Bangkok Recorder (English) 1865-1867

The 1865-67 English language editions of the Bangkok Recorder are very different from the earlier 1844-45 printings:

• Content and Focus: The 1844-45 edition had a more academic and general knowledge focus, with articles on science, philology, and fables, but it contained very little information about Siam itself. The 1865-67 English edition is a true news journal, with a heavy emphasis on local life and current events. It includes editorials commenting on recent events and detailed chronicles of local happenings.

• Tone and Editorial Freedom: The earlier edition is extremely cautious and reserved, avoiding local political subjects due to the Siamese government’s policy of isolation and a general distrust of foreigners. The later English edition adopts a bold and independent tone, with opinions expressed freely and even criticizing high-ranking officials and foreign diplomats. This newfound freedom was a direct result of the political transformation under King Mongkut. However, the strong opinions expressed ultimately led to Bradley being sentenced for defamation against French Consul Aubaret and fined $100 in the American Consular Court.

• Purpose: The original publication’s conveyed “useful information” to the Siamese people, while the later English edition was a full-fledged news periodical covering politics, literature, science, and commerce. This shift in purpose also changed its format from a monthly publication to a bi-weekly (and later weekly) journal.

Reader’s Notes

• The text is reproduced as faithfully as possible including archaic spellings, a few typos and some unusual typesetting.
• Text lines are reproduced as per the original newspaper with line breaks, hyphenation etc maintained.
• A commonly used archaic expression relates to dates:
  • “inst” refers to the current month, e.g. on the 15th inst. means 15th of this month.
  • “ult” refers to last month, e.g. on the 15th ult. means 15th of last month.
• A small number of words are illegible in the source material and are instead represented with […] in the online version.

Content

1865

• January 16th
  Modernization & political change / Western influence & treaties / Foreign publications & travelogues critiques / Book reviews / Social change & attitudes toward foreigners / International news / American Civil War & slavery / Indigenous peoples & rural life / Satire, humor, & social commentary

• February 1st
  Royal ceremonies & court life / Rice famine & agriculture / American Civil War & Lincoln’s re-election / International news / Chinese & Siamese festivals & customs / Economic changes & trade opportunities / Oil discovery & industry / Community relations among foreigners / Social customs & multicultural influences

• February 15th
  Oil exploration / Modernization & advancement in Siam / Railroads & telegraph development / Social & political change in Siam / American Civil War & Lincoln’s re-election / International relations / Racial attitudes in America / Industrialization / Travel & rural life / Satire, humor, & anecdotes

• March 1st
  Oil exploration / Travel & exploration / Social & political change / Economic modernization / Financial reform / Education & literacy / International relations / American Civil War & Andersonville prison / French colonial administration in Cochin-China

• March 16th
  Romanization of Siamese place names / Travel in northern Siam & Laos / Topography & local customs of Siam / Philosophy & critique of metaphysics / Cambodian history & society / French colonial administration in Cochin-China / International politics & European leaders / Social commentary & satire / Modernization & infrastructure projects in Siam

• April 1st
  Weather, drought, & agriculture / Satire & public perception of editors / Paris & French historical architecture / Education & modernization / The Great Bengal Cyclone & disaster relief / Buddhist relics & temple legends / American Civil War military news / International diplomacy / Social conditions & famine in Bengal / Global political developments

• April 15th
  Siamese-French-Cambodian diplomatic conflict / Significance of the white elephant / Songkran festival & local customs / Gambling & social behavior / American Civil War generals / History of Tuileries & European royalty / Sugar production & steam mill / Drought & agriculture / Travel & politics in northern Siam & Laos / International telegraph & railway extension projects

• May 1st
  Siamese-French-Cambodian treaty / American Civil War military leadership / Travel & society in northern Siam / Canal & road construction / Agriculture & irrigation / Sugar industry & economic modernization / International news / Social customs & markets in Laos / Satire & anecdotes

• May 16th
  Siamese-French diplomatic tensions & treaties / French colonial expansion / American Civil War military campaigns / Opium trade & law enforcement / Economic modernization: canals, railroads, & agriculture / Rachaburee & Nakawn-cheisee regional development / Social satire, anecdotes, & humor / International news / Obituaries

• June 1st
  Siamese-French-Cambodian diplomatic conflict / French colonial administration in Cochin China / Gambling mania / American Civil War & abolition of slavery / Travel diary: hot springs / Agricultural conditions & weather / Social customs & hospitality / Economic modernization / Entertainment, feasts, & multicultural society

• June 16th
  Assassination & legacy of Abraham Lincoln / End of American Civil War & Confederate armies surrender / Biographies of American generals / French Revolution / Robbery & foreigner’s legal disputes / Economic conditions / Travel diary: hot springs / International relations / Social anecdotes, satire, & community events

