The Bangkok Recorder.

A Semi-monthly Journal, will be issued from the printing office of the American Missionary As- sociation, at the month of the Canal, "Klawng Bang- kok Yai" about 1st and 15th of every month. It will contain much Political, Literary, Scientific, Com- mercial, and Local Intelligence, as shall render it worthy of the general patronage.

The Recorder will be open to Correspondents subject to the usual restrictions.

The proprietors will not be responsible for the sentiments of their correspondents.

No communications will be inserted unless ac- companied by the name of the Correspondent.

No rejected manuscript will be returned unless as a special favor.

Half Yearly: 4.50

Quarterly: 2.25

Extra Copies to Subscribers: 0.30

""Nom. do. 0.45

First Insertion—Ten lines or half a square, and under, One Dollar.

Each additional tine, Five Cents.

Subsequent insertions, Seventy Five Cents, for ten lines,

and each additional line, Five Cents.

Advertisers must be particular to specify the number of insertions.

Standing advertisements as per Contracts.

Communications and remittances can be sent to either of the subscribers, or left at the store of Messrs. Virgin & Co.

BANGKOK MAY 16th.

We have been favored with a note from His Excellency Chow Phya Sri Surij Wong, stating that M. Aubaret H. I. M. Consul at this place had addressed a note to him, inquiring if the Siamese Government sent us on the Treaty lately concluded between France and Siam, and which appeared in the last issue of the Recorder. He also requests that we will inform him for the gratification of M. Aubaret, by what means we obtained the Treaty. This of course we can not do. The Siamese Government did not send us the Treaty but had they done so, they had a perfect right to do it, and neither M. Aubaret, nor any one else had any business to ask them why they did it. We would like to see this people manifest for once at least, a little more of that essential element rather vulgarly de- nominated "back bone." Their prompt answer to M. Aubaret should have been that they did not furnish the Treaty but had it been published at their request they had a perfect right to do so, without any breach of etiquette. After all the teaching they have had, this people have failed to learn the important lesson, that the "bark is often worse than the bite." True the Treaty has not yet been ratified by France, but there is not the slightest doubt but she will speedily ratify it. She will readily ratify any treaty that will give her control of a kingdom at so little expense. It is therefore presuming too much for M. Au- baret to suppose that the community here are to remain in ignorance whilst the Treaty is going to France and returning.

We publish also in this issue another treaty concluded between the French Con- sul and Hluang Bawriboon Soon-ra Kawn, the Spirit Farmer. This appeared in the Siamese of our last issue, and was trans- lated and sot up for the English, but by some means it was overlooked until too late to insert it, and it consquenlty failed to appear. Taken from the Siamese of our last it has since appeared in another place, and we only now insert it because we think it should be preserved as a diplomatic curiosity. We don't wonder that the authors of such a concern should desire to throw a vail over it to keep it from the public. So far as can be ascertained it had already gone into effect, as far as it was possible for such a thing to take effect, and was be- ing copied and sent around to the different spirit dealers. There is no doubt but the authors of this treaty thought that it could be a private affair between France and Siam, without effecting other treaty powers. Mr. Hluang Dawriboon must have been only a passive instrument, as those very much higher in authority had a "finger in the pie." It of course amounts to nothing, but did it amount to any thing the same ben- efits would also accrue to the other treaty powers.

AMERICAN GENERALS.

W. S. Rosecrans bid fair at one time to be a star of the first magnitude in the galaxy of American generals. Before the rebellion broke out he had resigned his commission in the army, and retired to scientific pursuits. But like many others when the Old Flag was fired at, he rushed to the rescue. He was placed under Mc- Clellan in Western Virginia and when the latter was called to Washington, Rosecrans was left in command. He did up his work there admirably, and after a short time was sent west to Grant's command. While under Grant he gained two signal victories, one at luka, and another at Corinth. For these he was raised to the rank of Major General of volunteers. When it was de-

cided to remove Gen. Buell from the com- mand of the army of the Cumberland, Rose- crans was promoted to that command. Af- ter taking command he spent some time in preparations, and then met the rebel army under Bragg, at Murfreesboro Tennessee, and after five days hard fighting he com- pletely routed the rebels. During those days of fighting he displayed great ability, and great bravery. He rode into the heat of the battle and showed a masterly ability, in massing his troops just where they were needed. He has few superiors any where as a mathematician. His march from Mur- freesboro to Chattanooga was a perfect triumph. He also forced an evacuation of that place with very little fighting. He advanced his army beyond Chattanooga to Chicamauga creek. Gen. Lee having a lit- tle leasure in Virginia dispatched two divis- ions of his army to join Bragg and crush Rosecrans. They attacked Rosecrans at Chicamauga and well nigh succeeded in their designs. The skill and bravery exhib- ited by him at Murfreesboro appeared on this occasion to forsake him, and he left the field without knowing whether the bat- tle was gained or lost. Had it not been for Gen. Thomas the army would have been destroyed. When that department was in cluded in Grant's command, Rosecrans was removed and placed in command in Mis- souri, but even there he was slow and has lately been shelved.

None of the American generals has risen more slowly, and at the same time more surely than Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant. He came from that working class, which has furnished the United States, most of her a- blest men in all departments. About one hundred years ago two brothers named Grant, came from Scotland to the New World. One of them settled in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, where the father of the present Lieut. Gen. was born in 1794 and received the name of Jesse. In 1799 the family moved west and set- tled in Ohio. At that time not a single state had yet been formed of all that vast region lying between the Alleghany and Rocky mountains. It formed a vast hunt- ing ground for the Indian. The great Tecumseh was a leading chief, and bloody battles were fought around the dwelling of the Grants. In 1806 when the Western Reserve became partially settled, the Grants removed to Deerfield where the grand fath- er of the present general died, leaving his father Jesse an orphan boy aged eleven years, with no one to guide or assist him in his way through the world.

He soon discovered however that he must get his living by labor, and it was necessary to select some calling that would pay him best. He therefore learned the tanning, which he followed until sixty years old when he retired. Inured to pioneer life he carved his way alone to an honorable position in society and wealth. In 1821 Jesse Grant married Miss Hannah Simpson and they settled at Point Pleasant, in Clermont County, Ohio, on the Ohio River. Here on April 27th 1822 a son was born in an humble frame cottage still standing, and valued before the War at about $300. The boy's maternal grand-mother was quite a reader of history, and had taken quite a fancy to Ulysses the great Grecian General who defeated the Trojans by his strategy of the wooden horse, and she desir- ed to have her grandson called Ulysses. His grand-father wanted him called Hiram, so the two names were united and he was called Hiram Ulysses.

But when his name was handed into Con- gress for his appointment to West Point, by some mistake it was handed in Ulysses and has remained so ever since. Many stories are now told of his boyhood which, whether true or not would never have been thought of again, had he not attained to his present position. It is certain however that during his early boyhood he exhibited nothing very brilliant, but was one of that faithful diligent kind that slowly and surely make their mark. He worked at the tan- ning with his father, and it is said that he was accustomed to rise early in the morning make the fires,—-milk his mother's cows, and then go to work in the yard until breakfast time. An incident is related of his boyhood which illustrates his present character to a great degree.

His father one day desired some sticks of hewn timber for a certain purpose, and told Ulysses to harness the team, and drive to the woods, where he would find the timber, and men waiting to load it. The boy ever fond of driving was soon on the spot where he found the timber but no men. What was he to do? Most boys would have gone home again but such was not the case of the tanner boy. Looking around he saw a tree which had fallen against another so as to form an inclined plain. He saw at once he could make the horses do the part of the workmen. So he hitched the team to each of the logs and drew them near the inclined plain. Then drawing them piece by piece up the inclined plain and balanc- ing them around, he managed to draw them on the wagon and drove home in triumph. The only school advantages Ulysses had until seventeen years of age, were four or five months of each year in the district school, spending the other months of the year in labor.

