Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-19
The Late King of siam-Peculiar Mourn
ing, Etc.
From the Newark Advertiser, 5th.l

From the Newark Advertiser, 5th.l
The following interesting account is
taken from private letter recently
written to her friends in this city by a
Newark lady new missionary in Siam !:
"You have doubtless before this,
through the ocean telegraph, heard of
the death Of the King Of Siam, on the
lst of October. If be had lived until
the 18Th he would have completed
his sixty-fourth year. His favorite
science was astronomy, and in his love
and zeal for it, he went to Hu Waw,
on the coast of the Gulf of Siam, to
witness the great solar eclipse Of August
IS. This was his last public act. he
gave general invitation TO foreigners
to 60, and provided handsomely for them
at 40 expense of $4,000 He seemed
to erjoy all very much, and was very
accurate 10 the Astronomical observa-
tons he made, Shortly after his return
to bis palace here, he was seized with
fever, md TT refusing Ps himself ;:sae.
the care Of foreign physicians, but
trusting entirely to native prescriptions,
it soon terminated fatally.
Kalshome, Prime Minister, who is as
energetic and prudent ss he Is powerful,
took the lead in matters, nominated his
successor, and gave all the necessary
orders 10 preserve the peace. The Oldest
son of his late Majesty, born September
81, 1853. just fifteen years ago, was
unanimously chosen by the Grand State
Council Of Princes and Mobiles, TO be
their future king. Prince George
Washington, the eldest son Of the late
Second King, who died about two years
and half ago, was also chosen 10 ell
his fathers place as tia 'Wagnab, or
Second King He is just thirty years Of
age. This now is the eleventh Siemese
month. Eleven Is an odd number, and
therefore an unlucky one, so the corona
ton ceremonies cannot take place till
next month.
"A few days since we, with some others
Of the missionaries, gentlemen aud ladies,
obtained permission through the Ameri-
can consul, and went to pay our respects
10 the royal remains as they lie, or rather
cit in state in the royal pavilion. There,
in golden urn on a raised throne, with
all the paraphernalis of royalty around
him-with the golden betel-box and tray,
the golden tea set, the pipes inlaid with
diamonds, and other costly things which
be daily used, spread out before him,
was all that remained Of His Ma.
jesly. At stated tines through the
day, and every night, the women
Of the palace 90 there to vail and
mourn. A sad event it is TO them, espe-
cially to the hundreds Of wives and nu-
merous children of the deceased. About
thirty Of these wives are the mothers Of
his sixty or more children now living
With their elder brother on the throne,
the brothers AID sisters will probably be
provided for. However large the private
fortune Of their royal father may have
been, there are so many 10 share il that
each caBuo; have any great amount
While al the palace We also went 10
pay cur respects TO the young king elect.
We we're all introduced By the cousul,
and His Majesty received US standing,
shook hands with us eli, thanked us 10
English for our good wishes and congrat
ulations upon his accession 10 the throne,
and then excused himself, ssying be vas
very weak. be, too, hiss been IN with
fever ever since his return from the as
Economical tour He looks very feeble,
and may not live 10 be crowned.