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Bangkok June 1st.

Since our last issue we have received sev- eral messages from Siamese Officials with regard to the matter published and the ques- tions discussed in our columns. We are doubtless indebted for these attentions, to our very amiable friend the Consul for France. There is a very general rumour through the town that this official has de- manded of the Siamese Government the suppression of the Newspaper published here. We trust this rumour is without good foundation. If we believed the report we should be inclined to inquire if Siam has already become a province of France? If so, it would be indeed time for us, in imitation of the Critic of the Emperor's History of Cæsar, to seek a Brussels where we may find an asylum from Imperial tyr- anny. But until better advised we shall consider Siam an independent Kingdom having certain treaty relations, not with France only, but with several European States and with the United States of Amer- ica. In accordance with these treaty rela- tions we rejoice to know that we are not under the jurisdiction either of France, or Siam. Any suggestions coming from His Majesty the Supreme King of Siam, or from the chief officials, will always receive that respectful consideration to which from their high source, they are entitled. But we must reserve the undoubted right of exercising our judgement, as to what shall be published in our columns, being only amenable for any abuse of this right to our own laws administered by our own Consul in the exercise of his judicial func- tion.

We shall feel at liberty to publish any facts coming legitimately into our posses- sion, and to discuss freely the movements of France in Siam and the East. In doing so we shall endeavor not to forget the re- spect due to the Official position of the Consul for France, and shall rejoice to be able to entertain at all times that respect for the Consul personally derived from his honoring the position which honors him. But neither from us or from the Govern- ment of Siam, can he claim any privileges not accorded to the Consuls of the other Treaty Powers, and we think we are right in maintaining that with the existence of other Treaties, each containing the most favored nation clause, Siam can have no private and confidential relations with France; but is obligated to make known to the other Treaty Powers any new agree- ment entered into with that Government.

AMERICAN GENERALS.

At the age of seventeen the boy and his father both began to feel that some decisive steps must be taken towards his education. The father perceiving his son's taste for Military life began to think that probably an appointment to West Point Military Academy might be obtained for him. He immediately wrote to a member of Congress from his district requesting his influence in securing an appointment for his son. The gentleman in reply stated that he had already an applicant from that district but said there was a vacancy in a neighboring dis- trict. This appeared to be the only chance for Ulysses, and Mr. Grant wrote without delay to the member for that district who cheerfully proposed the name of the tan- ner's son and obtained the appointment. There was however another ordeal through which the boy must now pass. Every student when he enters must pass an ex- amination in certain preparatory studies. This was quite an ordeal for Ulysses con- sidering the few advantages he had already received, but he passed it safely and enter- ed the Military Academy July 1st 1839.

West Point is a beautiful spot on the Hudson River fifty two miles above New York. The Military Academy there is al- lowed to have only two hundred and fifty students ranging from fourteen to twenty one years of age. Each one is paid wages enough per month to defray all his expens- es. He is thus enabled to pay all his own necessary bills without having them paid for him, and a manly independence is thus cultivated, whilst the education is at the same time gratuitous.

The cadets in return are required to serve at least eight years in the service of the government unless dismissed or allowed to resign. Ulysses was here thrown among the sons of senators, and congressmen, and many others who were wealthy. They had also, too, previously been at college or some scientific school. Here Ulysses labored under great disadvantages, for the only previous education he had received was as we have seen a few months of each year at the district school.

The branches generally taught in a coun- try district school at that day were Read- ing, Writing, Arithmetic, English Gram- mar, and Geography. With indomitable perseverance however Ulysses succeeded in mastering every recitation at the Academy, and at the end of the Freshman year when examination came, and many were turned back he again passed the ordeal and entered the higher class. At the end of the second year he again passed whilst many fell back. At the end of the third year he again pas- sed and entered upon the crowning year of his course. During his third year he also received as a compliment from his compan- ions the office of sergeant of the battalion. Engineering he mastered by severe ap- plication. He also perfected himself in horsemanship and he is now one of the best horsemen in the army. June 30th 1843 came, it was graduating day. Of the one hundred young men who four years before had put on the grey suit of cadets, the tanner boy from the district school now stands No. 21. Seventy nine of his classmates among whom were the sons of senators, and professional men were left behind. After graduating he was brevetted second Lieu- tenant of the fourth Regular Infantry, and was sent to Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis Missouri. The only active duty he there had was an occasional expedition in- to the wild country back of St. Louis, and along the ruins to protect the inhabitants from the incursions of the Indians. In 1844 he was still with his regiment up the Red River in Louisiana. Months again pas- sed away without anything striking in the life of the young Lieutenant.

