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Bangkok April 15th.

History bears out the fact that great events are usually crowded together in a brief period of time. And so it appears in Siam. During the fortnight which in-

tervenes between the issues of our paper, there is usually so little transpires, that we have scarcely anything worth recording. Two remarkable events however are this time crowded into the brief space of two weeks, since our last issue. The usual quiet and monotony of the city and the Kingdom has been ruffled by the summary and un- ceremonious arrival amongst us of H. I. M. Gun boat "Mitraille". Indeed she has creat- ed quite a panic in some quarters. Accord- ing to reports she passed Paknam with ports open,—guns run out and manned, and shot and shell strewed upon deck ready for action. In vain did the poor authorities display their signals in order that she should pay them the usual civilities and obtain permission to ascend the river.

This too is the more ridiculous as we sup- pose the authorities there had not the slight- est idea of the cause of this warlike attitude. Had she however known the condition of the forts she certainly would not have taken the precautions to prepare for action, for we suppose it would require at least twenty four hours notice to be ready to fire a gun from any of them. But why this uncere- monious arrival amongst us!

Some time ago the French authorities at Saigon assumed the prerrogative of taking under their protection the Prince of Cam- bodia, and of treating with him indepen- dent of the King of Siam to whom he was tributary. At this the Siamese authorities were no doubt chagrined but they prompt- ly yielded the point. The French treaty gave them exclusive privilege with Cam-

bodia and no other power could treat there without special permision to do so. In answer to some inquiries however from other powers, and especially from the Eng- lish Foreign Office, the French declared they did not wish to hold the exclusive privilege of trading with Combodia.

Acting upon such a declaration or per- haps a similar one granted privately to them, the Siamese authorities proceeded to negotiate a treaty with Cambodia, which covered nearly, if not all the original ground, and necessarily contravened some of the articles of the French treaty. The treaty of the Siamese was published, and the question was naturally asked which one was to be followed. The French could therefore do nothing less than demand the abrogation of that treaty.

The demand it is said was made by the Consul, and yielded before the gun boat ar- rived. In this affair the Siamese evidently did wrong, and it will probably teach them never again to do anything in a secret un- derhanded way. They had already yielded to the French the right to treat with and protect Cambodia independent of them. Having done this, they should not then have concluded a treaty with Cambodia, embodying articles which would contravene the French treaty. The fact is they should not have yielded in the first instance. It is true they had not the power to resist but they could have protested to the other treaty powers and then if they had to yield they would at least have shown some appear- ance of being game.

All due concessions have however been made, and the treaty it is said publicly dis- troyed, and it is to be hoped the French will be satisfied and not again assume the prerogative of protecting powers tributary to other nations.

Another event however has occurred which will doubtless in a manner atone for this apparent humiliation, and compensate for all previous concessions. Another white elephant has been found in the forest and surrounded. His Excellency the Pra-klang it is said together with some others has gone post haste to the place to assist in securing the precious creature. Should they be successful and succeed in bringing her to Bangkok, the event will augur well for the future prosperity of the kingdom.

Such will be the power of her presence, that the "Mitraille" might almost venture to scatter some of her mischievous missiles around indiscriminately and they would doubtless prove perfectly harmless. It is to be hoped however that she will not be killed with kindness as some of her pre- decessors have been.

These greater events doubtless cast the Song-Kran somewhat in the shade. The people however appear to be enjoying their play. Every house has become during the holidays a gambling house, and the whole family from the oldest to the youngest may oftentimes be seen seated around in a circle wasting precious time in gambling.

The number of red cloths too, displayed around by the young of both sexes indicate that something unusual is going on.

Some too are making sand gods at the Wats, the belief being, that any one who succeeds during his life time in making 4500 of those gods will have secured merit sufficient to clear him from all future punishment. These performances and a rather formidable procession which took place in conveying a stuffed elephant to one of the Wats at Ban-Ta-wai completed the general round of amusements.

AMERICAN GENERALS.

No war since the day that wars first be- gan when Abraham punished the treacher- ous kings of the plain, has been prolific of so many Generals as the present momentous struggle in the United States. On the side of the government at least seventy five Major, and about four hundred Brigadier Generals are the result of a four years con- test. But perhaps two thirds of the Major, and very many of the Brigadier have been laid upon the shelf, never again to be taken down. When the Rebellion broke out, Lieu- tenant General Scott,—the old Hero who had never lost a battle was superannuated, not at all able to take the field, and indeed was considered too old to take the manage- ment of affairs as General-in-Chief, which office he resigned shortly after the war commenced. General R. E. Lee now Gen- eral-in-chief of the Rebel forces was the pet of General Scott,—was a member of his staff,—knew all his tactics, and it was con- ceded by all that as a strategist he ranked next to the old Hero himself. Next to Lee came Albert Sydney Johnston, who Com- manded the expedition to Utah, and when the rebellion commenced was in com- mand of the fortifications of California. He also went over to the rebels and was killed at the battle of Shiloh. General Joseph E. Johnson also stood high, and as an engineer Beauregard had few superiors, but these too were also on the side of the rebellion. Beauregard fired the first gun at the national flag, and if the last telegram be true, he has met his just reward,—perhaps was killed in defense of the place where he committed his first act of treason. Gen-. ral Wool was also nearly superannuated, and besides between him and Scott a deadly feud existed.

