The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-04-21

in magnificent golden wrought kincobs
from the celebrated looms of Lenares, and
crouching on their elbows and knees. The
Princes were in the same position on tao
left near his Majesty.
We advanced near the centre of the Hall
as far as the front line of the crouching
courtiers, where rugs were spread on the
carpet, and on which we were invited to be
seated after having bowed twice to his
Majesty. The talk then commenced. His
Majesty addressed himself to the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, who was on the right
between US and his Majesty; the Minister
repeated the royal remark to his under
Secretary, who sat at his back; he in turn
repeated the same to our interpreter, who
finally detailed them to Mr. Harris, and the
reply of the Commissioner was forced to
go through the same channels before it was
considered to have reached the Royal ears.
After little talk of this fashion, His Ma
jesty commenced to sip his coffee and con-
verse with some of the Princes, who ap-
preached him by crawling on their bellies.
In the course of an hour, he placed the pis-
tol in his belt and walked out at side door.
After few minutes we were told that the
King would see us privately, and we were
conducted into a small plain Office, like that
of private gentleman, where we found His
Majesty seated at writing table, waiting
to have us introduced individually. He
invited us to sit opposite him, when he i'm
mediately commenced to display his learn
ing by an attempt to converse in English,
which he spoke with much difficulty. He
also copversed in Latin, which he called the
Biblia language, and spoke of the Prsee
and other languages as being known to him;
while he was evidently anxious to allude to
his being a member of some European An
touarian Societies. He handed us a letter
to read, which he had written in English;
and after some few other pedantic displays,
he proceeded, in our presence, to write
letter in English to the President of the u.
States, pausing occasionally to inquire the
spelling of word. He handed the Letter
to Mr. Harris, with his autograph card, for
Mr. Marcy. His printed card he presented
to each of US. 1 suppose he had heard of
the European custom of exchanging cards,
and did not exactly apprehend its signif-
cance. In fine, his Majesty is evidently
more of a pedunt than king. Though
the son of king and heir to throne, he
was put aside in infancy, and became
Buddhist priest in which office he was re-
quired to instruct both men and boys, and
acquired in this way most of his infOrma-
ton with his habits of pedantry. He is
now fifty years of age.
The Second King is about the age Of the
First. The writer paid him visit, in com
pany with party of officers. lie received
us with all the ease of a polished gentleman,
conversing fuently in English and without
the least restraint TO any one. We were
shown those well executed statuettes of
Napoleon ], Victoria and Albert, which
were the work of his own hands, and which
no other person in Siam could have made.
He is exceedingly ambitious to cultivate
European accomplishments and pastimes,
and to set an example of Improvement in
this respect TO his countrymen. He gave
US tea after our own fashion, doing the hon
ors of dishing it at his table. During our
visit, which lasted from till 7 p. M, two
of his old wives were present, resting on
their elbows and knees, and crawling about
the room, without ever rising to their feet,
while they chatted and laughed with him
He seemed to treat them
with kindness and respect, Notwithstanding
the custom of the country which requires
them to crawl at his feet. Recently an
English lady made present of her smelling
bottle to the favorite wife. The next day
she received from the palace small vial,
piece of the skin of the White
Elephant, which died two or three years
ago. This most precious and venerable
relic was esteemed the greatest proof that
ness and galIantry in exchanging presents.
AN ALABAMA QUARTETTE.-The Selma
(Ala.l Sentinel, states that negro woman
belonging to Mr. Garner, living near
Alabama, gave birth to four
children (thrce girls and one boy) on the
% h ultimo. They are all living and said
to be thriving. The whole Of them only
weighed fifteen pounds.
SOUTHERN CGEDIr.-A letter from New
FORK, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, speaking
of the dry-goods trade, remarks:
sThe payments from the North and
West continue very backward, and good
many small failures are weekly chronicled
in these sections. From the South, OH the
other hand, prompt returns are made, and
the credit of our friends on the other side OF
Mason and Dixon's line never stood better
than it does at this moment, probably on
account Of the large yield of cotton during
the last two seasons and the unusually high
pr;ees realized therefor"