To please the slaveholders who have since rebelled against the United States Govern- ment the slave territory had to be impress- ed. Texas then standing out as a "lone star" was annexed to the Union. A diffi- culty arose between Texas and Mexico in regard to the boundary line. The United States sent to the boundary an army of oc- cupation under. Gen. Zachary Taylor. Lieut. Grant marched with his regiment to Corpus Christo where the troops were concentrat- ting. He was there promoted by brevet to the rank of first Lieutenant, of the Seventh Regiment U. States Infantry, but he pre- ferred to remain with his old regiment, and requested Government to allow him to do so, which was granted and he received his regular commission of Second Lieutenant of the Fourth Regiment. May 23rd 1846 active operations commenced. Mexico hav- ing in the mean time declared war on the ground that the United States had invaded her territory. The first engagement be- tween the the two opposing armies was the short and bloody battle of Palo Alto. In that action Lieutenant Grant won the ad- miration of his superior officers.

Next day another severe battle was fought at Resaca de la Palma, in which the Mexicans were again defeated. Grant's character as a true soldier again shone forth with new lustre. Next came the strongly fortified position of Monterey. Another terribly severe, but successful en- gagement ensued, Grant again fought despe- rately. The city of Mexico now became the goal of the United States army, and Gen. Winfield Scott was appointed to the command. Taylor's forces joined him. Grant was appointed quarter master of his regiment and given a place upon the Com- mander's staff. Vera Cruz was soon taken and the army entered the heart of the hos- tile Country. Soon came the terrible strug- gle of Molina del Rey, The young Lieut. was calm and heroic. Ho rode so calmly and recklessly through the storm of leaden had that he was at once brevetted first Lieutenant. Congress however is often slow in recognizing true merit, so she re- fused to ratify the brevet, and Grant re- ceived the empty brevet alone. Five days after Molina del Rey came the frowning and strongly fortified heights of Chapul- tepec. They must be stormed. None was more daring in that action than Grant. Capt. Brooks of the second Artillery re- ports as follows. "I succeeded in reaching the Fort with a few men. Here Lieut. U. S. Grant and a few more men of the Fourth Infantry joined mo and by a joint movement and after an obstinate resistance a strong field work was carried, and the enemies right completely turned."

Major Lee, now Lieutenant General Lee Commander-in-chief of the rebel forces, and Grant's great antagonist reports as follows. "At the first barrier the enemy were in strong force which rendered it necessary to ad- vance with caution. This was done; and when the head of the battalion was within short musket range of the barrier, Lieut. Grant of the Fourth Infantry and Capt. Brooks of the Second Artillery, with a few men of their respective regiments by a handsome movement to the left turned the right flank of the enemy and the barrier was carried. Lieutenant Grant behaved with distinguished ability on the 13th and 14th. Thus it may be perceived that even at that early day he was renowned for flanking. Little did Major Lee then suppose that he would one day be arrayed against that government which they were both then serving with distinguished ability, and that Lieutenant Grant would be his great an- tagonist, and by those same flank move- ments he would bring him precipitately from Spotsylvania to the South side of the James, and there hang on to him with bull dog tenacity until he forced him to evac- uate his stronghold. Grant was brevetted Captain from the battle of Chapultapec. He also participated in the taking of Mexi- co having been in all the battles of the war except Buena Vista, having fought in four- teen engagements. Peace was declared in 1848 and the army disbanded. After the war Grant married Miss Dent a sensible young lady whose father still resides near St. Louis Missouri.

He was afterwards sent to a post on Lake Ontario where of course there was but little to do, and he occasionally visited a neighboring village where he was known chiefly for his ability in playing checkers. After the gold fever broke out in California, and it was necessary to send some troops there to keep things straight, Grant and his Fourth Regiment were sent to the Pacific where he received his full rank of Captain.

FRENCH IN COCHIN CHINA.

Being now in possession of the three richest provinces of the Annam kingdom, we soon found the difficulties of governing them, and it now became necessary to as- certain the boundries, and to facilitate the rich imports of trade, if we did not exercise an influence in Cambodia, and to explore the magnificent river of that name which is fed by three great rivers, one of which, the Laos, takes its rise in the mountains of Thibet. The kingdom of Cambodia after having attained as high a state of civiliza- tion as China, has now fallen back into barbarism, and for the last 200 years has been in a state of anarchy, and at different times she has called to her assistance the arms of Annam and Siam. The Govern- ment of Hue has profited by the frequent aids, sent to Cambodia, and has assumed the right of intermeddling with her inter- nal affairs, and exercises a sovereignty there more or less vigorous. The King of Cambodia is invested by the King of An- nam and pays him an annual tribute.

The kingdom of Siam, which borders on Cambodia, has the same pretensions to her, alhough their interference has often been repulsed by the inhabitants. Our ar- rival in Cochin China, our war with the Annamites, and later still our taking pos- session of the three provinces, appears to have been considered by the Siamese, as favorable opportunities, and they have very adroitly taken advantage to annex to their territories several provinces of Cambodia, and arrogating to themselves the right of solely electing the sovereign of that king- dom. The King who reigns at Bangkok has not succeeded in his claim, for King Tu- duc has also laid claim to the sovereignty of Cambodia, and has in reality exercised great vigilance there, as it is the only means of uniting those parts of that king- dom, which he has joined to his territory, and he baa agents present with his vassal the King of Cambodia, who never does a sovereign act without consulting them.