When President Lincoln called for seventy five thousand men to put down the rebel- lion, it was necessary to have some one to lead them in the field. The choice of the government, from political motives rather than any thing else, fell upon Gen. Irwin Mc. Dowel, who had been employed for some time in the bureaux at Washington. His military abilities are no doubt respect- able, but his record at Bull Run proved that he was not the man for the crisis, and had no claim to the first place among Generals. The eyes of the nation were then turned toward George B. Mc. Clellan, as the one who was to be instrumental in saving the country. He was among the youngest of coming men, and had enjoyed rare privil- eges. He was a favorite at West Point, and stood at the head of his class, and in point of ability doubtless deserved it. He passed through the Mexican war, and in company with R. E. Lee was sent by the government to the Crimea to see war as conducted by Europeans. He was first placed in charge in Western Virginia where his campaign was a complete success. Upon the retirement of Lieutenant General Scott, Me. Clellan was called to Washington and made Gen- eral-in-chief. The energy and perseverance with which he took hold of the raw mate- rial and made the army of the Potomac, proved him to be a schoolmaster for an army second to none perhaps in the world. When he started upon his Peninsular cam- paign he was in some way relieved of the chief control of the armies, and Secretary Stanton entered upon his disastrous career as General-in-chief. During the Peninsular campaign Mc Clellan was unfortunately "taken in charge" by a set of politicians, which circumstance eventually proved his ruin. Had he possessed the good sense to have repudiated all such advances, or like Grant, to have kept his politics to himself, he might possibly have continued to be the man.

As a General his great fault appeared to be over cautiousness and as a consequence he was denounced as tardy. His plans on the Peninsula were greatly interfered with by the President, which was perhaps the most disastrous blunder committed by Mr. Lincoln during the whole of the severe ordeal through which he has passed. Mc.Clellan was finally recalled from the Peninsula against his will, and part of his troops given to that paragon of imbecility, John Pope, who through the influence of General Halleck had been placed in com- mand in Virginia. Pope had done tolera- bly well as a subordinate under Halleck in the west, but when given a large com- mand his first address to the army should have secured his removal at once. His in- becile career ended in the disasters of a second Bull Run. —Lee with a powerful and victorious army invaded Maryland. The fragments of the Potomac army were again speedily collected together to repel the in- vasion, and as no one else was to be found, the command was again entrusted to Mc. Clellan, who followed Lee, drove him from Hagerstown Heights, whipped him severely at Antietem, and had he possessed a little more dash, and followed up his victory he might have destroyed Lee's army before he recrossed the Potomac. He followed Lee across the Potomac and there stopped to re-arrange the army and await proper sup- plies. General Halleck, and President Lincoln urged him again and again to move, but he still replied he was not ready: but before he got ready he was relieved of his command. There can be little doubt however that if his plans had not been in- terferred with, or he removed from the Pen- insula he would in time have taken Rich- mond. And after crossing the Potomac in the latter instance, had he moved before he was ready, he might like his successors have met the defeats of Fredericksburg and Chancelorville. Had he however been contented to remain upon the shelf until the end of the war he would doubtless have been looked upon as the victim of political jealousy, and consequently somewhat of a martyr, and he might therefore have been elevated to the highest office in the gift of the people. but he suffered himself to be carried into the political arena too soon, and although repudiating their platform, he accepted the nomination of the “Peace-at any-price party” for President. His star completely disappeared on the 8th of Nov- ember 1864. He will now never perhaps occupy a higher position than President of a railroad company, for which position he is said to be eminently qualified.

TUILERIES.

Soon after the tragedy of the St. Bar- tholemew Catherine deserted the Tuileries seized away by the terror of a name; bold as she was and utterly regardless while she pursued the career of her ambition, both of the restraints of morality, and the threaten- ings of human opposition. An astrologer had foretold that she would die near St. Germain—a prediction judiciously enough framed—the name of this Saint being very common in old Paris, so that it would have been difficult to reside there at all, without being in the neighborhood of some place so designated. But having thus as she imagined obtained notice of the intention of the fates, Catherine resolved if possible to elude them. With this view we are told, she scrupulously avoided entering any of the churches that bore the dreaded name in question. She even refrained from going any more to the Royal Palace at St. Germain en Laye, which she had been in the habit of frequently visiting. Finally on bethinking herself that the Tuileries was in the Parish of St. Ger- main l’ Auxerrois, she actually determined to abandon that residence, notwithstanding all the wealth she had expended upon it. She thereupon built another residence on the site of the Convent Filles Penitentes— now that of the Hulle Aux Ble' which she purchased from these Nuns. In this house called from her the Hotel de la Reine, and after her decease successively the Hotel des Princesses, and the Hotel de Soissons, she died in 1589. Did she then after all escape the astrologers prediction ?. The priest who attended her in her last hours was the Bishop of Nazareth, whose name was Lau- rence de St. Germain—and this which was probably a chance, the author of the proph- ecy had not counted upon, was deemed fulfilment enough to save his credit, and that of the imaginary science. The stories of such oracles generally end in this manner, after the example of riddles that amuse children of smaller growth. I cannot how- ever help diverging a little from my subject to remind our English readers of another, of a similar character that has been told of the death of our own King Henry the IV. and which Shakespeare has remembered in giving us the death scene of that Monarch. "Doth any name in particular," asks Hen- ry, "belong unto the lodging where I first did swoon?" To which the Earl of War- wick answers "It is called Jerusalem my no- ble Lord." On this the King exclaimed: -

