Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-04-26
From the Richmond Eaou,r,,
NEWS FROM THE ANTIpODEs


From the Richmond ENQUIRER.
NEWS FROM THE ANTIPoDEs.
Siam illuminated by Virginia Printer ,
We are happy to lay the following
letter before the friends of our Ceres.
pondent, the Missionary Society aud the
Public at large. We reccoilrct Mr.
Davenport well-and it gives Us great
pleasure to see one Of our Alumni diffu.
sing the benefits Of the P.r So. as we'll &C
the truths OF Christianity, ON the other
side Of the Globe:
BANGKOK, SIAM, July 10th 1887.
My dear Sir-Jt is even now with
pleasing recollect; ons, that l recur to
the period spent in your service. Lit,l.
eia th'nk that while entering the Of
fice OF the Richmond Enquirer" that
there 1 was destined to obtain informa.
ton which should have its influence on
another side Of the Globe. How inscru>
table are the ways of Providence But
so 1t IL. Here am in the midst of hum
dreds OF thousands of Siamese, and Chi
nese. and others, who. while receiving
with thankfuluess the fruits of the press,
are astonished at its operations. For
ages they have been dependent on the
slow and tedious multiplication OF books
by 'oriting: and he who wished to be-.
come acquainted with the feelings and
sentiments Of his ancestors, had TO tax
his purse severely. But those in author.
ity are at last beginning to open their
eyes upon the improvements OF others ::
and their former prejudices against for
eigners and foreign articles. is evidently
giving way to desire for imitation :
and many Of those in high standing no
longer question the superiority which
Europeans or Ameri cans have over this
nation in many respects. The Prah.
clarng or minister of Foreign affairs, has
now in his possession an old wooden
press which was bors owed of some OF the
| Missionaries here, that he might under.
stand its operation, or make some effort
in printing. The desirableness Of hav-
ing complete printing apparatus to.
gether with fount OF English type,
was not long since seriously talk ed of ;
and the first favorable opportunity that
offers, may afford the qualification of
! their wishes.
The Prince Chow Far who was once
thought to be the probable successor to
the throne. and who may yet reach il, is
constructing vessels OH the European
model, and is endeavoring to enrich his
mind with information calculated to
beneh, the nation. He is, probably 25
years of age. and speaks and writes Eu,
glish tolerably we'll.
The only merchant here now is Mr..
Hunter. gentleman. through whose in.
slrumrDtality the two Siamese youth
were discovered and sent abou, as a Gu
riosity. This port is visited by Euro
Pean and American vessels, and the
principal cargo they take away is sugar.
The soil OF the country IS very rich. and
might be made to produce almost any
Quantity OF the cane, or any thing else.
The soil is principally cultivated by the
Chinese, who compose, perhaps, three
iourths Of the whole population.
"The printing establishment under
my charge, has in il foun,s Of Siamese,
Chinese and English type. In these
languages, the two first principally,
there have been printed nearly million
three thousand pages octave.
81 remain, dear Sir.
With much esteem, yours &c.
ROBERT D. DAVENPORT.
American Missionary to Siam.
TO THOMAS Richie, Ed. Richmond
Enquirer, Va, u. S.