We might be indifferent to the intrigues of the Government of Siam; if left to her- self she would give us no apprehension, but it is from Bangkok that England watch- es with jealousy the progress of our estab- lishment in Cochin China. It has not escaped her shrewdness, that in the Penin- sula of Indo-China the preponderance will be held by this nation who commands the entrance of one of the most admirable riv- ers of Asia, and the source of the richest productions in the world. England has the hold of the King of Siam, a prince of Indian descent, and who is of that feeble race which she is accustomed to manage, and she has made him an instrument in her antagonism against us. At present she is content with opposing him to us, to re- sist our influence; but should a war here- after happen between her (England) and us, it might be that power reunite in high Cambodia means of attacking our provinces of Mithio and Ga-dinh ? Two proceedings of the Siamese Government make it our duty to examine more closely that posit- ion. The representative of the King of Siam at Udong, (the capital of Cambodia) wrote in Oct. 1862 to Admiral Bonard asking him, when he meant to give back the mouth of the river Bassai in Lower Cambodia, to the Cambodians, he being afraid to claim it directly in the name of his sovereign.

Later the Minister for Foreign affairs of the Court of Bangkok informed Admiral Grandiere (who had succeeded Admiral Bonard) of his intention to expedite from time to time Siamese officers to Saigon, and as his Government had only a few steamers capable of doubling the Cape of Cambodia, he wished to send them the in- terior route, by the the canal of Ha-tien. The illusion could not have been rnore plain, and therefore it became necessary to discover these nanoeuvres, which are clev- er, but badly disguised European influence. Being a man of spirit and resolution, de- voted to his work, Admiral Grandiere, a mongst other combinations of assuring the stability of our establishment, adopted the following resolution. To recognise tho independence of Cambodia, and establish her authority by treating her as an ally, and by the efficacy of our aid rendering her independent without other protection. The occasion for adopting this policy soon oc- curred.

A resident of Cambodia who had com- mitted an offence against that state, took refuge in our territory. The Minister of the King of Siam, who had no business to interfere, claimed the extradition of the of- fender. This was refused on tho plea that we did not recognise the protectorate, which the King of Siam arrogated over Cambodia, and further we considered Cam- bodia being in our own Frontiers was in- dependent, and that she should continue to be interposed between our territory and Siam The Annamite Government by the cession of the three provinces of Lower Cochin China, had also transferred to us all its rights, amongst which was the sover- eignty of Cambodia, which had existed for centuries, expressly for the security of the three provinces, and our interest as well as our honor allowed of no violation. In adapting this language Admiral Grandiere had a double object in view, to put down the ambition of the Court of Bangkok, and to elevate tho King of Cambodia from his state of subjection, and in inspiring him with a desire of an intimate alliance with France. In this his expectations were not deceived.

As soon as the King of Cambodia know of our friendly intentions, and that his in- dependence had been assured, he sent the Bishop of Cambodia, Mons. Miche to our Gov. expressing his desire to confer with him and hoping soon to see our flag floating on the waters of Cambodia expelling piracy, and sustaining his authority against the incessant pressure under which he was held by the Siamese and Annamites. Admiral Grandiere hastened to Udong to receive these overtures, and arrived there just as an Anuamito Gen. had come to summons the king to pay the usual tribute. This circumstance made the King more anxious to ally himself with the French, the nego- tiations were not long, and by the aid of M. Michie, the Admiral signed a convention by which lie accepted the offers of the King of Cambodia to place his kingdom under the protectorate of France.

This act may become a source of grave difficulties. But was it not necessary! Was it not an inevitable consequence of our position ? The brave Admiral who decided to take the responsibility of the complica- tions which might arise from this act, did so because our uncontested ascendency in Cambodia was a condition indispensible for our establishment in Cochin China. It was in fact an imporious necessity for us to secure our new possessions on the North with a sure ally, thereby freeing our milit- ary forces and leaving them at our dispos- al either to overlook other frontiers, or to keep in order the Annamites who were more warlike than submissive, and who were always ready to dispute the conquer- ed provinces.

Cambodia supplied us with 7 or 8000 bullocks for our troops, and from its great lake the exportation of salted and dried fish will be considerable, and when her re- sources are developed it will be by her riv- ers that the produce will feed the commerce of Saigon. Had Admiral Grandiere hesit- ated in securing these commercial advant- ages, they would have been lost to us and the commerce of our establishment would have had to go by the canals of Ha-tien and Bassai; this would have been the ruin of our new possessions.