FRENCH IN COCHIN CHINA

The public feelings and opinions in these latter years have been freely expressed and are adverse to distant expeditions. After out intervention in China, our war with Mexi- co, and our occupation of Lower Cochin China, the public became alarmed at the great expenses that these operations brought on the finances of the country.

Questions were made as to the National Interest, whether they improved our in fluence, and if the attainment of them would secure us from the embarrassments which were made in obtaining them. It is no doubt the duty of great Governments to originate great designs and to show that they can accomplish them, thereby proving to the world that they have the power and resources to do so, but that they may be of use they should be well timed, so that they may not be followed by embarrassments to the contrary. If this is doubted we have only to look at what is now passing. The capture of Algiers was a glorious Legacy of the Restoration of 1830. Those who un- dertook it were not aware that France was engaged in a Revolution which gave rise to all the difficulties that ensued to its Government both internally and exter- nally and which new establishments have always to encounter. We had for a long time to support the military operations which the resistance of the Arabs neces- sitated, and to display our strength to those ill disposed European Powers whom we had to oppose. No one can imagine the embarrassment these caused to our general politics, when we had to found an independent Belgie, and later to settle the Eastern question and to resume our proper stand in the European States.

From its position as a great European Power, France is more obliged to have its forces united than to have them scattered, and to fulfil her mission she ought ever to be ready to meet the eventualities of Con- tinental politics. To be wanting in these duties, in the present state of Europe, would be a folly which would not only compro- mise the renown of our statesmen, but also that which is of more importance to us, the dignity and power of our country.

The Government however so far from be- ing appalled, met those difficulties, and al- though they were difficult for the ministry they were not without glory, and gained the good will of the public, thus becoming Popular, they soon were National. Thus one of the greatest achievements of the Government of 1830 shows us what can be gained by undertaking foreign expeditions, with liberal discussions and publicity.

Probably some persons will be more con- vinced after reading what has been effected under very different conditions—That of the expedition of Cochin China.

In 1858 the war of China, where our flag floated with that of Great Britian, was the first phase accomplished. The forts of Pee- ho fell to the allied Powers, and the Treaty of Tien-tein was signed. Peace with the Celestial Empire appeared assured and no one could suppose that the Pekin Court would have by its bad faith provoked a re- newal of hostilities, and by its conduct rendered it imperiously necessary a few months after to carry hostilities into the very capital. It was between the signing of these treaties, that the French thought of the wrongs they had to settle with the Kingdom of Annam. The Court of Hue. had not only persecuted most cruelly the inhabitants who had become Christians, but also the foreign missionaries, without respect to their Nationality. Mons Diaz Bishop of Tonquin after suffering a long imprisonment, died on the 20th July 1857 under cruel tortures, a martyr. The French and Spanish missionaries spread over Co- chin China, had appealed to Paris and Madrid, making sad complaints, and claim- ed the protection of the two Catholic Gov- ernments, more for the religion to which they were devoted, than for their lives which they were ready to sacrifice, follow- ing the example of their glorious Bishop. We had several times made applications to the Annam Government and demanded re- parations for what had passed and guaran- tees for the future, but they refused to ne- gotiate with us, and fired at the vessel on board of which were the French representa- tives. It was under these circumstances that orders were given to Admiral Rigault de Genouilly, who commanded our naval station in China, to proceed with his ships against the Annamites and oblige them to give us satisfaction. The Spaniards from Man- illa joined our expedition with a contingent of troops.

It is not our wish to enter into any details of the military operations prolonged from 1858 to 1863 under the command of Ad- mirals Rigault de Genonilly, Page, Charner, and Bonard, who successively commanded them. What imports us to know is not how the war was carried on, but what politics guided our movements.

Had Admiral Rigault de Genouilly pre- cise instructions? Was he aware of what he was to attain! Was the idea conceived in Paris of profiting by the occasion thus afforded, by the insolent obstinacy of the King of Annam, to take from him a part of his Kingdom, and there found an establish- ment under the sovereignity of France! And if such resolutions were made, had we considered the difficulties and obstacles which we might meet? Had we foreseen how far our efforts were to be carried, and the importance of the sacrifices which ac- company such an enterprize?

The documents that we have consulted differ in the answers which should be given to these questions. Some say that our Naval forces were only to go to the coasts of Cochin China, and there to give a milit- ary demonstration as a moral support of the persecuted missionary cause, and to get the Annam Government, to make a convention guaranteeing the free propaga- tion of the Catholic Religion, and the rights of humanity. Other documents on the con- trary would have us believe that the orders given to Admiral Rigault de Genonilly, were the result of long reflection and tended to carry out a project wisely conceived. To take a position in the Extreme East would be renewing our old traditions, and make us faithful to a National Policy transmitted under the different Revolutions which have taken place in France.

What then was this National policy? and what were these traditions? It is remem- bered that in 1787 George Pegnean de Behain, Bishop of Adras after having saved from the civil wars, Gra-long, the lawful inheritor of the throne of Anam, came to solieit the aid of the Court of Versailles, for his Royal Protege, and that in the quality of Minister of this claimant, he signed with M. Montorin the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Louis XVI, a treaty by which the King of Cochin China, in conse- quence of having placed at his disposal an auxilliary corps, ceded to France the Pen- insula of Tourane, and the island of Pulo Condor, and gave to our commerce and to our Mercantile Marine conditions that no other nations or states enjoyed. The Bishop of Adras gained by this treaty great authority, and being assisted by several Frenchmen whose names are not forgotten in Cochin China, succeeded after many adverse vicissitudes, in placing his Protege Gra-long in triumph. Did these however become of any impor- tance? One thing is certain, that in 1857 the Government submitted the treaty of the Bishop of Adras and M. Montmorin to a commission, who after a long and patient investigation, were forced to admit that France being taken up and engaged by the events of the Revolution of 1789, did not carry out the principles of the treaty, and in consequence they ought to consider it null and void. It was also recollected that in 1843 Admiral Cecil accompanying the mission of M. Lu Grené, was ordered in concert with him to search in the extreme East, for a place where under the shelter of our own flag, our commerce and our marine should find permanant protection.

The instructions of M. Guizot then min- ister of Foreign Affairs are cited, who said, "It is not for France to be wanting in that part of the world, where already the other Nations of Europe are established. In case of ship wreck our vessels ought not to be without a place to repair, and not be ob- lidged to go to the Portuguese Colony of Macao, the English port of Hong Kong, or the arsenal of Caviéto in the Spanish island of Luaon.” These instructions show great prudence, in excluding by the selection to be made, full possession of an extensive ter- ritory, which would bring us in constant quarrels with these numerous populations. They recommend to give the preference to an island where it would be easy to remain in peace, away from all hostile neighbors, in a favorable situation for health and re- victualling. M. Lagrone and Admiral Cocile, in execution of these projects, cast their eyes on the Isle of Basilan, situated near Mandano, at the extremity of the Sooloo Archipelago, they landed a force there and obtained a cession of it from the Sultan of Sooloo, but immediately the Governor of the Phillippines protested, and claimed it as part of the Spanish territories, which was backed by the cabinet of Madrid. M. Guizot was engaged at the time with the very difficult and delicate negotiations of the Spanish marriage, and considering it best to drop the lesser question for the greater, resigned for the time the contested subject.

