The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-12 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Curiosities of Natural History. By F. Buckland,
M.A., Assistant-Surgeon 2d Life Guards. Lon-
don : R. Bentley, New Burlington-street.
The author of this little book is the son of the
late Dean of Westminster, the eminent geologist.
Its pages abound with original facts and anecdotes
relating to familiar objects of natural history, col-
lected during leisure hours from professional du-
ties. The chapter on " Rats " (from which it rip-
pears much of the Quarterly's article on the same
subject was derived) is particularly interesting.
There is much curious information about snakes,
both harmless and venomous, in "The Cobra de
Capello." The observant angler may gain many
hints from " Fish and Fishing," and the lovers of
the vivararium will be pleased with " The Hunt
in the Horse-pond." " My Monkey Jacko " is a
chapter full of genuine fun. We can recommend
this book as combining much instructive matter
with a fund of amusing and very readable informa-
tion. Wo trust that young Buckland, having
broken the ice of literature, will follow in the steps
of his illustrious and talented father, and thereby
become an ornament to the profession he has
chosen.

TREATY BETWEEN PRANCE AND SIAM.

The Moniteur of yesterday promulgates the treaty
of friendship, commerce, and navigation which was
concluded between France and the kingdom of
Siam on the 15th August, 1856, and of which the
ratifications were exchanged at Bangkok on the
24th August, 1857 :

" The preamble sets forth that the treaty is between
the Emperor of the French and the two Kings of Siam,
and it gives at length the names of their Siamese
Majesties ' those of the first being 29 in number, of
which the first four are Prabath Somdet Phabaramead
Mahamakout, those of the second being 27 ; the first
four are Prabath Somdet Phrabovorentharamesoum
Mahisvaret, and the last three in both cases, Chao Yon
Hone. It also declares that it has seen concluded oa the
part of the Emperor of the French by M. de Montigny,
officer of the Lsgion of Honour, &c., and on the
part of the two Kings uy five personages, -of whom one
is called his highness Phra Chao Nouygathen, and three
other names ; his Excellency Somdet Chao Phraya
and 29 other names, Governor of the capital ; hie
Excellency Chao Phraya Sisourivong and 6 other name",
Minister of War, and Governor-General of the South
Eastern provinces • his Excellency Chayo Phraya.
Ravioongsa Mahakosatibodi,l Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and Governor-General of the South Eastern
provinces ; and his Excellency Chayo Phraya Yomarat
and 13 other names, Minister of Justice. The treaty,
which is in 24 articles, contains these stipulations :
There shall be peace and friendship between the
two countries, and their subjects shall enjoy on
the territories of each full protection for their
persons and property. Siamese subjects shall, be-
sides, be protected by French consuls and ships of war
abroad. The two powers may nominate consuls to
reside in their respective territories, and when the con-
suls happen to be absent, Frenchmen may obtain the
intervention of the consul of a friendly power or of the
local authorities. Frenchmen may freely and openly
practise their religion in all parts of Siam, and French
missionaries may preach, build ehurches and schools,
and travel freely every where. French subjects may trade
without molestation in any part of Siam, but they can
only reside permanently at Bangkok, or within a distance
of twenty-four hours' journey from that place by the boats
of the country. Within that distance they may purchase
and sell houses, warehouses, and lands; but, to purchase
lands within six kilometres of the walls of Bang-
kok, they must have the special authorisation of
the government, unless they have resided ten years in
the kingdom. Frenchmen may freely employ Siamese
in any capacity. They cannot be detained in Siena
against their will, except for reasons which may appear,
satisfactory to their cmisul.
protection. The French
French means, travelling
thorities to endeavour to
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settle amicably any difference which may arise between
Frenchmen and Siamese ; but, in case they may not be
able to do so, they areto decide on them jointly. French
commercial vessels are to be subjected solely to the
jurisdiction of French authorities ; and French subject*
guilty of crimes and offences, are to be punished by the
consul according to the French law ; Siamese Bub•
jeots, guilty of crimes and offences against the French,
co be punished according to their own law. The
Siamese authorities are to have the right to prosecute
and punish persons guilty of piracy against French
vessels, or of robberies of Frenchmen, and are to give up
deserters, the French consuls on their part arresting
such Siamese deserters as may seek refuge in French
houses or vessels. The French and Siamese authorities
are to lend assistance in enforcing the payment of debts
due to their respective subjects, and are to give up to
heirs or executors property of subjects deceased in their
respective countries. French ships of war may enter the
river and anchor at Paknarn, but if they want to go to
Bangkok, they are to give notice to the Siamese author"
ties, and to come to an understanding with them as to
the place of anchorage. The Siamese authorities are
to render assistance to French vessels in distresB
or wrecked. French vessels and their cargoes on
payment of certain import and export dues are to be
freed in Siamese ports from all dues whatsoever, and are
to enjoy the privilege and immunities of vessels of Siam
and of the most favoured nation. The duties on mere
chandise imported into Siam by French vessels are no'
to exceed 3 per cent. of their value, and are to be paid
either in money or kind at the choice of the importer.
Siamese productions destined for export by French vessels
are to pay certain duties specified in a tariff, and exempted
from transit or other dues in the interior of the country.
The French may import and export on payment of
the said duties, all goods not, at the date of the treaty,
the subject of a formal prohibition or a special
monopoly. Nevertheless, the Siamese Governmen‘
may interdict the export of salt, rice, or fish in the,
eveet of a scarcity, on giving a month's notice.
the Siamese Government reduces for its own or horsier%
vessels import or export duties below those fixed id
the tariff, the reduction is to be immediately extende*
to imports and exports made by French vessels. The,
French consuls are to see that French captains and
traders execute the regulations agreed to for carrying
out the treaty, and may, in conjunction with the
Siamese authorities, make new regulations. They
may also inflict fines for violation of the regale'
tions, bat the sums accruing therefrom are to go
to the Siamese Government. The treaty is to be fer,
twelve years from the date of the ratifications, We
if at the end of eleven years, either power shall express
a desire to have the treaty revised, commissioners are
to be nominated for the purpose. The treaty being drawls
up in French and Siamese, the French text is to be re:,
garded as official in every respect as well as the Siamese.
The Siamese date given to the treaty is Friday, the
14th day of the ascending moon of the ninth O
the Great Serpent one thousand two hundred and
eighteen of the Siamese civil era. Annexed to the
treaty are a series of regulations for iren.ch cony
merce iu Siam, and tariffs of the export duties
different descriptions of goods.