When this negotiation was terminated it raised on the part of the Government of Siam the most lively complaints. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangkok, wrote to Admiral Grandiere informing him that the viceroy of Cambodia, although he was sovereign of that country, was only a functionary appointed by the Siamese Gov- ernment, and that he was under constraint when he signed the convention with the Gov. of Saigon. The Siamese Minister ut- tered loud complaints and expressed great astonishment that no notice had been given him of the intention of the French repre- sentative to recognize the independence of Cambodia, inasmuch as this proceeding was contrary to the assurances given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of France to the Siamese Ambassador, in words which authorized him to consider that the boun- daries of Lower Cochin China, and that of the Kingdom of Siam, would be settled direct with the Government of Bangkok. Without entering into any explanation of what had been done, our Government an- swered, that notwithstanding their obliga- tions to Siam, on the one hand, and to France and the Court of Hue on the other, the independence and autonomy of Cam- bodia could not be legally contested, and in consequence we had a right to treat with that Power without consulting the Govern- ment of Siam. And that with respect to the constraint on the King of Cambodia, Admiral Grandiere denies the assertion. In the negotiation in which he was engaged his honorable character, together with the intervention of the Bishop of Cambodia, are sufficient guarantees for the honesty of that Convention. In the month of Nov. 1863 the minister of the Navy sent him reg- ular powers, and special instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to make the negotiation definitive with the King of Cambodia, and in the mean time prepar- atory to executing the treaty, a depot of coal was made at Nam-Van, where the four ways meet, at a commanding position of the river and where the greatest traffic exists.

This was not however enough, it became necessary to take advantage of our novel position. We had two ways of developing the resources of this country, now become French, by colonization and by a judicious administration, those being both power- ful and necessary.

France is characterized by her adminis- tration, she has a genius for conceiving and organising, and carries with her a spirit of order, content, and regularity, and proba- bly in no time has this been more pro- minent than in our establishment in Cochin China. Our naval officers have most hon- orably laid aside their military habits, and taken civil duties upon them which circum- stances required, following the example given them by the Governor.

Prudence required the greatest manage- ment, for to have made sudden changes, although it were for the good of the inhab- itants, would have been destructive to our well being, and have made the natives oppressed. The several Governors of Saigon saw this and therefore adopted the form of administration they found there, they have not yet had any cause to change their opinions respecting the customs of the Annamites. The organization of Lower Cochin China is in fact similar to that of France, the frame work is nearly alike, and the agency adopted, is similar to those func- tionaries who fill corresponding employ- ments there.

Thanks to the experience gained it Algiers, we have escaped another danger, by having renounced the system of placing all authority exclusively in French hands, we have shared it with those who have sincerely taken our part, and have chosen many of the natives, thus the power of the Governor commandant, instead of Viceroy, is exercised by Annamite Administrators, who have retained the titles and authority which they held under the Government of Tu-duc. They are still called phu and huyen, and still continue to be judges, to collect customs, and to maintain the public peace in their divisions. They work under the direction and control of the commandants of Provinces. All officers of our army, ac- cording to the extent of territory under them, have the rank of Prefect or Sub-Pre- fect. Those superior officers are assisted by two Inspectors one having charge of Native, the other of Foreign affairs. The system that would have excluded public functions from the natives, not only would have been opposed by the population, but would also have had the inconvenience of having a large number of Europeans, who had to act with promptitude, in a country new and strange to them, having the aid of interpreters and others, whose assistance would annihilate their authority.

We wisely abstained from touching the Annamite communities or their municipal franchises, allowing them to carry out their local interests, and raised them in their own opinions, thus sparing them the humili- ating thought of being under strangers.

A modification however was made in a law which existed before our occupation; the Mayor was nominated by the director of the Nation, approved of by the Governor and presented by the Notables. He kept under his control a list of the Notables, which included the Registration of the pro- prietors of the Parish who were subject to the capitation tax. Those who were not included, are exempt and pay in service.

This tax has now been made on individ- uals according to the value of the land cultivated, the number of soldiers re- quired, and the services rendered, which is fixed by the central authority, and the full amount of the tax is guaranteed by each Parish, who are responsible for all wrong acts committed within their control. This system which originates from those of the Annamites, has the merit of lightening our administration.

These considerate proceedings being car- ried out with ability, and personal restraint, we have succeeded in establishing the French character among the Cochin Chi- nese, and it is due to Admiral Gandiere that these results have been obtained. One of his first acts was to guarantee Annamite freehold on the basis of French laws, this measure gives the proprietor a security which he had not before when he was only tenant to the King. But judging from the Dutch system in Java, and to avoid an- other evil, the Admiral has reserved the right of the natives to alienate their lands to Europeans. This restriction is to prevent the Annamites from being victims to spec- ulating and unscrupulous strangers.

To suppress piracy which is a profession in Cochin China, the Admiral in conformity to an Annamite law, has a general register of the vessels including the names of all the men afloat.

Two acts, above all others, ought to give the natives an idea of the superiority of our civilization. The two vices which do most mischief to the population, opium and gambling, are under restrictions, but not being able absolutely to prevent either gambling or the traffic in opium, the Gov- ernment of Saigon has termed them out under severe restrictions.