Such are the two explanations that are given to us in regard to our first operations in Cochin China. Without giving our opinion on the one or the other, it is to be believed that concerning the acts of Ad- miral Rigaulte de Genonilly, first our aims were not very ambitious. The Admiral led the force under him to the bay of Tourane, took possession of and destroyed the two forts which defended it, and be- came master of the Peninsula of Champ Callao. His intention was to attack Hue the capital of Cochin China, distant about 15 leagues from Tourane, and 6 leagues from the sea, and to get there by the river which was obstructed by sandy shoals.

The brave Admiral wished to take his artillery up this river to Hue, and compel the King Tu-due to make a treaty, but the N. E. Monsoon then blowing rendered this hazardous, and an expedition by land with the small force under him was not practica- ble. Soon he formed another project. He was surrounded by European Jesuit mis- sionaries, who although after so long a so- journ in the country had but vague illusive ideas of their power with the natives. They confidently told him, that the Annamites were so vexed and oppressed that they on- ly waited the appearance of our forces when they would rise in a body and receive us as liberators. The combats that we had at Tourane, ought to have guarded us from giving any credit to such language; but they persuaded the Admiral that on another part of the coast we sould meet with a dif- ferent reception, saying that the christian population was spread about Saigon, and we should be assisted by them. The salub- rity of lower Cochin China, the numberless runs of water, the facility of blockading the city and cutting off the supplies of rice, ren- dered the attempt altogether propitious, and determined the Admiral to abandon Tourane and to direct his steps towards Lower Cochin China, which he did on the 7th Feb. 1859.

We did not find as we advanced the pro- mised auxiliaries, as that part of the popula- tion who had become christians were a miserable set, without influence being both enervated and abject; and who trembled be- fore the mandarins; whereas the Annamites unconverted, formed the majority of the population; and so attached to their chiefs, having the same faith and ideas from the lowest to the highest.

Attached to their usages with great submission, and having from their infancy been taught to consider Europeans as the most barbarious race, they were from the first hostile and determined to consider us as invaders of their rights.

Saigon was defended by two forts and a formidable citadel built in the last century, by the Frenchmen who accompanied the Bishop of Adras. The runs of water sup- plying the city were guarded by foots and stockades, secured with iron bars, and defen- ded by batteries. The Admiral did not hesitate to attack these obstacles, and un- der his vigorous command, our soldiers al- though strongly resisted, soon succeeded in destroying them. These events were accomplished without having the least ef- fect upon the Annamite Government. Their army fell back and concentrated about four miles from Saigon, at Ke-hoa, in an attitude that showed their losses had not discouraged them. At the same time, on the side of Touran, Tu-due's troops made an offensive movement, and made at the mouth of the river, to the South of the Bay, a series of works for the prevention of all attempts by troops against that position. The Admiral therefore had to give battle in the Province of Saigon, and before Tour- ane to force the Cochin Chinese to fight, retreating on their capital. Once more we had to abandon Touran, a part of the force being recalled to China, to undertake that second Campaign which carried our victo- rious forces to Pekin, while we occupied Saigon with 700 men.

During two years, until the conclusion of peace with the Celestial Empire, this handful of Frenchmen kept off the Annamite army, they were obliged to be shut up in the town, and cut off from all communic- ations. Vice Admiral Page in the inter- val arrived from France, to succeed Ad- miral Rigault de Genouilly in the command. He knew the wishes of the French Govern- ment. There were no ideas at that time of conquest, or of forming in Cochin China a great establishment, although it is wished to be believed, since that the orders to that officer were most modest. They permitted him to propose to the Court of Hue a treaty without pecuniary indemnities, and without cession of territory, but to stipulate liberty for our Missionaries to teach their religion in such a manner as not to trouble the Annamite administration, and also to stipulate for the residence of French Con-

suls in three ports of Cochin China, and an "Envoy Charge 'd' affaire" from France every three years.

Negotiations were commenced on these bases, but the plenipotentiary of Tu-duc raised all kinds of difficulties to prevent the treaty being signed, which compromi- ed him in the eyes of his Government, al- though they were convinced that we would be glad to leave and go to sea without striking a blow. This equivocal state ex- isted when the peace with China allowed Admiral Charneir, who then commanded our naval forces, to take a part of them to Cochin China. He recommenced hostili- ties, blockaded Saigon and took possession of all the Province of Gra-duih, which is the capital, and a short time after of the Province of Mitho.

A second negotiation than ensued, but without any better success than the first, so Admiral Bonard who then commanded, continued the warfare, and forwarded the conquests, extending them to a third Pro- vince that of Bien-hoa By the force of circumstances (it said in an Official Re- port) the end first proposed had been singularly overpast, and we became con- querors when we only went simply to re- dress grievances. These repeated attacks at length disquiet- ed Tu-duc and he decided to ask for peace. Admiral Bonard seized the occasion so long looked for, but still being in doubt he sent the steamer "Forbin" to Hué, to be assured of the disposition of the Annamite Govern- ment, whether they were serious, or only wished to gain time to bring supplies of rice into the capital. The King being convinced that he had no way of carrying on the old way of negotiating, charged the ministers of the Rites, and of his Armies to go to Saigon, where on the 5th June 1862 they signed a treaty with the representa- tives of the Emperor of the French. We subjoin the principal part of this treaty.

The subjects of France and Spain can exercise the Christian religion in the king- dom of Annam, and the subjects of that kingdom without distinction, who may de- sire to embrace the Christian religion, are allowed to do so without restraint, but no one is to be forced to embrace Christianity against their will.

The three Provinces, Bien-hoa, Gra- duih, and Duih-tuong, (Mitho) complete, and the island af Pulo Condor, are entirely ceded with full sovereignty to the Emperor of the French.

The merchants of France are freely al- lowed to trade, and send their ships into the great river of Cambodia, and into all the branches of that river, and the same privilege shall be allowed to French ship- of-war sent on duty, in that river and its branches.

The subjects of France and Spain, can freely trade in the three following ports, viz—Tourane, Belat, and Quang-an.

The peace being made, should there arise anything of importance, the three Sover- eigns can send Representatives to treat in any one of the three capitals.

This Deplomatic act gave us a new life in Cochin China, and imposed new obliga- tions upon us. By our sovereignty in lieu of that of the King of Annam over this extended territory, we took upon our- selves towards our new subjects, the duties of giving to them the blessings of a superior civilization to that they had know; deve- loping their resources and guaranteeing their security.

Our first care ought to be to inspire the Annamites, with full confidence of our re- solution to keep forever the conquests we have made. Our evacuation of Tourane made them think that we only occupied their country casually, and were ready to abandon it on the least reverse, or embar- rassment. They were not ignorant that the Court of Hué in signing the treaty had yeilded only to our menaces, and they kept up the hope of seizing the first occasion to retake the territory thus ceded to us. As long as they imagined this we could not depend upon their fidelity. Notwithstand- ing the peace, the Christians who were sus- pected of having called us to Cochin China, were in their eyes guilty of rebellion to their sovereign, and deserved the greatest of punishments and torments, the Annamites who witnessed the butchery of many of those accused of treason, were impressed with terror, and would not expose themsel- ves to Tu-duc's vengeance.

These facts presented great difficulties both moral and material, but before exam- ining what was determined to be done, it is necessary to show how France had to display her ability and power.