We may mention here that Catherine, when she removed to her new residence, did not abandon her astrological speculations. In the building of the Hotel de la Reine was a fluted doric tower, the work of John Bullant, ninety five feet in height having a winding stair case within, which Catherine had built to serve her as a ,neans to read the mysterious book of the stars. An Italian astrologer, named Comes de Ruggieri, is particularly mentioned as having been wont to accompany her to the top of this observatory, and there to assist her in thus vainly attempting to penetrate into the night of the future. This watch tower is still to be seen in the outer wall of the magnificent Halle Aux Ble', being the only part of the Hotel de la Reine that now re- mains standing. A fountain now issues from its pedestal, and a sun dial of very ingenious construction has been placed on the shaft. It is a fit emblem of the changed spirit of the times, that what in one age was dedica- ted to the high but visionury aim of communing with the stars by a bold and ambitious spirit, should in ours be made to serve the humbler and more useful purpose of showing the passing hour to those who labor in the peaceful duties of commerce.

STEAM SUGAR MILL.

It was full 2 P. M. on the 3rd day ere we reached the Steam Sugar Mill of Poh Yim & Co., now rented to “The Borneo Company Limited” and said to be twenty miles be- low the town of Na-k’awn-Chiesee. It must be that that measurement is made via some short-cuts and not around all the great bends which the river makes. Seeing a boat bearing a family of Europeans ap- proaching his dwelling, Mr. S., the chief Engineer of the establishment, came down and very politely received us at his landing, and conducted us up into his house which, though rudely built by Siamese carpenters, was made very pleasant by an English occupant arranging European furni- ture according to good notions of order and comfort. We were seated in the "Old arm chair" as well as the new. Even the old American rocking chair had two or more prepossessing representatives in the spacious verandah, which were prompt to offer us their arms and their embrace

Having intimated to our host, that the chief object of our calling upon him un- ceremoniously was to see the Steam Sugar Mill, and having declined his poilte invita- tion to dinner, he conducted us into the Mill, and very attentively pointed out to us the most important parts of the establish- ment. We were much pleased with the whole both in the general and the particu- lar. Every thing was entirely new, and had been in operation only about ten days. The machinery was said to be in good working order. The grinding of the cane with two Iron Mills by steam power, in our view casts the old mode of our enormous wooden cog-rollers by buffalo power entirely into the shade. They perform the work with mach greater rapidity and much more per- fectly, the cane coming out on the opposite side almost dry enough to be used imme- diately for fuel in the furnaces.

Would that we could have remained sufficiently long to have obtained a minute and accurate knowledge of all we saw. Suffice it to say that we were at once struck with the vast improvements in Siamese and Chinese Sugar making which this New Mill is about introducing, and which must eventually work in it a great revolution. How much more expeditious, ( we involun- tarily exclaimed,) is the boiling of the cane juice ! How much less fuel the furnaces require ! And how much more rapidly is the syrup converted into beautifully grained sugar !

As we passed the native Sugar Mills on our way to the place, what first struck our attention was the great number and large capacity of the buildings required for the execution of their work. Secondly the mountain piles of wood in front of them.

But when we came to the Steam Mill the outward show was so small and so modest, that but one moderate sized building cover- ed with zinc, or galvanized iron sheets, with two tall white chimney was to be seen. And, as to the wood pile, it was so small as to escape entirely our observation. When we inquired of Mr. S—how he managed for fuel his reply was, that he needed but little wood, as the cane was so soon and easily dried that it answered nearly all his wants for that purpose.

We were particularly interested with the machinery for grinding the syrup by cen- trifugal power. We will venture a rough description of it. Fancy six or eight vessels somewhat like kettles, two feet deep by as many in diameter, the sides of which are of fine sieve work. These are so arranged as to revolve horizontally on each its own axis. The cold syrup being poured a few gallons into each kettle at a time, and the band of the machinery slipped on the props per wheel!, they are made to bus around with great velocity a minute or two, which causes the syrup, (till then only occupying the bottom of the kettles,) to rise up and cleave to their sides. This centrifugal power and rapid stirring of the syrup causes it at once to grain, and presses that part of it which will not turn into sugar, out- wardly through the sieve-like sides of the ket- tles. When they begin to spin around, you will see the dark shade of the syrup, rapidly disappearing, and a brighter and whitish one coming over it. When the color has attained to the desired shade, the evolution is stopped by a slip of the band, and you find the grained sugar adhering equally to all the sides of the kettles, the molasses having been driven by centrifugal power through the interstices of the sieve outwardly, and collected in the common reser- voir for another boiling. Then, men standing ready with open bags and ladles at each kettle, step up and lade out the sugar, putting it into bags, all ready for market.