Admiral Gandiere has now made his first budget, which is drawn up on the ba- sis of those made by our other colonies, it only shows the expenses of the local ad- ministration, of the military service, and of the Naval divisions remaining as a Col- onial expense. We see with satisfaction by this document that already the receipt are equal to the expenditure, they amount to three millions of francs.

In rendering justice to the zeal and intel- ligence of our administration, we neverthe- less think that matters cannot remain long as they are. It ought to give up the mil- itary character and become civil. It is not our wish to say that the Government of French Cochin China should be confided to a non military rule, for some time yet our sovereignty ought to be in the hands of a General officer, but it is not the same with regard to the higher officers, we would escape great embarrassments if we could (like the Dutch at Java) govern our new subjects by the aid of their chiefs, but un- fortunately the Mandarins have remained attached to the Government of Hue, and identify themselves with its politics. All that we could do we were unable to prevent it. We must therefore replace these vacant posts by persons attached to us.

One system proposed which has the merit of assimilating to the Annamite or- ganisation, is to bring from France, active and intelligent young men, to whom the administration shall be open, after a time and they having passed an examination proving that they are capable of the duties of Mandarins, they must have learned the Annamite language, which is said to be simple, and which may soon be learned af- ter the Latin writing has replaced that of the native.

The Candidate will also have to study judicial functions, and the Annamite Code of Laws, which is written in the Chinese character and is a constant study to the learned and to the Mandarins, who in their retreat from our troops carried them away that they might not be contaminated. But after have been found, and our Governors are revising them, assimilating them in their different parts, and they have been printed in French at Saigon and in Chinese at Canton, with explanations and coments.

The introduction of civil officers in the higher parts of the administration would also have another advantage, which would not but have a great political influence. If we could efface from the population, the remembrance of their being a conquered people which they feel, we ought to withdraw all signs of warfare and keep our troops for the defence of the country and prudently mix native soldiers for duties in the interior. We desire to pursue a conciliatory course, but notwithstanding the severest discipline, the soldiers who conquered the country, are considered by the natives in a high position, they act as masters and seldom mix with them.

Our religion may also attach to us the Annamites who appear disposed (as it is seen) to receive Christian doctrine, but this duty ought to be confided to the most prudent and pure.

Gambling Mania.

We have not known a time when the gambling mania was so rife among the na- tives, and laborers so scarce as at present. One would suppose that at a time like this when there is no business doing, the rice mills silent, and other places of employment among the European community closed, that laborers would be abundant. Such how- ever does not appear to be the case. The time was that when we needed a man for a short time to go in the boat, or to do a small job of work, we had but to send out and call one; but now we most frequently call in vain. Even a common cooly or boatman who can at all be trusted can scar- cely be had for any wages. When we come to inquire the cause, the only one we can discover is, that they have all become des- perate and have taken to gambling. The gambling establishment are all full to over- flowing.

Many of those who formerly appeared to be steady quiet laborers have also been carried into the vortex. There is a story among them to the effect that some priest of great wisdom, somewhere within the limits of the city, has been fortunate en- ough to discover a kind of oil, which if ap- plied to the dice enables the player to see the die before it is thrown, and that he is now driving a good business by selling the oil. We do not vouch for the truth of this story, but give it as we got it. Could such a discovery is made hence, the happy dis- covery would be one a fairer way to wealth than some of the oil speculators in the United States. It is certain, however that thi gambling mania has seldom been known to prevail to such an alarming extent as at present. The result is that vice of every kind prevails in proportion. In this gam- bling no one but the principle of the estab- lshment makes anything, and those who frequent such establishments soon find them- selves hopelessly in debt. Thy must live by some means, and the result is that they re- sort to stealing. There have been more lit- tle petty thefts around within the last few months than we have seen in four years be- fore. Some rather daring robberies have been committed, and also attempts made upon the life even of Europeans.

If this state of things is likely to contin- ue It behooves foreigners to devise some means of protection. The present system of police whilst perhaps it is fulfilling all it was intended to do by the native authorities, is of little or no benefit to the foreign com- munity. The Siamese government is, it is true, owe foreigners protection, but it is perhaps asking too much to request them to establish a special police for the Euro- pean quarter. The scattered situation too of the foreign residences renders this course the more difficult. Police arrangements too are generally a municipal affair having lit- tle or no connection with the general gov- ernment. The municipal arrangements here however amount to nothing and any thing that is done must be done by the government.

It might be well therefore to call a meet- Ing of the foreign community to take the matter into consideration, and to devise some effectual means of protection. Hav- ing once decided what is best to be done, we think the Siamese government would willingly give any assistance necessary. At the same time we think the government should try to do something toward breaking up those haunts of wickedness which are the producers of thieves and robbers. From all appearance thy are increasing rapidly.