The three provinces that we had, at such a great distance, joined to the French Em- pire, are of great importance both topograph- ically and o : account of their rich territory. They formed in the Annam Kingdom a sort of viceroyalty and altogether was nominated Gra-duih or Lower Cochin China, and es- pecially lately it has been so called, the chief station was Saigon. Natural bound- ries surrounds and protects all the territory. On the East and North, our new posessions are surrounded by a chain of mountains, which guards them from all attacks. The danger can only come from the side of the sea, where the country is flat, but here the fire of our cannon will repel the assailants. The West and South limits are Cambodia and the Sea, but thanks to the rivers which facilitates its defences, the dangers within and without are no longer to be feared.

The total superficies of this territory may be estimated at 1600 square leagues, and the population about 1,000,000. Two rivers the Dormey, and the Cambodia, and sev- eral made canals surround the three provin-

ces. Saigon the most important part of the Annam kingdom is the seat of our Gover- nment. In the bay of Vin-tan where ship can some and find excellent anchorage and shelter, there are neither rocks, nor shoals. Saigon is in so admirable position, it is in communication with the sea distant about 15 leagues, and it forms a grand centre for commercial enterprises with Indo-China and Europe. The inhabitance are mild and timid and easily governed—they are not (as in supposed) plunged in ignorance and barbarity, although they are Buddhists.

There is a regular and permanent army recruited under certain regulations, besides a militia which is raised in the provinces according to the wants of the state in peace or war, but chiefly to defend them from the pirates and the eruptions of the people of the mountains.

Such is the aspect of Lower Cochin China, we should not be surprised that af- ter these first reports of our officers, those most interested in this distant enterprise should take such enthusiastic view of its future. "It is not a colony that we have gained for France, it is a Kingdom.

RACHABUREE.

This place is noted for being the prin- cipal depot of Sapan-wood for the western side of the gulf. It is situated on the Ma- klawng river about a day’s journey from its mouth, and nearly at the head of tide wa- ter. At this place the river is narrow, the banks high, and, in the dry season, the water very low; but always navigable at highest tides for medium sized native boats.

The river below the town is beautifully ornamented in many places with bamboo, tamarind and mangoe groves. Some of these are most romantic and inviting in their ap- pearance, especialy those on the western bank where the delicious “mango apples grow."

Whether Rachaburee would be called a “walled town” or not, might be a disputed question. There is both a wall and a town it is true; but the town is one place, and the wall another. Doubtless the wall did at one time surround the town, but now the enclosure, excepting the Governor’s residence and a few other buildings, is either waste land or cultivated rice fields.

The walls, towers, gateways &c, are yet in a good state of preservation, and have the same general appearance, and look as though they might have been built about the same age of the world with the forts, walls &c, in Bangkok.

The town is now located between the wall and the river. This change of location has evidently been made for the purpose of being nearer the water, and to accommodate the Siamese who have a peculiar aversion to any kind of wholesome and profitable exercise.

Sapan-wood and ebony (mai muk'ka) are brought here in large quantities from the surrounding forests, during the dry sea- son, whence they are taken in boats to Bangkok. It is generally cut by the for- esters and sold to men who make it their business to collect and convey it in carts to the town, where it again changes hands. These teameasters travel in the night, and al- ways go in companies of 20 to 50 wagons. In the morning you will hear the sound of their wheels long before they come in sight —not the iron wheels, but the unpleasant creaking sound of their unoiled wooden axles. It is a slow and tedious process bringing it across the country in ox-carts, and a mere moiety is obtained compared to what there might be if a good rail-road or canal was constructed to these almost inexhaustable forests of Sapan-wood. Be- sides these, large rafts of bamboos, and other timbers are brought down the river from the forest above the town and taken to Bangkok. These forests of valuable wood, it appears, are free to any who wish to cut. What great sources of wealth these might become to the country if properly worked; and how much the country needs to be explored and surveyed to ascertain what wealth it has.

His Excellency the Prime Minister is making preparations to build a brick house in a most delightful place on the opposite side of the river from the town, which will greatly help the appearance of the place, and afford accommodations for visitors.

When the country is opened out and improved, Rachaburee will become an im- portant centre. It needs now only to be connected with Nakawn-chaisee by a good canal or rail-road to be in direct communica- tion with the city, after the proposed im- provements to the latter place are completed. When this connection is made it will not take much more to continue the line a very little further to Petchaburee, where is situated the beautiful country palace of His Majesty the first king. In a country where canals and rail-roads can be so easily constructed, it it strange why His Majesty does not have these places connected with the city by rail, if for no other purpose than his own accommodation in visiting the Royal coun- try palace.

THE SUGAR DISTRICT OF
NAKAWN-CHEISEE

The cane plantations of Nak'awn Choi- see lie almost entirely south of the town of this name, between it and a point not far from ten miles from the mouth of the Ta-cheen river. The centre of the district is about due west from Bangkok, to which point the Siamese government contemplate cutting a large canal with a carriage road on its bank in the course of the next twelve months.

The cane fields are quite charming in the summer months, before the cane becomes thick and heavy making the view monoton- ous. As the banks of the river are general- ly cleared of trees, the fields show well from the river in times of full tide. Inter- spersed among them are to be seen ban- nana orchards, and indigo fields. The in- digo plant usually occupies the space be- tween those of the young cane, and is brought to perfection before the latter re- quires much room.

The cane is propagated by means of suck- ers from the old stock, and these are set in little pits made in the ground about 18 inches apart in every row. The time for plant- ing them is from the beginning to the end of the dry season. The young cane, as well as the indigo plants among them, are watered by means of long handled bas- ket dippers, from deep artificial gutters, charmingly straight and regular, dividing the fields into mounds or beds, from ten to twelve feet wide and a hundred yards or more in length. The vital element is al- ways present, even in the dry season, as the flood tides daily replenish the ditches with river water, coming within convenient reach of the workman's dipper. You will see the Chinamen (for the work is nearly all done by them) scattered here and there, about the fields, both morning and evening, diligently irrigating their plants.

In another direction, you will see the workmen breaking up the fallow ground by means of heavy and narrow grub hoes, at- tached to handles six feet long. The hoe is first lifted up as high as its handle will admit of, is then brought down with full fell strength, causing it to sink into the ground some eight to ten inches. They by a pry on the long lever, the stiff alluvial soil is raised up, and left in lumps for the first rain to soften and crumble.

This, but too obviously, is a hard and tedious mode of preparing their fields for the cane, which doubtless would be greatly improved by some of the Western ploughs. There is here a prodigious expenditure of human strength where strong buffalo teams, with suitable ploughs, would perform the work very much quicker and equally well. In all these plains there are neither rocks nor stumps to interfere with the gliding of the plough. Here among the cane plan- tations, as well as in all the surrounding pad- dy fields, is a fine tract for the display of European improvements, both in the turn- ing up of the soil, and the cultivation of the rice and the cane. A little guano would probably improve the latter fifty per cent, but even without this or any other manure than that obtained by the annual overflow- ing of the river, the crops, in ordinary seasons, are far from being inferior.

A TREATY

Between the French Consul and Hluang Bawriboon Soora-kawn, the Spirit Farm- er, translated from a Siamese Copy.

ARTICLE I. French liquors are [hereby] permitted to be sold [in Bangkok] and there is nothing to prevent it. The Spirit Farmer will not interfere with any person who has been duly licensed to traffic in the same. Such a person shall be allowed to sell the liquor as he pleases.

ARTICLE II. When any vessel shall ar- rive in Bangkok having a consignment of [French] liquors to any merchant, a report of such consignment shall be made to the French Consul, stating the number of cases, and then said cases shall be delivered over to the Consul, together with a certificate from a proper officer in France, stating that said cases of liquor are indeed French.