• July 1st
  Aftermath of Assassination of Abraham Lincoln / Trial of John Wilkes Booth / End of American Civil War & Confederate surrenders / Andrew Johnson’s policies on treason / International news / Economic conditions / Travel diary: hot springs / Social anecdotes, & community events / Obituary of Paul Schill

• July 15th
  American Independence Day celebration in Bangkok / Abraham Lincoln’s assassination & legacy / End of American Civil War & emancipation / Travel diary: hot springs / Ethnography & customs of the Karen people / Siamese royal births & titles / Counterfeiting & crime in Bangkok / Major fire & urban safety in Bangkok / French colonial policy & commerce in Cochin China

• August 1st
  Postwar United States politics / Emancipation & the status of freedmen / U.S. claims against Britain (Alabama claims) / Chinese rebellions & political instability / Agriculture & rice crop prospects / Gambling in Siamese society / Travel in northern Siam / Legal system & court practices / Ethnography & politics of the Karen people / Abraham Lincoln’s Funeral & legacy

• August 16th
  Chinese secret societies & rebellion in Bangkok / Political intrigue & banishment of conspirators / United States national debt / Canal construction / French Revolution / Aftermath of American Civil War in Charleston / Slavery, emancipation & social change in the American South / Ethnography & rural life in Sweden (Brothers Leinhardt) / Agriculture & weather in Siam / Counterfeiting & legal responses in Bangkok

• September 1st
  Rice export prohibition & famine concerns / Agricultural conditions & weather / Taxation & monopoly on coconut oil / Currency reform & counterfeiting issues / Horticulture & tropical fruits / Rice cultivation & agricultural practices / British parliamentary elections / European diplomatic relations & conflicts / Aftermath of the American Civil War in the South / Social commentary, anecdotes, & humor

• September 16th
  French-Siamese diplomatic conflict / International court cases / Agricultural practices & crop production / Garden culture, flowers, & horticulture / Social customs & daily life / European parliamentary elections & political developments / Execution of Lincoln assassination conspirators / U.S. postwar politics & President Johnson’s policies / Economic modernization & coinage reform in Siam / Anecdotes, social commentary, & humor

• September 30th
  Agricultural recovery & rice crop prospects / Irrigation & water management / Decline of Chinese rice mills & rise of steam mills / Chinese community & migration in Siam / Taxation & monopoly on coconut oil & trees / Currency reform, coinage, & counterfeiting / Elephant festival & royal ceremonies / Atlantic telegraph cable & global communications / International news / Social commentary, anecdotes, & humor

• October 14th
  Currency reform & introduction of new coins / Attitudes toward modernization & foreign advice / Art, history, & the Inquisition / Agricultural conditions & Petchaburi rice crop / Engineering & irrigation projects / Social change & philanthropy (The Brothers Leinhardt) / U.S. national debt & whiskey taxation / Economic priorities vs public welfare / American Civil War & its historical significance / Royal processions

• November 1st
  Social status & etiquette among foreign consuls in Siam / Jesuitism & the history of the Society of Jesus / Royal & temple ceremonies in Bangkok / Buddhism versus Christianity / Naming & development of new canals & roads / Agricultural prospects & rice crops / Commodity markets / Justice in the United States / Social customs, anecdotes, & humor / Photography & technological services

• November 15th
  Buddhism versus Christianity / King Mongkut’s reforms / Jesuitism & Catholic education / Weather patterns, floods, & agriculture / Social satire, anecdotes, & humor / P.T. Barnum’s Wine deception / American Civil War aftermath & Southern reconstruction / International news / Commodity markets & economic conditions / Industrialization & technological services in Bangkok

• December 1st
  Infrastructure development in Siam / Social customs & marriage anecdotes / Gambling & social consequences / Jesuitism & Catholic missionary history / Royal ceremonies, palace restoration, & royal deaths / Agricultural prospects & rice crops / International news / Economic modernization & public works / Social satire, poetry, & humor / Deaths, obituaries, & estate settlements

• December 16th
  Urban nuisances & public health / Taxation & regulation of dogs in Bangkok / Seri (fish) gardens & environmental impact / Agricultural prospects & rice crops / Flooding & weather effects on harvest / Economic hardship & business practices / Borrowed capital & cautionary tales / U.S. Consular Court & legal proceedings / Social satire, anecdotes, & humor / International news

• December 30th
  Reflections on the passing year / Health, mortality, & notable deaths in Bangkok / Royal births & deaths in the Siamese royal family / Social class, ancestry, & social commentary / Family reconciliation & Christmas traditions / Economic conditions, rice crop, & business outlook / Steam rice mills & industrial modernization / International relations / British & French political developments / Anecdotes, humor, & social satire

1866-67

• To be published at a later date.

Statistics

• 320 articles
• 40,000 text lines