Gambling invariably leads to drunken- ness, and theft, and the habit once acquired it destroys every disposition for honest la- bor. By thus encouraging idleness and vice this people are nurturing an enemy within, far more dangerous than any they have yet had to fear from without. In Pennsylvania and some other parts of the United States, if a person is found with- out any visible means of obtaining a liveli- hood he is brought before a magistrate and made to give an account of himself, and if he fails to do this he is taken care of by the authorities. If some such proceedings were instituted by the Siamese, and all those lazy worthless fellows who do nothing but frequent gambling establishments, were compelled to go and work in the new canal or some other public work, it would be ben- eficial to the country, and the life and property of all would be much more secure.

Since the above has been in type we learn upon good authority, that His Ma- jesty has determined to establish a separate Police force on the New Road.

A TOUR TO THE HOT SPRINGS

It would appear that there are only two Hot springs in Siam known to Europeans. One of them is on the eastern side of the Gulf of Siam, about 12 miles S. E. from Anghin, the other on the western side of the Gulf about 45 miles from the city of Pet- chaburee. It is a tour to the latter made in the month of March 1865 of which I purpose to give some account in this and subsequent numbers of this Journal.

Our party was composed of two Euro- pean merchants, our American merchant, and two American missionaries. As the place could not be reached or even ap- proached by any river or canal, which are the common channels of communication in Siam, we had to plan for an "Overland" route, and being quite an uncommon pro- cedure for this country, was all the more exciting both in the anticipation and realiz- ation. And as our destination was to a place in the parched and "howling wilder- ness" far away from all human habitations, it became necessary to provide food and drink for a three day's journey, as well as some other comforts for an encampment in the woods at least for two nights. To this end we hired two ox carts and filled them quite full of supplies for the singular Expedition, and sent them off at 2 o'clock P. M. twelve hours before the time of our starting, charg- ing the steward and teamsters to be sure of reaching a certain place 20 miles distant in time to have our breakfast ready on our arrival thither the next morning at 8 o'clock.

We provided ourselves with each a fine pony from the excellent livery stable of the Deputy Governor Pra-Palat, who, though at the time absent on a visit to Bangkok, did not fail to leave matters so that all our wants should be promptly supplied. We had a Siamese guide mounted on a beast so small that some of us gifted with uncom- monly long legs, would have had to flex them to a right angle to clear the ground, and would have tried to walk with one foot and ride with the other. The creature was so emaciated that it seemed prepos- terous to think of making him perform the journey, especially as a leader. His endur- ance was marvellous. We had also con- nected with us a hostler general to take the entire charge of the horses whenever we should stop. He rode a respectable pony.

Leaving our lodgings at Petchaburee at 3 o'clock A. M. by a charming moonlight, we rode up the king's high-way to the foot of Palace Mount. Then passing a little way to the right, close to its northern base, we took a north westerly direction by foot paths over sea-level fields from which pad- dy had been cut two months before, beau- tifully studded with palmyra trees, stand- ing in mild majesty and charming disorder all over them to the number of at least six to every square acre. It was quite enchant- ing to ride among them in the magnificent moonlight. Every ten or fifteen rods our ponies had to leap or stumble over a little embankment made for confining the water at certain seasons in the plats for the benefit of the growing rice.

The first village of any consequence that we came to was ———— about 5 miles from P, occupied exclusively by Laos. Here the Chief of the tribe resides, and in his house the Prot. Missionaries of Petchaburee oc- casionally hold meetings on moon light evenings. The next place of importance was also a Laos village about 8 miles dis- tant called Hooah-tap'an. Here was a temple which the king sometimes honors by personal visitations when occupying his mountain palace. A little beyond this place the charming palmyra groves nearly all left us, and we had to traverse a vast tract of the openest land, with scarcely a tree to be seen upon it. After this we entered upon a tract of slightly elevated country, it be- ing a gentle acclivity towards dark moun- tains far ahead. This was studded with clumps of the slender bamboo, then leafless in their fall season, and a few other leafless trees and shrubs, together with here and there a tree yet clad in its green livery to break pleasantly the monotony of an ap- parently winter forest.

Presently our road became gravelly and then stony, bearing many marks of having been underlaid by an eruption from a vol- canic crater. Anon we came into mountain gorges, going up hill and down hill, and into deep ravines, and along almost impas- sible ruts made by water in the wet season rushing along the cart tracks.

Passing these, we came into a forest of the Resin tree which seems to be quite ex- elusive in its occupancy. The trees are mostly small, the larger ones having been culled out for house-posts. This forest re- minded us strongly of the shrub oak woods we had been accustomed to in our boyhood. There was scarcely any under brush among them, and very few leaves on the ground, although the trees had been stripped of all their foliage.

It is from this Mei-teng-rang tree, as it is called, that the Resin of Siam is pro- cured. It exudes in a plastic state from cracks and crevices on the body and limbs of the tree, and then, becoming dry and brittle, hangs pendent like isicles from the places of their origin. It is because these trees are so thoroughly imbued with this resinous substance that house-posts made of them are in the greatest repute. The hearts of them are almost literally indestruc- tible by simply water and air whether out or in the ground.