Now the graining and drying process, by this new mode, requiring not over three minutes of time to complete, requires by the old mode more than a month. The old mode is to put the syrup into earthen pots of six or eight gallons capacity, having their lower ends moulded to an acute oval points, with a small orifice at their points for the egress of such part of the syrup as will not grain. These pots are made to stand up on their oval ends by putting them in a smaller earthen vessel, designed for catching the drainings of the sugar. You may see many hundreds of these sugar drainers standing in rows under immense attap covered sheds. After a little time a layer of fine plastic clay, an inch or two thick, is placed on the top of the sugar in each of the drainers, which causes the molasses of the sugar to recede towards the bottom of the pots, leaving, after many days, a stratum two or more inches thick of whitish sugar immediately underneath the clay, at which time the latter has become dry and shrunken. It is then removed and the drained sugar laded out. The remain- der is covered with another soft layer of clay, and waited upon in the same way and manner as above described. This process needs to be repeated many times before the whole of the sugar in the drainers has been whitened.

With all the tardiness of this old mode, there is another serious fault to be found with it, which is, that some of the clay will necessarily adhere to the sugar. Hence the small lumps of earth which are often to be seen in Siamese sugars, and which all are forced to eat when they use it. And a- gain, when the draining after the old mode has been finished, the sugar comes off in irregular and coarse lumps. To remedy this, they spread it out to dry a little time in the sun, and then subject it to a smashing process by means of heavy blocks with long handles attached, drawn and pushed over it on a hard floor. This is the finishing stroke.

Now contrast all this laborious and te- dious process with that most admirable one of the Steam Mill. There the syrup is grained, and dried, and pulverised in a few moments of time, and immediately put up for market.

We could not but be delighted with this manifestation of superior wisdom and skill, which the divine author of all wisdom, has been pleased to impart to our brother man. It would seem that these godless Buddhist would be impressed with such exhibitions of a "superhuman agency" and be con- strained to confess, that mankind of the Western and Christian nations, have en- joyed some peculiar communications with a living and all wise God, and Father, which they themselves have never experienced, and that they would be thus inclined to seek after the same friend and helper. But such seems not to be the result as yet. They are prone to resolve all the vast differences between Western improvements and their own to the notion that the fates, and not God, have done it all in consideration of personal merit acquired by, and laid up in store for the Western races countless ages in the past.

The proprietors and employees of the na- tive sugar mills, seem to look upon the New Mill with a jealous eye, and are look- ing for it to fail as did an effort, similar in kind, made some for five years since in their own neighborhood. But we were pleased with the token of credit they gave to the New Mill, which was, that it does not run on Sundays.—The Lord bless the men who thus honor him.

When about to take leave of Mr. S. he made the remark, that this year was going to prove an unfortunate one for the com- mencement of the new enterprise, as the universal drought had left the sugar cane with an unusually small quantity of juice, and that so brackish as seriously to prevent the graining of the syrup. This peculiarity of the sap he thought to be in consequence of the “latter rains ” having too suddenly stopped, thus allowing the tidal waters to become saltish from the preponderating in- fluences of the sea.

Thinking that perhaps this unfortunate circumstance might be ascribed in part to some fault in the new mode of making the sugar, we took occasion to make inquiries of a native mill touching this point, and were happy to learn that it could not be from any fault of the New Mill, but wholly attributable to the salt in the cane juices. Our Chinese informants said, that the cane of all the southern parts of the Province of Na-kawn-Chie-see, had this year been great- ly injured by the preponderance of sea water over rain water,—that consequently the juice of the cane produces an unusually large amount of refuse molasses compared with the sugar,—and that hence there will this year be a great failure in all the native mills in that quarter.

From the same person we obtained the following particulars concerning native mills; vis—That on the Ta-cheen river there are in operation, this year, 25 native sugar mills, that each of them has, on an average, 200 workmen—that the cane is bought by the field or Rei (180 feet square) at from 20 to 30 ticals per field,—that buffaloes are hired to grind the cane for one tical for every 20 large pails of sap which they press out,—that common workmen get from 15 to 20 ticals per month—the firemen (being eight persons for each furnace) 30 ticals per month,—and that the wood for an ordinary establishment costs 100 Changs —8000 ticals, per annum.

The Steam Mill, we are credibly inform- ed, has produced on an average 125 piculs of sugar daily for the last three months, and if the cane were as good as it has been many years past, the daily average would be not less than 200 piculs.

TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS.

We find it almost impossible with native compositors to get wholly clear of those an- noyances. It is frequently no doubt the fault of the Editor or proof reader, but oftentimes corrections have been made in the proof which were overlooked by the compositors, and not noticed by others un- til too late to remedy them. If we there- fore sometimes murder the English and sense of our correspondents we can only ask their pardon and indulgence, promis- ing in future to try to do better. We hope however none of them will ever be placed in so sad a predicament as the young gen- tleman in the following lines.—-

FIRST APPEARANCE IN TYPE.

An author and a poet,

It really is in print. Ye gods!

How proud I’ll be to show it,

And goodie Anna! what a thrill

Will animate her breast,

To read these ardent lines, and know

To whom they are addressed.

’Why, bless my soul! here’s something wrong

What can the paper mean,

By talking of the graceful brook,'

That ‘gardens o’er the green !’