ARTICLE III. As soon as the French Con- sul shall have heard of such consignment, he shall inform the Spirit Farmer.

ARTICLE IV. When a merchant shall desire to dispose of his [French] liquors to a resident of Bangkok to retail for him or in his place, he shall first inform the French Consul, and then take the names of the persons who wish to engage in said traffic, stating how many persons there are and how many cases the merchant would deliver to each. And then the French Consul, in con- cert with the Spirit Farmer, shall give to each undertaker a written license to sell the liquor. The licenses shall have the seals of both the Consul and the Spirit Farmer affixed to them, and all the cases and bot- tles shall have the seal of the Spirit Farmer imprinted on them so that the servants of the Inspector of Customs shall be able to ascertain readily what cases and bottles con- tain French liquor, and thus avoid disputes.

ARTICLE V. Let it be distinctly under- stood that the articles of this Treaty have respect only to French liquors, and to no others. And those persons who may ob- tain licenses to sell [French liquors] shall be careful and sure that they do not use their licenses for the sale of any other kind of spirits, as there are dishonest men who might be tempted to use their licenses for the sole of ligours that have a counterfeit French label on the cases and bottles. Any person of this discription, when detected, shall be required by the French Consul, to return his license: or if the Spirit Farmer shall detect and arrest such a man, let him not presume to make any complaint of it to the French Consul for he will have no de- sire to hear him.

ARTICLE VI. Whoever may wish to in- form himself as to what are certainly the lawful labels for French liquors, or what are the counterfeits of the same, let him hereby know that at the French Consulates there are the several varieties of labels, and if any one desire to go and examine them, he is at liberty to do so.

ARTICLE VII. These articles of Treaty have been written both in the French and Siamese languages, and are designed to be used within the limits of the city of Bang- kok from this time forward.—Let every per- son take heed to follow them.

THE RIVER TA-CHEEN

Ta-cheen river empties into the head of the Gulf of Siam, twenty miles or more West of the mouth of the Maa-nam Chow Phya, and is about one fourth less in volume than the latter. It appears to be sufficiently deep to be navigated more than 60 miles, by any vessel of less than twelve feet draught. But there is a sand bar a little outside of its mouth, much like the one at the mouth of the Chow Phya.

It is in some respects a more beautiful stream than the latter, and one of the most serpentine in Siam, its bends being gener- ally quite abrupt, describing often almost an entire circle. Persons not aware of this fact, are liable to lose their reckoning and bearings, in passing from place to place up- on it. Some of the bends of the river, have small sinuous canals across their necks, which greatly shortens distances for small craft at flood tide, but they are too shallow for any use at ebb.

Ta-cheen is one of four noble rivers, all flowing southerly, seeking the Gulf through one common plain as level as the sea. This assertion is so strange to some, that it is difficult for them to believe it to be a fact. A common belief of Europeans is, that they are but so many mouths of one mighty river. But the truth is, there is not any evidence whatever that even any two of them have the least natural connection with each other.

All this vast plain being more than 100 miles in width, from East to West, and not less than 150 miles in length, from North to South, was once, in all probability, oc- cupied by the sea, which, having gradually retired from its ancient boundaries since Noah's flood, has left these four great riv- ers, to cut each its own independent chan- nel to the Gulf, through the alluvial de- posit left by the receding waters. As a proof that the sea has retired, it may be stated that marine productions are to be found deeply imbedded in all this alluvial deposit, and that there are hills of sea shells at Aug-hin, and other places, from 20 to 30 feet above the present level of the sea.

Obituary Notice

Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk, lately her Majesty's consul at Bangkok, and cel- ebrated for his many travels and his scien- tific investigations in South America, died at Berlin on the 11th inst. Sir Robert was born in 1804. His first employment was in 1831, when he was engaged in the survey of one of the Virgin Islands of the West Indies, and the dangerous coral reefs surrounding them. In 1835, under the auspices of the Royal Geographical Society, he proceeded to Guiana and explored its interior, which was previously unknown land. For this service he received the gold medal of the society on returning to Eng land in 1839. In the subsequent year he undertook, on the part of the British Gov- ernment, the survey of the limits of British Guiana, for the successful prosecution of which mission he received the honour of knighthood, and in the same year (1840) he was nominated a Knight of the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, and received pro- motion in the same order some years later. Sir Robert first entered upon the consular service of Great Britain in 1848, when he was appointed British Consul at St. Dom- ingo, and in the following year was accredot- ed plenipotentiary to conclude a treaty with that republic. He was appointed consul at Bangkok in 1857, but retired on a pension last year. In 1859 accompanied by Mr. Clark, interpreter, he proceeded on an over- land tour to Moulmein, through Changmei, the capital of the tributary kingdom of Laos, and returned to the seat of his con- sulate in 1860. Sir Robert was a member of many learned societies both in Europe and America, and he is the author of some clever works and many scientific papers of great interest. Sir Robert was a Prussian, subject by birth. Overland Mail, Mar. 18th

A. Card.

Sir—-I wish distinctly to have it known, that the proprietor is responsible for the articles on "POLICE PROTECTION" and "WHAT ARE THE POLICE BEING," which have appeared in the "Siam Times." They were both written by me, but were approved of by Mr. J. H. Chandler, else they could not have appeared in the paper.

Police Cases.

ITEMS.

The Steamer Chow Phya left Singapore May 8th, arrived at the bar 13th inst, and and at Bangkok at 11 A.M 14th inst.

Passengers, Per Chow Phya. Messrs. Allen, Horbey and Capt. Hicks. H. M. St. Str. Princess Royal, Vice Admi- ral King is on passage for this, and may be expected to arrive about the 22nd inst.

On the 11th inst, the Opium farmer's men assisted by Capt Amos and five or six of the Police Force, searched the promises of Messrs. Pickenpack, Theis, & Co., for contraband Opium and found a large quantity. It appears that there was scarcely a chest opened but what contained opium more or less, from one to two hundred ticals worth;—that the coolies have been carrying on a good business for some time, and that the opium was prepared on the premises, as the pans &c, used for that purpose were also found and seized. The opium not generally distributed plainly showed that not one or two were alone guilty, but the whole fraternity of coolies including the head man, in whose chest the largest quantity was found. The whole forty or fifty men ought to have been arrested; but it would have required the whole Police Force to do that, Capt. Ames wisely took four of the most guilty, and with the opium was proceeding to the boat, when the prisoners called on their friends for assistance, and a general row com- menced.

About fifty or sixty coolies (among whom were some who claimed to belong to the "Borneo Co. Limited") against six of the Police, who retained two of the prisoners and all the opium; the opium farmer's men who had chrged the other two, let them go to the first onset and retreated to the boat. The coolies were armed with sticks and bricks (which they showered about pretty plentifully) and in spite of Mr. Finch who did all in his power to quell the disturbance, they followed the prisoners to the boat, and would have probably released them, had not Mr. Finch and his friends brought fire arms to bear on them, at which they pre- cipitately dispersed.

We find that the practice of assaulting the Police, and releasing prisoners is very common among the Chinese, and not until a severe example is made of some of them will a stop be put to it. The Police were only doing their duty, and without their assistance it would be very difficult to seize opium; therefore as long as the Government receive a revenue from the sale of that drug, and the opium farmer requires the assistance of the Police to seize smugglers, we hope that the Government will support and protect the Police, and punish every one who may assault or obstruct them in the execution of their duty.

