Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-12

ks forces and they consulted with each other and with
the prominent officers how they might the alegi
Of all the provinces which had formerly been under
the sovereignty Of the Kings Of SIAM The fayorte stood
ready to go in any direction, following the will OF his
honored King and attempt any service which might pro-
mote the honor and dignity Of his majesty. The KING
laid out the provinces already subdued into townships,
and appointed officers Of state, military Chiefs and
Judges following the precedents of the ancient soyeregns
lie consulted with his ayorite respecting plans Tor regu
lang the public policy adopting laws for the webeing
OF the country and deysng means OF defence against the
Burmans who would undoubtedly again invade the king
DOM He was ambitious to restore the Kingdom 10 its
former consequence and with such adviser as ne found
in his yorte he was assured that in any rea-
sonabe enterprise was easy.
His confidence in his favorite knew no bounds. He
insisted on knowing all his kindred that he might honor
them with rank and dignity worthy their alhance In
the frequent inquiries of the King the general told him
that he had elder brother superior to himself in every
noble quality-brave, bold, and wise. he related how
his brother had fled from Aynha when the city taken
by the Burmans and dwelt for time with his fatherin
law and from thence, when the Burmans had penetra-
ted into that province how he and his family had con-
cealed themselves in wood at Bangkong Since the late
conquest OF Bangkong being restored he SAID his
brother and family had returned to their old residence,
and living very happily under the protection Of the
Samese governor whom the king had lately appointed
that province
As soon as the King knew of this person. so worthy
and nearly allied by blood his tried fyorite he
dered fast boat to be made ready appointed appropriate
guards and sent to invite this parsonage to repair with
when the King received him with all due hospitality be-
slowing various valuable articles of apparel and other
suitable presents The first object of the King was to
prove rne worth of this friend by placing him in
post to try his wisdom, prudence, and vaor having
found him in every respect worthy and delighted with his
skill and industry he advanced hm from post to post in
offices of trust till he equal power with his honored
brother and from that time they called the senior
and junior generals
In the second year of the reign of Phya TAX these
generals were sent to the northern provinces with great
rFuU yuf a1ht
had assumed the title of the Prince of Kora This prince
had acquired considerable power and seemed opposed
the sovereign of SIAM but he had for few years past
made hostilities waiting for reinforcements to his
He had feared too the speedy return of the Bur-
not knowing, did the king that the Chinese
warning with that nation, having entered the kingdom in
two different directions with force of eighty thou
sand strong Burmah had had enough to do at home for
the last three four years. without ayengng herself Of
her enemies abroad The King of Siam was acquainted
with this fact and ayaed himself of this respite to sub
due his enemies in what lawfully the kingdom of
Siam and among these he reckoned the Prince Of Korat
and he was now to make attempt bring him into his
power
To give particular of this Prince of Korat
must review briefly the close of the ancient history of
Ayutha. This prince the Of Bromaaat, King Of
SIAM the seventh of the last dynasty of ancient Ayutha
and the esteemed father of it's two last kings The title
of this prince Monkut kromamenmem denoted less rank
than that of Chaufa the title of his two younger brothers.
This not because he deficient in prudence abl
ty or integrity but owing to neriority in his maternal
descent and it was this account that he not ee
waited to the throne the demise of his father but the
crown given to his two brothers in succession.
Owing to this exclusion from the throne and certain
sricons laid him by the people, he became object
suspicion to the reigning monarch Hsyounges brother
raised to the throne seemed constantly watching
opportunity to bring the prince into his kngly power To
avoid the danger which constantly threatened him he OBJ
tanned from his majesty the king to enter the
priesthood Of Budha in imitation of the kings brother of
whom we have before spoken Even this did not allay
the kings suspicion The prince increased this disrust
by forfyng his residence at the wat tempe1 by stock
AIDES adequate for the protection of himself and military
forces On this account the king caused him be seized
and put board Dutch ship, be released at Ceylon
where there was nation of Budhsts, with whom his
brother might live rs priest and thus free him from
fear without the guilt of putting the object of his suspi-
Glen to death.
The prince left Siam with few servants and arrived
in Ceyon in the 1853 1889 He remained in the
island under the protection of its king four five
years At the end Of this period hearing through GER
tain Dutch merchants that the Burmese were about to
make war upon SIAM he concluded this proof Of the
king wickedncss and Ignorance, and felt that this
same account he had been excluded from the throne
therefore watched his opportunity, from the
priesthood secured passage board Dutch ship bound
for the Malay Peninsula and from thence he made his
way to Taoy port in that part of Burmah bordering on
the Bay Of Bengal which this nation ceded to the English
in their last From Tavey he journeyed by land,
reached Siam and took up his residence at Nakon Nayo
town about forty miles from Ayuthia Here he collect
ed considerable force from the southeastern portion of
the country to assist the Samese in opposing the nvad
enemy he sent private letters of the officers
Of Government and to many of the noblemen nsgatng
them to dethrone the rcgning monarch and the
time assuring them If he could be nstated in his majes
tvs place he would free the country from the invading
enemy in two years. and offering privately the
city to assist them in accomplishing these objects Many
of the chief officers and nobemen were pleased with the
dea and replied to the princes letters that they would
gladly give him their utmost assistance in securing the
sovereignty and their warmest support in opposing the
enemy They further advised that he should hasten to
repair to the city.
At this time the siege already commenced provi-
sions in the city, and the Burmans ella
ted with the prospect of immediate conquest Many of
the Samese fed and placed themselves under the protec
ton Of the prince at Nakon Nayok Some of this number
advised the prince to repair privately to Ayua and OPP
pose the INVADERS others assured him that his forces
entirely inadequate the conquest and adj
yised him to secrete himself in retired wood
pair to other country and secure an acquisition of
forces
While he was delaying his mind unsettled by opposite
councils Ayuthia destroyed by the Burmsns Many
Samese noblemen escaped the captivity their enemies
Some took refuge in the northern frontiers Siam Some
fled to Lagore and with the people Of that province
sumed the attitude Of defence and in the Of the
king protected their little realm Another party
fled to Nakon Nayok and put themselves under the pro-
lection of the prince The prince hearing that Ayutha
destroyed and afterwards that the Burmans were
taking to capture those Siamese who had fed
from the capital took the alarm himself and fed with
his attendants from Nakon Nayok and penetrated into
large forest called Dong Phyaa lying between Southern
Siam and the northwestern province which Korat the
principal city.
Korat is city inhabited by some 90 600 Samese It's
latitude and longitude have been accurately determn
ed 1t is perhaps loo Ice " latitude and about
1909 1922 Z. longitude 1t is strongly fortified by
brick wall impregnabe than that around Bangkok
but only about one third Of its extent Around kornt