And here’s a t instead of r,

Which makes it ’tippling rill,'

We’ll seek the ‘shad’ instead of ‘shade,’

And ‘hall’ instead of ‘hill.’

" ‘Thy looks so’ — what ! — I recollect,

’T was ‘sweet’ and then ’t was ‘kind;’

And now, to think,—the stupid fool —

For ‘bland’ has printed ‘blind,’

Was ever such provoking work!

(“T is curious, by the by,

That any thing is rendered blind

By giving it an i. )

"The color of the ‘rose’ is ‘nose,’

’Affection’ is ‘affliction,’

(I wonder if the likeness holds

In fact as well as fiction!)

’Thou art a friend.’ The r is gone ;

Whoever would have deemed

That such a trifling thing could change

A friend into a fiend.

” ‘Thou art the same, ‘is rendered ‘lame,

It really is too bold!

And here because an i is out

My lovely ‘maid’ is mad,

They drove her blind by poking in

An s——a process new—

And now they’ve gouged it out again,

And made her crazy too

"I’ll read no more. What shall I do?

I’ll never dare to send it.

The paper’s scattered far and wide,

’T is now too late to mend it.

Oh, fame! thou cheat of human life,

Why did I ever write!

I wish my poem had been burnt,

Before it saw the light.

"Was ever such a horrid hash,

In poetry or prose!

I’ve said she was a ‘fiend!’ and praised

The color of her ‘nose.’

I wish I had the printer here

About a half a minute,,

I’d bang him to my heart’s content,

And with an h begin it."

CHIENG MAI, TRIP.

Lakawn is the principal Laos city south of Chieng Mai. It has at present a popu- lation of about twenty thousand. It bears evidence however of having been a larger city in former times, as but little more than half the space embraced within the old city walls is now occupied. Some very large dilapidated wats in that portion of the old city, indicate that it was once inhabited. The most of the present city is situated on the East bank of the Quaa Wang, and was the first walled town of the Laos to which we came. The walls are very regularly laid out and built of brick, except on the side facing the river, which is of teak plank or slabs about four inches thick, driven in the ground so close together that they make quite a compact wall. We could not at first explain why it was that the river side, which is most liable to an attack ac- cording to the Siamese mode of travel and warfare, should have been left comparatively exposed, as even the teak walls in that has are evidently of later date. The difficulty was solved however, when, on crossing to the West side of the river, we found the remains of the old wall referred to above, coming down to the river just opposite to the walls of the present city on the East. If this explanation be correct, and I have no doubt that it is, the original town was situated on both sides of the river enclosed by a regular quadrangular wall. Whether its population has dimished in proportion as its limits have been contracted I did not ascertain, though it is altogether pro- bable that it has, and that it was once much more populous than it is now, a portion of it having been destroyed in some of the great revolutions and changes that must have taken place in the country.

Its political relations, as well as those of all the other Laos towns in the north, are somewhat complicated. There is first the allegiance which they owe to their own governor whose authority is much more absolute than that of the governors in Siam- ese cities and provinces. They employ very much the same court language in re- ference to him that the Siamese are accus- tomed to use to their kings and princes. When he comes he sedets and when you visit him you fow him. In the second place all the Siam-Laoatian cities and provinces in the north owe a kind of alle- giance to the Chieng Mai Prince.

This is in some case probably, but little more than the semblance of a former au- thority, which was once real and great. When the Laos was an independent country, Lakawn, Lampoon, Ton and others were provincial of gubernatorial cities, tributary to the king of Chieng Mai. Their govern- ors were appointed by the Laos King, just as the governor of P'ripp'ri is appointed by the Siamese Crown. When his mother was conquered and became herself tributary to Siam, his daughters still continued to look up to her with filial reverence. Her prince is regarded with no little deference by the whole Laos people. Whether it is merely optional on their part or not, it is not any the less real. I think they all pay an annual tribute to their former master. It may be due in part, not so much to any legal authority that he has over them, as to the fact that the governors in all these places belong to the old royal family of Chieng Mai Princes. Being the highest living re- presentatives of that race, they all feel a kind of traditional pride on account of their con- nection with him. One of the first things that the governor of Lakawn and Lampoon tell you, is that they are his relatives, and are descended from their former line of kings.

And last, but not least, since the whole country became tributary to Siam, they owe an allegiance to His Majesty the King of Siam, who boasts, and not without reason, of being sovereign of all the Laos provinces.

&c. &c. Although I suppose he would be too prudent to depart from custom so far as to appoint any other than a representative of that family, as a governor in any of those places, yet none would dare dispute his right if he were to exercise it. Their ap- pointment must come regularly from Bang- kok, and they must have the royal seal and sanction before they can take their of- fice. Not long before we were at Tôn, the governor of that place deceased. What they call the Wang Na, (or second king as it would be in Siam) was acting governor, and was awaiting his appointment before he could take the full title and authority of his office. And although his appointment was regarded as pretty certain, yet when asked if he would succeed his brother, he replied very cautiously, that it was just as his Most gracious Majesty in Siam, should see proper to grant. This tripple allegiance connecting their cities with the royal family of Siam, and the old one of the Laos, as well as with their own governors, may be very flattering to their vanity, but it makes it more burdensome to the people.