We are sorry to find that this is the second European establishment, on which opium in large quantities has been found within the last few weeks, and report says that others are suspected; most likely the Chinamen take advantage of the premises of Foreigners, and are under the impression the Police will never pay them a visit. Much to the proprietors that was done so twice, successively, and we hope it might be the means of breaking up such nests of crime, and free the proprietors from a certain amount of suspicion, which will naturally in some minds be attached to them.

NOTICE TO MARINERS

A Reef near Pulo Panjang, reported by Capt Hide Ship "Siamese Crown".

The Siamese Ship "Siamese Crown" struck and dragged over this Reef, on her passage from China to this Port. This Reef is not marked on any Chart, and consequently must be unknown by Naviga- tors in these waters.

At the time the Ship struck, Peak Island bore North, and White Rock S. W. by W. the ship was drawing 15 feet water, after crossing over the Reef, sound- ings was got, at 30 fathoms. It being in the night time I did not stop to examine the Reef.

Underground Railway in New York.—

Another effort is made to obtain from the Legislature of New York a charter for a railroad under Broadway, to extend from Bowling Green to the Central Park. The project may receive an impulse from the success of a similar enterprise in Lon- don. The Metropolitan Underground Rail- way of London reports : "One week in December there were carried over the road 273,669 passengers, the receipts being £2,- 703. This is the largest weekly receipt since the opening. This is equal to £720 per mile for the week, or at the rate of £37,000 per mile per annum, and is very largely in excess of the receipts per mile of any other railway in the kingdom. When the extension is open there is no doubt that the traffic over the entire railway will be enormously increased. The works are be- ing vigorously prosecuted."

ENIGMA. No. 2.

ambition of many people.

My, 20: 17: 7: 18: 9: 14: 19: is worthy of death.

My, 15: 7: 1: 20: 17: 18: 3: is what some powers

profess to be.

My, 4: 14: 1: is a pronoun.

My, 16: 10: 15: destroys more life than a pesti-

lence.

My, 12: 17: 4: 10: 19: is a dishonorable prac-

tice

My, 4: 18: 2: 7: is a celebrated College in the

United States.

My, 1: 8: 18: 11: is an abbreviated appellation of

a certain country.

My, 11: 18: 15: 16: 14: is a kind of fruit.

My, 9: 18: 1: 3: is the name of a tall king.

My, 12: 10: 15: 20: is a liquid measure.

My, 11: 10: 15: 20: is a unity in Siam.

My, 1: 2: 3: 4: 13: 5: 7: 8: is the name of an

illustrious Grecian general.

My, 6: 14: is the name of an Egyptian king.

My whole is an illustrious son of Jesse.

Answer To Enigma

Wars—Mice—Siam—Wales—Masters—Canals—Mu-

sic—William Te Cumseh, Sherman.

AMERICA.

A steamer has arrived at Crookhaven this morning, bringing advices from New York to the 16th inst. General Lee re- ports that the Federals, advancing on Kin- ston, North Carolina, were attacked four miles from that place by General Bragg on the 8th inst, and driven back three miles, with the loss of 1,500 prisoners, three can- non, and many killed and wounded, which were left on the field. The Confederate loss was smail. General Schofield, who ar- rived at the scene of operations on the fol- lowing day, reports that Bragg renewed the attack on the 10th, but was repulsed with heavy loss in killed and wounded, and several hundred were taken prisoners. He, in turn, admits his loss small. Later des- patches from Fortress Monroe state that Schofield occupied Kingston on the 10th, Braggs being retired towards Goldsborough.

Mr. Stanton had announced the receipt of despatches from Sherman dated Laurel- hill, North Carolina, of the 8th inst, which state that he is progressing well, but, for prudential reasons omits giving details. A later telegram, however, states that scouts from Sherman arrived at Wilmington on the 11th, and reported his army encamped at Fayetteville, North Carolina. Richmond papers publish a correspon- dence between Sherman and Wade Hamp- ton, in which the former declared he will shoot a Confederate soldier for every one of his men killed while foraging; and the latter replies, that for every Confederate so executed he will retaliate by shooting two Federal officals. General Lee notifies to the Confederate war department that General Wade Hamp- ton attacked General Kilpatrick, without mentioning at what place, on the 10th, and drove him from his encampment, capturing his cannon, horses, trains, several hundred prisoners, and recapturing many Confeder- ate prisoners. The Federal loss in killed and wounded was heavy; that of the Con- federates slight. Gen. Sheridan, in a despatch to General Grant, dated Columbia, Virginia, reports the progress of his expedition up to the 10th inst. He alludes to a previous des- patch, announcing his occupation of Way- nesborough, and the defeat of Early by Cus- ter, which had not been published. From Waynesborough he proceeded to Charlotte- ville, sending out detachments, which des- troyed bridges and portions of the railways to within twenty miles of Lynchburg, thence to Scottsville, and destroying the locks and cutting the banks of the James River Ca, nal letting in the full current of the river, and tearing up the railway along its banks. All mills, factories and bridges on the line of march were destroyed. Commodore Hollins, of the Confederate navy, was re- ported killed while attempting to escape.

capture. Sheridan adds, that he met with no opposition after the conflict with Early, and found food and forage in abundance. The courier who brought Sheridan's des- patches to Grant stated that Sheridan re- connoitred Lynchburg, but found its gar- rison reinforced and its defenses too strong to attack. Sheridan was said to be endeav- oring to reach White House on the Pamunky.

Mobile dispatches of the 28th ult., to the Richmond papers, state that 28 Feder- al steamers and transports had entered the bay, and landed large numbers of troops upon Dauphin's Island. An early attack upon that city was expected.

R. C. Kennedy, charged with participa- tion in the attempt to burn the New York Hotel last autumn, had been convicted by a court-martial as a spy and incendiary, and sentenced to be hanged.

The Tribune announces, from Washing- ton, that many Federal officers, whose term of service have expired, had proceed- ed to Mexico and accepted command in the Republican army.

Mr. Lincoln, under date of the 14th inst., orders the arrest and imprisonment during the war of all Federal citizens or domiciled aliens who have held intercourse with the Confederate States by sea; he also directs all non-resident foreigners who have been engaged in blockade-running to leave the country within twelve days, if on the At- lantic side, and within forty days, if on the Pacific side, not to return during the war, under pain of imprisonment.

The Confederate Congress, which was to have adjourned on the 11th inst., had ex- tended its session to the 14th, in compliance with a message from President Davis, which stated that he had an important communic- ation to submit.

The draught was commenced in New York on the 15th inst. No opposition was made. Provost-Marshal Frye had an- nounced that the conscripts are not to be called into actual service while volunteering continues reasonably brisk.

Latest Telegrams.

Richard Cobden died yesterday in Lon- don.

The plague is making fearful ravages in St. Petersbergh.

Monte Video surrendered to Hores.

Brazilian troops took possession.

Peace resulted.

Hores temporarily assumed Presidency

In answer to a question put by the New delegate relative to reports of the Pope coming to England; Palmerston said Eng- land offered Pope hospitality; masta (! as to) his coming to England it would be a political anachronism.

Great opposition about to be made to the nomination of Bishop of Lahore.

Attempt made to form Grant's junction with Sheridan failed.

Sherman reported to have been driven from Goldsboro with heavy loss.

The Committee of the Commons report a vast number of false signatures attached to petitions in favor of Azim Jah.

The Papal Government has declared to Foreign Ambassadors its inability to raise an adequate force to suppress revolutionary attempts.

Spain has stated its intention to confer the Balaeric Isles on the Pope if obliged to quit Rome.

Austria has declared its readiness to abstain from voting in the Diet on Bavarian proposals regarding Duchies, if Prussia do so too; if not Austria will vote in favor of Bavarian proposition.