From the Mei-teng-range woods we came into another tract of the slender bamboos beautifully arranged in clumps of a hundred or more trees each, within a circumference of twelve feet, being on an average twenty feet high, with open and clean spaces be- tween the clumps. Even the leafless clus- tres were charming to behold. How much more so when in full foliage!

Passing this tract, we were next intro- duced into dense forests of lofty timber the beginning of the “howling wilderness,” The Merchants had their guns along, and were prepared, as they thought, for the pleasure of hunting wild fowl, peacocks, deer, and even leopards and tigers. They had great pleasure in the preparation and anticipation but scarcely none in the realization. Their guns, being suspended on their backs, were found to be cumbrous and almost intolerably burdensome appendages on horse back. We heard squirrels and peacocks in the night time, but could not see them. After day- break a wild fowl crossed our path and one of the gentlemen dismounted to hunt for it, but it was not to be found. A quadruped of somewhat fearful dimensions was seen to run into the thicket, and the man a head cried out A leopard! a leopard! which quite startled those of us in the rear. But it proved to be only a deer. No shot could be got at her as our hunters were too slow for her fleetness. An innocent and frolic- some monkey tempted our marksmen to try their skill at a shot; but its face looked so much like a human being, they thought it best to let the creature prolong its life un- harmed.

From our first setting out, the guide gave us the names of four principal places as way- reliefs to our breakfasting station, supposed to be about equally distant from each other. These were Hooa-Tap'an, Hooa-na, P'oot- t'a-kop and Ta-kraw. The first was nam- ed in passing. The second was at the head of the paddy-fields and hence its name. This we reached a little before day break and then merged into the woods. The third we made at 7 o'clock and found it only a sala in a small opening in the wilderness. The fourth was the twenty mile station at which it was appointed that we should breakfast and rest untill the evening-cool of the day. This we reached at 7¾. glad enough to dismount and find small ponds of cold water in the channel of a rivulet nearly dry, in which we could bathe. It was a dense forest of the loftiest trees.

Here we found our two ox carts together with their six or eight attendant servants. Our commissary had been there barely long enough to begin his arrangements for our breakfast. A dish of pork and potatoes was presently cooked, a "few small fishes" broiled, rice boiled, currie made, tea and coffee etc. prepared, enough to begin with. Then spreading a clean cream colored mat on the ground, we ordered this extempor- ized table to be loaded with the bounties of God, which the two carts had brought for us, and then sitting down Turk fashion on the borders of it, and craving a blessing from our heavenly Father, we began our repast. The breakfast was doubly relished for its coming to us after a ride of 20 miles, served in woods composed of primitive trees magnificent in height, with monkeys for spectators, and birds of unaccustomed plu- mage and note to sing us their morning dit- ties. Would that I could transcribe their songs. The notes of some of them were something like kooawoo-attawoo, some kooakoo kooahoo some koowara hoowara, others kooppapook, and one sang hippoo- hill hippoohill, reminding us most pleasant- ly of boyhood days, when we had heard in our own father-woodlands the never-to- be-forgotten notes, whippoor-will glass me honey.

To the Editor of the Bangkok Recorder

Sir- Observing in your issue of May 16th, a few lines headed "A Card." This article contains a statement which is wholly untrue. "What are the Police doing." Truly, this article was written by Mr. T. W. Smith, on a Sunday, composed and Printed in the Daily Times by me, on the same night. Therefore, Mr. J. H. Chandler did not see this article until after it had appeared in print, neither was it approved of by Mr. Chandler, as it may be recollected, the same was contradicted by Mr. Chandler, on the following day. Hopin[g] this will prove more satisfactory to the public.

Bangkok, May, 18th 1865.

Police Cases,

LAUS DEO!

On hearing the bellringing for the Constitutional Amendment abolishing slavery in United States!

Clang of bell and roar of gun

Send the tidings up and down.

How the bellfires rock and reel,

How the great guns, peal on peal,

Fling the joy from town to town!

Ring O bells!

Every stroke exulting tells

Of the burial-hour of crime.

Loud and long that all may hear,

Ring for every listening ear

Of Eternity and Time!

Let us kneel:

God’s own voice is in that peal,

And this spot is holy ground.

Lord forgive us! What are we,

That our eyes this glory see,

That our ears have heard the sound!

For the Lord

On the whirlwind is abroad;

In the earthquake He has spoken:

He has smitten with His thunder

The iron walls asunder,

And the gates of brass are broken!

Loud and long,

Lift the old exulting song;

Sing with Miriam by the sea:

He hath cast the mighty down;

Horse and rider sink and drown;

He hath triumphed gloriously!

Did we dare

In our agony of prayer

Ask for more than He has done!

When was ever His right hand

Over any time or land

Stretched as now beneath the sun!

How they pale,

Ancient myths and sang, and tale,

In this wonder of our days,

When the cruel rod of war

Blossoms white with righteous law;

And the wrath of man is praise!