We stayed there from Friday till Monday, and found enough to interest us during that time. The old governor received us very kindly. He is about eighty years old and rather in his dotage. The Palat who attended to all the business, very kindly and promptly made all our preparations for departing on Monday morning. On such a long trip our arrivals and our departures were both interesting events to us. We were glad to get to the next stopping place and as glad to leave it again.

We met there a son of Nikorñbawdin, who had been up to Chieng Mãi on some public business. He came down with a train of thirty or forty elephants. We had written home from Rã-hááng by the gov- ernor who promised to send or carry our letters in a few days, but could not resist the good opportunity kindly offered by this gentleman of writing again. He said he would surely reach home in fifteen days. What was our disappointment therefore, when about a month afterwards, on reaching Rã-hááng we found the royal messenger still there, and also both of our letters, so that we acted as the bearers of our own despatches.

After leaving Lakawn we had but little to interest us the first day. From this we found salas at appropriate distances apart, built for the accommodation of the Chieng Mai Prince and his train, when he goes over annually to visit his relatives and make merit during the season of T'awat Katin. Our road the second day was most roman- tic. It was up and down the steep ascent of a mountain gorge, from the summit of which flowed down in opposite directions, a little rivulet enlarging as it advanced till it was quite a large stream in the plain below. Now, we were making our way along the bed of the winding brook, again, we were climbing up its steep bank's, and anon were suspended as if by a hair's-breadth fifty feet above it, as it rolled along in the deep chasm beneath our feet. The memory of the scene almost produced a shudder as to what would have been our fate had a single mis-step been made by our trust-worthy animals. This road was often literally so narrow that they had to scrape their sides and the how- dahs against the solid rocks that rose up perpendicularly from the path. The dif- ficulty was increased because it was not only the narrowest path along which we had to wind our way, but also very irregular and rocky. There was often but one track just the size and shape of his huge foot worn by the constant travel of elephants for generations. But when planted there, you were sure of two things—one was that it was safe, and the other that at an appropriate distance there would be a similar one for the other foot. It is seldom that one meets with more beautiful little cascades or water- falls made by the bounding forth of the brook over the steep sides of the mountain. One would enjoy the scenery better could he descend, as we sometimes did and walk, than when shut up in his narrow coop—as the howdah is called in Siamese. But the road was so tortuous, being first on the one side, and then on the other of the brook, that we were compelled to ascend again in order to cross it. Already had the tem- perature of the atmosphere changed so much, especially along the cool mountain heights that a constant foot bath was not very pleasant. Our own feelings as well as the scar leaves of the trees in all directions, gave indubitable evidence that we wore in a higher latitude. About noon we reached the summit of the mountain, and singularly enough we found a similar gorge and brook descending on the other side, only the descent was neither so steep nor so ro- mantic. About 4 P. M. we came to the plain, and reached our sala about dark. We expected to reach Lampoon by noon on Wednesday. We were nearly correct in this calculation. At twelve o'clock we saw a large wat, which showed us that we were again nearing the habitations of men. The city walls soon appeared, and by two we were in the royal sala, which serves as the only inn for the traveler in the Laos country. Here we must remain, asking the indulgence of your kind readers for our slow progress in our narrative. We will promise to inflict but two more short articles on their patience, in the rest of our route to Chieng Mai and back to Bangkok.

RAILWAY EXTENSION

The scheme of uniting the Russian, Canadian and American lines of telegraph by way of Behring's Straits, and of so girdling the world, is eagerly advocated in America. Mr. Lincoln, in his Message, stated that "an association of American citizens" had begun their part "under very favorable circumstances," while the South American Republics have agreed to make tributary lines. The submarine cable under the Straits from Cape Prince of Wales to Cape East in Asia, will be only thirty miles long. Thence another subma- rine line will run under the Gulf of Anadir, across Kamschatka and round the Sea of Ochorsk to the Amoor. At present the Russian line is open direct to Irkutsk, the capital of Siberia, on the way to the mouth of the Amoor and a branch is working be- tween that city—and of course St. Peters- burg and London—and Kiachia on the frontier of China. The extension of the line from Kiachts to Tientain, by Ourga and through Mongolia, is meanwhile delay- ed. Another branch will run from the Amoor up the Ussouri, and thence to the Gulf of Possiet in the Sea of Japan. The Russian part of the main line from the Amoor to America, will be 2000 miles. At present news from China reaches Lon- don by Kiachta and St. Petersburg sooner than by steamers to Sues. Were the Government of India to agree to Colonel Phayre's proposal to survey the country between Tonghoo and Hong Kong, London, Calcutta and the ports of China might be in telegraphic communication within the next two years. Russia is by no means eager for the continuation of its telegraphic lines to America, and the zeal of the Amer- cans will very much cool, if the second attempt to lay an Atlantic cable succeeds. Two months ago 641 miles of the Atlantic cable had been manufactured at East Green- witch, and since then the work has proceod- ed at the rate of fourteen miles a day. The whole length required is 2300 miles. The Great Eastern has doubtless by this time, nearly the whole cable on board, and it is expected to be laid before next August. The line recommended and carefully sur- veyed runs from the north of Scotland to the south coast of Greenland. Science will certainly not rest till the faint and solitary pulsation of the first cable is developed in- to easy and continued intercourse.