Discussion of claim of Augustenburg fixed for 6th April.

Papal states invaded by brigands.

French troops aent to expel them.

The Empress of the French about to visit Algeria.

Arrivals from Calcutta,—Alumbaugh, Nile, Queen of the South. S. S. Golden Horn, Chiwell Abbey, and Oriana. Discount four Consols ninety and a quarter.

NEWS FROM LONDON TO
APRIL 19th.
FURTHER FAILURES.

"London, 10th April, Afternoon .—

Dhollera 10 pence ; declining .

Shirtings 9s. and 6d.

"London, 12th April; evening;—

Fair Dhollera 10 pence one farthing .

Failures:— Boll Killor & Co., Liverpool .

Charles Fore [Fox?] and Company . Liabilities six handled thousand Pounds.

Neile Brothers, Liverpool .

T. Logan , Glasgow .

We add some items from Telegrams of an earlier date which we find in the Mad- ras Athenaeum .

London, 6th April-—Portugal has given satisfaction for firing upon the Niagara, dismissed the Governor of the Fort, and saluted the American Flag with one hundred and three guns . Four dismissed. ( Discount four.)

London 8th April—-The Indian Budget has caused great surprise and dissatisfaction. Sir Charles Wood has declared that the Export duties are totally opposed to everything he expected.

Oxford won the boat race.

Cotton; Dhollera ten-pence three far- things. Bengal six-pence farthings.

New York, 30th March-—Severe battle at Petersburg. Lee attacked-—gained tem- porary success—afterwards repulsed, heavy loss both sides. Sherman joined Schofield at Goldsboro after hard fighting. Peace Rumours renewed.

London, 10th April.—Charles Joyce and Co., failed million. Cotton half penny lower. India Railways higher.

New York, 1st April—A General ad- vance of Grant’s army has commenced, and a great battle is believed to have com- menced.

General Thomas is advancing on Lynch- burg.

One three-four ( ! Gold 134.)

London, Saturday morning, 13th Apr. 3.10 a. m.

New York 5th.-—After three day’s bloody battle Grant has occupied Petersburg and Richmond. Lee retreating on Lynchburg closely pursued.

Lee’s losses estimated at fifteen hundred killed and wounded, twenty-five hundred prisoners, and one hundred to two hundred guns. Federals lost seven hundred.

Cotton—-Dhollers, ten pence half penny; Bengal, five pence half penny.

London, 13th April.-—Three days fight- ing.—15000 Confederates-—7000 Federals killed and wounded.

Lincoln in Davis’ house at Richmond.

Lee hemmed in and expected to sur- render.

Cotton. Dhollra 9d lb.

London, 19th April, 8.50 p.m. New York. 8th.—-Pursuit of Lee continues. Sheridan overtook and routed him near Burke Vally. Sheridan thinks Lee will surrender.

Sheridan advancing. Raleigh attacked. An attack near Mobile commenced.

Items.

Some two years since a quantity of tam- arind was sent by a number of American Citizens here, to New York for the use of the Christian Commission. No news had been received from it after it left China, and it was supposed to be lost. By this mail however it is learned that it was received and appropriated to the sick soldiers and sailors. Portions of it were sent to Norfolk Va. New Berne N. C. Port Royal S. C. and to New Orleans La. It was found to be ex- cellent in cases of Camp Fever and Diar- rhia.

On Tuesday evening 9th inst. there was a grand illumination at wat Pra-Kao it being the anniversary of the birth, death and in- spiration of Buddha, it was conducted on a much larger scale than usual. Prince and Noblemen were represented each only by a lantern made after his own taste and giving his name and seal &c.

In the "Straits Times" of May 6th there is an item referring to the "extraordinary procedure of the French at Bangkok." Wrong impressions will get abroad occas- sionally. Truth demands that we state that there was only one gun-boat viz the Mitraille. There was no gun-boat menac- ing Campoot so far as we know. The Mi- traille did not anchor opposite the Royal Palace, nor did she in any way menace the Royal Palace. The usual friendly salute was fired upon her arrival here. And when the treaty between France and Siam in re- ference to Cambodia was concluded she left peaceably. What she would have done had her demands not been complied with we know not.

H. B. M. Consul was abroad during the time the French were here, but he did not leave on account of their coming. He held communication daily with the city during his absence. We believe that his advice was asked by the Siamese, and freely given by him.

To the Editor of the Bangkok Recorder

My Dear Sir—Some years ago I made a note of the following law against "obtain- ing husbands under false pretences," it was passed by the English Parliament in 1770 and enacts " That all women of whatso- ever age, whether virgins, maids, or widows, who shall impose upon, seduce, and betray into matrimony, any of H. Majesty's male subjects by virtue of scents, paints, cos- metics, washes, artificial teeth, false hair spanish wool, iron, iron stays, bolstered hips, or high heeled shoes, shall incur the penalty of the law, now against witchcraft, and like misdemeanors, and their marriage under such circumstances, upon conviction of the offending party, shall be null and void."

Do you know if this law has been repeal ed? I am acquainted with a few bewitching creatures, who do not pay the slightest re- gard to the above, and although I may not always be proof against their witchcraft, I should be very sorry to see any of them un dergo the penalty of the law.

If you read the following verses, and are told that they are written by a boy fifteen years old, who saved carefully to raise money enough to buy the pa- per and pay the postage, then wrote the lines upon the window-sill, and with modest hesitation and doubt sent them off, would you not augur well of him? But if you knew that he was of foreign blood, his parents dead, his mother, though very poor, yet greatly educated, and careful, before dying, of his education; and that the verses are the remembrance of an old legend his mother used to sing,-—will you not feel that upon this page of the Easy Chair you have fallen upon one of those chapters of romance which are familiar to us in Miss Braddon’s books, say—and in older and better books than hers—and in the best history of human life? It is remarkable to find the rhythm and the tone of the oldest En- glish poetry in these verses of a half-American lad of to-day. There is a suggestion in the measure and phraseology of the pompous richness and stiff brocaded movement of old English verse. Imag- ine that the Easy Chair copies from some page of two or three centuries ago, and it will not seem strange. "Easy Chair Harper's Monthly".

THE SUN AND NIGHT—AN ALLEGORY.

This earthly orb her leaden chains had spread;

And mortals, wrapt in slumber so profound,

Seemed less enslaved in Sleep’s embraces than dead.

Sol early knew her proud, insidious aim,

And, mounting hastily his car sublime

(The while his breast fierce ire and rage inflame),

Grasps his keen rays and flies to the Eastern clime.

He gained the Horizon! — When poor Night beheld

Her more than equal foe intrenched secure,

Swiftly she fled, by hurrying fears impelled,

T’escape the fury of her swift pursuer.

From side to side disconsolate she flies,

But finds, alas! no refuge, no repose;

When haply, lo! a shady grot she views,

And creeps for shelter, trembling as she goes.

In close pursuit the Sun the welkin treads,

Darting his fiery shafts on every side,

Climbs the steep vault, his piercing splendor extends,

To find what den the fugitive might hide.

A while he gazed attentive; but in vain

His penetrating eye surveyed the world;—

Outbraved! his choler ‘gainst the humble plain

The fury of his blazing weapons burled.

Wistful, meanwhile, within the covert far,

’Mid the thick branches of the friendly grove,

Night hear, appalled! the rolling of his car,

Which headlong on her hot pursuer drove.

Soon as he passed from coward terrors free

She felt new life her languid powers pervade;

And freedom now and calm tranquillity

Breathed their bland influence through the realms

of shade.

