for the abolition of negro
apprenticeship.