New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE sIAMEsE COURT.

nm sal Fields, 0sgood, q 20
CT .oors Of virtual bondage in the royal palace AZ
BANGKOK. subject TO the caprices OF the parpaivos
nrarcb Of SIAM has furnished the authoress Oh u'ii'
xolpme with the materials for mover ana Ii'oieS'
;no work In the Winter of 1852 she received oNci-
tnres through the Siamese Consul at singapore 10
naor,oke the education of the children of the king
Who desired TO secure the services OF an EnghSh
lady for that purpose In spite of the circumstances
~ her friends who warned her of the dangers ana
trials incident to the enterprise, she accepted 'o
proposal and soon began 10 look forward with e'nu
,;asm 10 the accomplishment of her project
Having taken passage in little Samese s,e@ Ss
IN The month Of March. she arrived Ih 'no ''i-
Siam on a beautiful Spring morning anu am
anchor in the river Meinam, before lahuine III 'no
ROYAL City Here an exciting scene was Pio'S
her ewes The river swarmed WIN every Ni"" -
nondescrint craft worked by grim ana sWntnS'
balf-naked creatures who filed the ar WIN '"oi
~ seoordap, cries Several old hulks of men-oi-
war Aoated in the distance. and on one slde were
.aon tbe brold roofs Of the Palace of Bangkok chi
80 coolies with pigtails braided round their low
r.oo1nO brows filed the air with their frantic
,hou,s and gestures Soon a splendid gondola, IN
The shane of a dragon, with flashing torches ana
mapv paddles, made its appearance, bearing
Samese official who came 10 do the hohoIs
to the English governeSs His dress was III
the fashion Of the primeval times, when hg-ieaVes
were the prevailing wear. A red skirt was loose!
folded about his person while his chest and shoulders
were covered only with his own brown pohsned SKIN.
He was followed on board the steamer by crowd OF
attendants who sprawled on the deck like monstrous
toads doubling their arms and legs under them, and
pressing their noses against the boardsas TO reduce
their uncOmely proportions. The half-naked ohi-
cial beckoned 10 one Of them, who crawled to nm
as a dog crawls TO an angry master. and commanded
him TO question the lady IN English. orleI
coHoquy took place between them IN which she mas
that no arrangeme II has been made for her recep-
ton and no place provided for her abode The official
,b,uptlv took leave, and in this dilemma
,be had no resource but to mourn over
her folly in ventuIing upon her rash scheme
"Iwas dumbfoundered, without even voice to inquire
II there was hotel ia the city; and my servants
were scornfully mute. My kind friend the captain,
was sorely puzzled. He would have sheltered us If
he could but cloud Ct rc> J dust and the stamping
and screaming of a NJ I'D and fifty Cinnamon
made hospitality impracticable so / made little
bel for my child on deck and prepared to pass the
night with him under a canopy of stars Inc stua-
ton was as Oriental the scene-hearlcss arbitrary
insoence on the part Of my employers homeless
ness forornness helplessneSs, modification indig-
nation. Oh mine. Fears and nusEvings crowded and
stunned me. My tears fell thick and fast, and,
weary and despaiTing, closed my eyes, and tined TO
shut out heaven and earth; but the reflection
would return to mock and goad me, that by my
own act and against the advice OF my friends, had
placed myself in this position
She was at length relieved from her unpleasant
predicament by the arrival of an English captain,
who cordially invited her to make his house her
home assuring her of a hosptable reception from
his wife. The kindness OF Ills lady gave fresh
courage to the newcomer Her pleasant smile i,;a
her house like Paradise, and the simplicity and
Tentleness of her manner dspelled every anxious
thought. The next morning the English teacher
was summoned 10 an interview with the Prime Min
lister and the scene was 30 characteristic that we
eiye il in her own words. --..,s =. e.-~.--
eoon after breakfast the Prime Minister'S boat with
the save Pe e me- to his paae INC
In about quarter Of hour we found ourselves IL
ward or compound" paved with rough-heyn slabs o
stone brace OF Chinese mandaT ms q feTQcious aspect
entrance Further on paf Of menat arms IN bassrelie
challenged -, Ind near these were posted two hNine
in was pavilion for theatrical enteltauments o..
.ntirc w"i being covered viii sttnc cfif5s. on tit
dgi C seWercnlar faeGde in the back ground
range 81 buildings Of considerable extent comprising n'
Of these houses charming garden OF MOWERS ~ IN,
midst Of which refreshing fountain PLAYED ms PIT
lercvs residence ahOunded within in carvings and GID
ing, elegant IN design and Color that blended anu ,
onized in peasDg fleets with the luxurious orapere
that hung ia rich folds from the windows.
We moved softly as the interpreter LED us ttIough
suite spacious saloons disposed in ascending tiers an'
an carpetod candclahraed, and appointed in the mos
costly European fashion A suItrO vase OF SILVER EN-
bossed and Furnished stood on table inlaid with mother
ofpear and chased with silver Flowers of great variety
and beauty filled the rooms with delicious thougi
g,S I abteS win rare vases eweed cups and boxes
FURNISHED chalices, dainty tatuettes-oets de rTta-
Oriental and European, antique and modern blending
the old barbaic plendOrs with the gace OF the yOug
As we waited. fascinated and bewildered the Prime
Minister suddenly stood before us-the se!nlLude baIba
ran Of last night lost my presence OF lnnd' anq u
held ont his hand, saving Good morning SIR! Take
seat Sir " which did somewhat shyly, but not without
smile for his comical ST." sped numbered young
girls peeping at us from behind curtains while the male
attendants among whom were his younger brothers
nephews and cousins, crouehed III the atechamDer on
all fOurs. Ills EXceency with an expression or pleased
curiosity and that same grand Inconsistencies OF MS
alarming poverty OF costume approached US nearly, ana
with kindly sUle p2ttlng Boy on me head asked Inn
home Please mamma come home " and found II not
Prcscntv mastering courage for myself also / ven
tred to wish for aquiet house apartments
might be free from intrusion, and at perfect lib
erty before and after school hours.
When tins reasonable request was interpreted TO him
me, smiling if surprised and amused that should
have notions the subject of liberty. Quickly this look
became inqustve and significant, that began TO
fancy he had doubts to the might make Of my
stipulated freedom, and puzzled to conjecture why
woman should wish 10 be free at all Some such thought
must have passed through his mind for he said abruptly
You not married.
bowed.
Then whore will you 60 in the EVENING""
NOT any where, your EXccleucy / simply desire 70
secure Tor myself and my child hours of privacy
and rest when my duties do not require my presence
elsewhere"
How many years your husband has been dead 2" he
asked.
IrePned that his Excelency had no right TO pry into
nay domestic concerns. His business with me as a
governess only on any other subject declined convers-
Ing. enjoyed the expression blank engagement with
which be garded me on receiving this defiant
reply Tam chair" {" Please yourselfil he said and
proceeded TO pace 10 and fro but Without turning his
from my face ceasiRg 70 smile. Then he slid SOME
thing 20 his attendants, i've or six Of whom raising them
selves their kneeswith theireyes fixed uuon The car
pet, crawled backward till they reached the steus