First peeping through the copses of the wood,

She saw, far distant, Sol’s declining flame—

Beheld him buried in the Western flood,

Then jocund forth from her asylum came.

Elate with pompous dignity she viewed

A shining troop of circling stars appear,

Then, vying in obsequious homage, strewed

Their gaudy spangles round the hemisphere.

The uncourteous Moon, deck’d in a borrowed robe,

Foremost along the dingy concave swims—

Thus Night, triumphant Mistress of the globe,

The King of Day’s sublimest glory dims.

Night, Peerless! whom no rival shall assail,

What time thy foe his short career has run—

Say, who e’er fancied that thy flimsy veil

Might thus obscure the effulgence of the Sun?

So, Truth, irradiating, deigns to shine

Like the bright sun, and mists and clouds pervades;

But lo! we bow at our accustomed shrine,

And lose ourselves again in Error’s shades.

We listen not when sage instruction speaks,

Or, listening, oft her precepts we disdain;

And wavering Folly back returns and seeks

To reign once more where it was wont to reign.

A man came to the Duke of Wellington. "What have you to offer?" "A bullet-proof jacket, your grace." "Put it on." The inventor obeyed. The duke rang a bell. An aide-de-camp presented him- self. "Tell the captain of the guard to order one of his men to load with ball cartridge." The inventor disappeared, and was never seen again near the Horse Guards. No money was wasted in trying that invention.

WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.—Dr. Barnes being inclined to sleep during a dull, prosy sermon, a friend who was with him, jolted him on his having nodded now end then. Barnes insisted on his having been awake all the time. "Well, then," said his friend, "can you tell me what the sermon was about? " "Yes, I can," he answered, "it was about an hour too long."

Odds and Ends.

Four gentlemen—a Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic—met by agreement to dine on a fish. Soon as grace was said, the Catholic rose, armed with a knife and fork, and taking about one-third of the fish, comprehending the head, re- moved it to his plate, exclaiming, as he sat down, with great self-satisfaction, "Papa est caput ecclesiæ:" the Pope is the head of the church. Immediately the Methodist minister arose, and, helping himself to about one-third, embracing the tail, seated him- self. "Finis coronat opus;" the end crowns the work. The Presbyterian now thought it was about time for him to move, and, taking the remainder of the fish to his plate, exclaimed, "In mediis est veritas;" truth lies between the two extremes. Our Baptist brother had nothing before him but an empty plate, and the prospect of a slim dinner; and, snatching up the bowl of drawn [melted] butter, he dashed it over them all, exclaiming, "Ego baptiso vos;" I baptize you all.

The London Spectator concludes a late article on Gen. Sherman’s march, written on receipt of Americ- can news now four weeks old, with the emphatic (now prophetic) declaration: — "There is not a general now alive in Europe who, if Sherman suc- ceeds, will not recognize the addition of one more to the short but first-class leaders of armies."

Steeling Money.—The following extract from Camden will explain the origin and use of the word "sterling."—"In the time of King Richard I, monie coined in the east parts of Germanie begun to be of especiall request in England for the puritie thereof, and was called Easterling monie, as all the inhabit- ants of those parts were called Easterlings, and shortly after some of that countrie, skillful in mint matters and alloes, were sent for into the realme to bring the coins to perfection, which since that time were called of them sterling, for Easterling."

The Wealthiest Man—-An Annual Income of $5,000,000.—Alexander T. Stewart, the dry goods nabob of New York, has the largest income of any man in America, or (probably) the world. He has lately paid an income tax of $250,000—on a net in- come of five million dollars!—This would be the in- terest, at 6 per cent, of over eighty millions. We know of no case among the wealthy men of England that surpasses or equals this, and we suppose A. T. Stewart is the “richest man” living—Albany Argus.

A lady's age—A lady who still prides herself on her youth and beauty had to appear at a Paris police- court last week. She had differences with her son, who is old enough at least to be examined on oath. They both had to state their age in a court of Just- ice. "Your age, madame?" asks the courteous justice. "Twenty-five," says audacious mother. A little later the son is in the box. "Your age, sir?" asks justice. "Why" answers ingenious youth, "I had, to my astonishment, that I am a year older than my mother."

What is fame? The advantage of being known by people of whom you yourself know nothing, and for whom you care as little.

Learning will accumulate wonderfully, if you add a little every day. Pick up the book and gain one new idea, if no more. Save that one—add another as soon as you can.

"You labor overmuch in your composition, doc- tor," said a flippant clergyman to a venerable divine "I write a sermon in three hours, and make nothing of it." "So your congregation says," quoth the doctor.

A lady that would please herself in marrying was warned that her intended, although a very good sort of a man, was very singular. "Well," replied the lady, "if he is very much unlike other men he is much more likely to make a good husband."

A woman having occasion to visit an acquaintance living in a neighboring town, took her seat in a railroad carriage. Surprised at the short time in which the journey was accomplished, she remarked, that if she had known she could have got there so quickly, she would have walked.

Archbishop Whateby was endeavoring to elicit a candidate's idea on the market value of labor, with reference to demand and supply, but being puzzled, the prelate put a question in this simple form—"If there are in your village two shoemakers with just sufficient employment to enable them to live a tolera- bly and no more, what would follow if a third shoe- maker set up in the same village?" "What would follow, sir?" said the candidate; "why, a fight, to be sure!"

"It seems to me I have seen your physiognomy somewhere before," said a swell to a stranger whom he met the other day; "but I cannot imagine where." "Very likely," replied the other: "I have been the keeper of a prison for the last twenty years."

In a Scotch town lately, a man from the country applied to a respectable lawyer for legal advice. Af- ter detailing the circumstances of the case, he was asked if he had stated the facts exactly as they oc- curred. "Ou, ay, sir," rejoined the applicant, "I thought it best to tell you the plain truth; you can put the lees till't yourself."

A man applied to Dr. Jackson, the celebrated chemist of Boston, with a box of specimens: "Can you tell me what this is, sir?" Certainly I can. sir, that is iron pyrites." "What sir?" in a voice of thunder. "Iron pyrites." Iron pyrites! and what is that?" "That's what it is," said the chemist, put- ting a lot on the shovel over the hot coals, where it disappeared. "Dross."| "And what is iron pyrites worth?" "Nothing." "Nothing! why, there's a man who owns a hill full of that in our town, and I've married her!""

"What part of speech is man?" said a pedagogue to a sailor boy pupil. "A verb sir," replied the lat- ter. "A verb, is it?" said the teacher, with a sig- nificant twist of his lips ; "please given an example" "Man the yards!" was little Tarpaulins moment re- sponse.

Never meet trouble half way, but let him have the whole walk for his pains. Perhaps he will give up his visit before reaching your house.

Two dull and torpid natures may be aroused by contact with each other; even a couple of dry sticks rubbed together, will make a flame.

Moral beauty, the reflectiou of the soul in the countenance, is as superior to superficial comeliness as mind is to matter. Those who look good cannot fail to be good-looking.

A lawsuit in Glastenbury, Conn., about a grind- stone worth $6, has just been decided at Hartford by a verdict of that amount, after it has cost the contending parties $400.

"Ah! Jemmy, Jemmy," said the kind-hearted Dr. Ponsohby, bishop of Derry, to a drunken black- smith. "I'm sorry to see you beginning your evil course again, and, Jemmy, I am very anxious to know what you intend to do with that fine lad, your son?" "I intend, sir," said Jemmy, "to do for him what you cannot do for your son"—"Eh! eh! how's that—how's that?" To which Jemmy, with a burst of genuine feeling, sir; I intend to make him a better man than his father"