The subject of telegraphic extension de- rives new importance from the fact that two new setlements, or subordinate colonies, have just been established on the north coast of Australia. At the north-east point of this island the Colony of Queensland has planted the town of Somerset, so as to com- mand the navigation of Torres Straits. The new port is nine and a half degrees of latitude north of Cardwell, the extreme port of Queensland on the east coast. The settlers at Somerset are prepared to supply with fresh meat the ships which are ever passing on this highway between Calcutta or Bom- bay and Sydney or Melbourne. The people of Queensland look to it as the coaling station for the steamers they hope soon to send to Singapore. At present the colonial steamers ran as far north as Cardwell and the Dutch steamers as far south as Timor. Already the eager settlers see the telegraph extended on both sides to their port, and vessels calling at Somerset for orders from the merchants of Melbourne, Sydney, Bata- via, Singapore and India. The other colony has been planted by the citizens of Adelaide, whose agent discovered the spot, at the mouth of the Adelaide river in Adam Bay, Arnheim's Land. We fear even the most recent maps will not enable our readers to find the place, but it lies in the middle of the northern coast of Australia. The ex- pedition have found the country to be all that they expected, except that its natives are stalwart and pertinacious thieves above six feet in stature. Already the new set- tlers and the savages have had an encounter. The latter, during the night, cut open fif- teen bags of flour and spilled the contents in the river, for the sake of the bags. The Adelaide river is described as "magnificent." It is a mile wide at the mouth, narrowing to six hundred yards within the first twenty miles. In one of its splendid reaches Port Daly, called after the Governor of South Australia, has been marked out. Ships may discharge their cargoes at the bank in six fathoms of water. Palms and sandle- wood trees mark the semi-tropical character of the climate. Good fish and water are abundant, and the soil "is rich almost to extravagance." The new colony promises to become a great cotton and timber country, drawing on China for its labour and on In- dia for many of its supplies. Through such colonies as these, and by the establishment of a such a commercial and currency system as will allow the gold to flow directly to India, the connection between our Eastern and Australian empires promises to be most intimate and valuable.-—Friend of India, February 9.

The Iroquois, which leaves our Harbour this day is not a new vessel, having been built before the war ; but she has been mounted with some of the most modern ordnance. She carries 6 broadside 32 pounders and two parrot guns—one throw- ing 100 lb shot on the maindeck before the mainmast, and one throwing about 60 lb shot mounted on the forecastle. She has powerful engines and has steamed 13 knots. She is commanded by Captain Rodgers U. S. N.

Why is Sherman the most gallant Gener- al in the army? Because he rushed across the continent to save Ames.

Why are the English the worst judges of cattle in the world? Because the Pope sent them a bull and they thought it was a bore.

Police Cases,

ITEMS.

His Royal Highness Krom. Hluang Wongsa, has been confined to his bed-room more than a month by a phlegmonous sore on his side, which, it has been feared, might prove to be malignant. We are happy to inform all his numerous European friends that His Royal Highness is now convales- cent, with every prospect of a quick recovery.

His R. Highness being unable to visit his elder relatives according to custom on Song-kran holidays, for the purpose of sprinkling and blessing them with conse- crated water, deputised his beautiful daught- er of seven years of age to make the calls and perform the ceremonies in his name. This she did having her person richly decorated with gold, diamonds and other precious stones in the form of necklaces, bracelets and anklets.

This city was favored with a pleasant shower of rain on the night of the 11th inst, which we hope and trust has broken the intense drought with which the whole land has suffered for a period of more than five months.

AN ENIGMA

My, 15: 6: 19: 9: is a small quadruped.

My, 16: 6: 14: 21: 12: is a power known even in Siam.

My, 17: 9: 19: is a personal pronoun.

My, 12: 5: 3: 4: 13: are increasing in Siam.

My, 8: 16: 10: 11: 20: 16: 9: 17: is the name of a

great warrior.

My, 1: 21: 19: 18: have caused great suffering on

the earth.

My, 7: 2: 10: 14: are domestic animals.

My, 16: 5: 21: 12 is a country in Asia.

My, 1: 6: 4: 9: 13: is a country in Europe.

My, 20: 6: 16: 8: 18: 19: 13: abound in Siam.

My, 10: 21: 22: 6: 3: 18: are indispensable to the

Siamese.

My, 7: 11: 16: 5: 10: We understand is improving

the Morals of the people.

My whole is a famous modern general.

The Value Of Wilmington.

