New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-08
THE SECOND KING OF SIfM

! Intelligence has been received at Washington
by the Departnent OF State through the United states
Representative Bangkok OF the death or His Majesty
Krom Phra RaIowang Bohors stham Mongol. the Second
King OF siam. This eminent sovereign when lie was
prince conceived singular foudness for this country
and its int ituons. aud affixed to his lengthy title that
George Washin gt0n by which nans lac preferred 70
he Addressed by Foreigners and especially by Americans
Before he elevated TO tue some what anomalous
position OF Second King. he became profound and
industrious student and under the tuition OF the Amer
lean missionaries he acquired considerable knowledge
of the AMI general literature. upon which sub
jects very fond OF conrersug with all those who
visited h- palace lie also possessed considerable
knowledge Of English jurisprudence ANA was practical
chemist and mstican. He had valuable library
In which could be found nearly 9 tho standard works on
astronomy and chemistry. aud aadcd 10 his library was
an extensive laboratory containing mechanical and
scientific Instruments II Is said that hn calculated
eclipses with remarkable accuracy and made other
puations astronomy which attracted the attention Of
eminent astronomers
Although he enjoyed tho title OF King, he possessed
royal prerogatyes and participated 10 the
orHment tue realla The peculiarities Of Sianese
royalty mperiecty understood ny foreign nations,
and IL Is didcu to comprehend bow two Kings eAist
In cOuntry at the same peri0t NIs explained
in this way: In former times. when Siam subjected
to ternI nvasOns by foreign foes which
overthrow existing dynssties the generals who led the
armies OF the nation and repellcd the nVasions or
brought Ieace 10 the county the art OF diplomacy
according 70 the custom OF the country considered
entitled the highest hOnors which the nation
codd confer upon them and instead OF claiming for
the exclusive right to aud enjoy all the
honors and einoiuments OF the XIII gdOn rolnse
agreed upon between them. by which one OF their
number eIevated the tArUne and the others
accepted ranks inferior grade In instances
posts OF honor thus appooned were accert ted under
solemn pledges That each would stake his EOnor talents
fortune and ms life In sustaining the rights aud
position Of the other by this ~ stem which eventually
became established custom Of the country, Siam
At time three Kings aud the OF
present system, siam has been blessed with only two
moHarchs and since the enhancement OF the present
Supreme King tue royal privileges Of tue late second
KING measursbiy cuitaed by the senabodee or
nominal utle OF Second King possessed palace had Ills
Ministers OF state and War and received an ample allow
In addition TO this he had cuarge Of the forthca
tons of tue Royal City, owned two or three guLhOas,
and when invited by the Supreme King. participated la
the deliberations OF the Council OF State.
the Siamese call their FIRST supreme King the Wang
Luang and the Second King The Wang Ma During the
cary history Of Siam was tue Gus ON for the Wang
Ma second King to succeed TO the supreme power
This custom abolished about hty years agO. wh,n
law enacted providing that tho 10 the
Coancii OF state The right Of primogrnure has never
recognized IN SIAM and the event ~ the death Ui
the present monarch OF his younger brothers
OF his eldest might euccced him. IN siamese history
the OF rOvaity show that at varous periods there
were instances when Wang Mas. OF Second Kings, aid
not exist aud There were also periods whcn three Kings
gnoi having almost equal powers During the reign
OF Somdctch Phra Chaun Kiow. his Majesty appointed
hs younger brother, Prince tnIw fah krOmakdn, the
Wang Ma Second klnR. and during the rcigu ~ tns
present monarch, Chuh"uGkorn, the -Sensbodcc -
ellen ated the late Second King WHO Was then prince
Before stated and his cousin la tine royal post which he
had the time Of his death. II is not likely. in of
the proerc ssfve policy Of the SUPREME ne ana tho
changes which been adopting governmental
system that the vacancy will be fe1 that the
death Of the Second King the once is practically