The correspondent concludes his remarks on the value of earthwork defences founded on the successful resistance offered, as well as his advice to England to weigh well the advisibility of defensive stone forts, read rather strangely after the second successful attack, the accounts of which have already been published. His introductory remarks on the value of Wilmington to the Con- federates may be of some value, as showing what is thought or put forward by the Con- federates themselves by way of encourage- ment:—

Those of your readers who take interest in American affairs have long been aware of the alleged importance to the Confederates of the retention of Wilmington. In spite of much pretended mystery in Richmond a- bout the incomings and outgoings of blockade-defying vessels connected with this port, I have reason to know that the fullest and most accurate information is week after week in the possession of Mr. Lincoln and of his navy about every ves- sel which leaves or enters Wilmington, a- bout the names and circumstances of every English or Confederate merchant or com- pany connected with blockade-running ven- tures, and about the sentiments which pre- vail in the streets of this filthy little entrepot. In regard to the tone and sentiment of most of the population which has been attracted to Wilmington as vultures to the carcass, it is not necessary for me now to say more than that it is widely different from that which animates General Lee and his noble army. But I may be permitted to express a passing opinion that if the abundant in- ternal resources of the Confederacy were available wherever they are wanted—in other words, if the railroad transportation between Georgia and Virginia was as am- ple and as well regulated as between Illinois and Washington—it would be rather a bles- sing than otherwise to the Confederates if the port of Wilmington were shortly closed. So long as the war continues there will be a demand for muskets, nitre, medicines, blankets, army clothing, and shoes, notwith- standing the abundant introduction of those articles which has already taken place; but it is doubtful whether a sufficient supply could not be stocked in through the num- berless creeks and rivers which intersect the 3000 or 4000 miles of seacoast between the Rio Grande and Chesapeake Bay. These rivers are now becoming well known to the blockade-running captains, and, come what may, whether Wilmington or Charles- ton fall or not, it is absurd to think that the coast of Secessia can ever be hermetically sealed. But in the existing decline of Con- federate virtue, and under the painfulness and weary exhaustion of this strife, could the Confederates stand the moral dis- couragement entailed by the loss of Wil- mington? Your readers may answer the question for themselves: but if Confederate virtue and staunchness, like that of General Lee, were equal to the shock, I believe that before six months had passed it would be found in a dozen ways that the loss of Wil- mington was a blessing in disguise.

The correspondent of the "New York Tribune," writing from Fort Fisher on Jan. 16, says:—-

The dead of yesterday's battle are strewn over the fort in every conceivable attitude of agony and horror. Some have been paralyzed by death in the act of holding and sighting their rifles, their pieces having afterwards fallen from their relaxed hands. Others lie with their skulls shattered and the brain exposed to full view. Some wear a calm and pleasant expression on their faces, while other countenances are stamped in most excruciating agony. At the foot of the interior slope of the sea wall there are many large guns, which have been dis- mounted and tumbled down. Among these are entangled rebel dead in almost every shape and position, some standing on their feet and others on their heads, all glaring and grinning ghastly alike upon the passer by.

The conduct of the Southern refugees in Canada has been denounced in the Canadian Parliament, and a determination has been expressed to stop the abuse of asylum. A commission has been appointed to inquire into the release of the St. Alban's raiders and the conduct of Judge Coursol, who has been suspended by the government. The Finance Minister has presenbed estimates, including a sum of 50,000 dollars to make good the money returned to the St. Alban's raiders, which has been claimed by the Federal Statas.

The "Toronto Leader" asserts that the British Government has ordered 30 gun- boats to be sent from England to the lakes as soon as navigation is open. The "Toron- to Globe," however, denies the truth of this statement.

The Toronto Court has denied a writ of habeas Corpus in the case of Lieutenant Birley, and has unanimously decided that he should be given up to the Federal government.

PRUSSIA

In the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies on Feb. 8 the Minister of War introduced a bill altering and supplementing by 20 paragraphs the law of the 3rd of September, 1814, upon the obligation to military service in Prussia. Under the proposed new regul- ations the whole term of military service is reduced from 19 to 16 years, of which the first seven years are to be served in the regular standing army. Of these seven years, the first three must be served with a regiment, and the four following years in the re- serve. During the next four years those having ful- filled the above terms of service will be liable under the first call of the Landwehr, and during the re- maining five years to the second call. The first division of the Landwehr will only be called out when the country is in serious danger. Special laws will regulate the service in the Landwehr and in the navy. In introducing this bill the Minister of War, Lieutenant-General Von Roon, said he hoped that the wish of the country for reconciliation between the Diet and the government might find an echo in the House. The government, although maintaining its project for the reorganization of the army, was willing to renounce the execution of the original scheme in its full extent. A cordial agreement upon the treatment of the pending military question could only be obtained by a mutual understanding on the points at issue between the government and the Diet. The minister said in conclusion—"The government has this object in view in introducing the present bill, and is convinced of the necessity of all army reform being effected on a Parliamentary basis."

The Prussian government, in order to carry out its hobby of a naval force, has preferred a request to the Chamber of Deputies for authority to contract a loan of £2,000,000, to be used in the construction of a fleet. This permission granted, little doubt need be entertained as to the disposition of the Duchies.

An Irishman made a sudden rush into a druggist's shop, took from his pocket a soda-water bottle filled with some liquor, and handing it across the counter exclaimed, "There, doctor, sniff that, will you?" The "doctor" did, and pronounced the liquor to be genuine whiskey. "Thank you, doctor," said the Irishman. "Hand it to the again, if you please." The "doctor" again did as directed, and asked what he meant. "Ooh, thin," said Pat, "if you will have it, the priest told me not to drink any of this unless I got it from the doctor."