Blotted out!

All within and all about

Shall a fresher life begins;

Freer breathe the universe

As it rolls it heavy curse

On the dead and buried sin!

It is done!

In the circuit of the sun

Shall the sound thereof go forth.

It shall bid the sad rejoice,

It shall give the dumb a voice,

It shall belt with joy the earth!

Ring and swing

Bells of joy! on morning’s wing

Send the song of praise abroad;

With the sound of broken chains

Tell the nations that He reigns

Who alone is Lord and God!

Duplicity

A Kite, who had kept sailing in the air for many days near a dove cote, made a stoop at several Pigeons, but all to no purpose, (for they were too nimble for him,) at last he had resource to stratagem and took his opportunity one day, to make a declaration to them, in which he set forth his own just and good intentions, who had nothing more at heart, than the defence and protection of the Pigeons in their an- chent rights and liberties, and how concern- ed he was at their fears and jealousies of a foreign invasion; especially their unjust and unreasonable suspicions of himself, as if lie intended, by force of arms, to break in upon their constitution, and erect a tyrannical government over them. To pre- vent all this, and thoroughly to quiet their minds, he thought proper to propose to them such terms of alliance and articles of peace as might for ever cement a good understand- ing betwixt them; the principal of which was, that they should accept of him for their king, and invest him with all kingly privilege and prerogative over them. The poor simple Pigeons consented; the Kite took the coronation oath after a very solemn manner, on his part, and the doves the oaths of allegiance and fidelity on theirs. But much time had not passed over their heads, before the good Kite pretended that it was part of his prerogative to devour a Pigeon whenever he pleased. And this, he was now contended to do himself only, but instructed the rest of the royal family in the same kingly art of government. The Pigeons, reduced to this miserable condi- tion, said one to the other, Ah! we deserv- ed no better! Why did we let him come in?

Debts of the States.-—The following are the debts of several of the principal States of the Union, according to the last official reports:-—New York, $28,720,724 ; Pennsylvania, $39,379,003 ; Massachusetts, $22,893,072; Ohio $13,570,751 ; Illinois, $11,178,314 ; Maine, $5,137,500 ; Connect- icut, $5,000,000; Michigan, $3,451,129; Wisconsin, $2,500,000 ; Vermont, $1,042- 845.

A Handsome Gift.-—The gift of $51, 000 in government bonds to Vice Admiral Farragut has been completed, by placing the bonds in his hands, and transmitting to him the letter of presentation, inclosed in a beautiful blue morocco case, lined with white and red.

An English Gun.-—The Armstrong gun which was captured at Fort Fisher was one which was presented by the manufact- urer, Sir William Armstrong, to Jeff. Davis. A soldier, describing it, says it "is, by all odds, the handsomest gun I ever saw, being entirely of twist wrought iron, and mounted on a magnificent solid mahogany carriage." It will be sent to West Point as a trophy.

"Come and See Me"—Never take "come and see me" as a phrase meant in earnest, unless it is accompanied with a date. An invitation without "circum- stance" is no invitation at all. Depend upon it, if any gentleman or lady desire your company, he or she will appoint a time for your visit. "Call on me when you can make it convenient," "drop in as you are passing," make us a visit whenever you have a hour or two to spare," are social indefinitisms by which men of the world understand that they are not expected to do the things requested. When people wish to be cheaply polite, there is nothing like this kind of vagueness. The com- plimentary small change of society should always be taken at a large discount. It is never worth its face, or anything like it. Yet it is a convenient medium of exchange for all that, and heavy debts of gratitude that ought to be repaid in better coin, are often paid with it. People who have more polish than principle use it lavishly—plain, blunt, honest men, sparingly, or not at all. Whoever makes a friendly visit to a fash- ionable house on the strength of such a "Come and see me," will be likely enough to find that the family circle which he has dropped into by request is as ungenial as the arctic circle, and to leave it with a chilly feeling about the heart that will prevent him from venturing into the same high latitude thereafter. But when a whole souled fellow, whom you know to be your friend, grasps you vigorously by the hand and says: "Come and dine with me to-day—dinner on the table at 5 o'clock —be sure to come, we shall expect you" —go if you can, and you will be all the better for it, both in mind and body. One likes to meet friends at the hospitable board—one's own or their's, it matters not which—but a nod in the street is all sufficient from a fashionable acquaintance.

A letter from Saigon of Jan. 12th, in the Patrie, says:—-

"The position of the settlement in Low- er Cochin China is excellent. The year which has just come to a close is the first that has given to the colony twelve months of uninterrupted tranquility. This inter- val has not failed to be turned to good ac- count. The maritime arsenal of Saigon has been constructed, and a repairing dock made in the interior of the port. Besides this, the artillery service and that of the bridges and roads have given rise to im- portant works. Twenty primary schools have been founded for the purpose of teaching the Annamite children the use of the Ro- man letters. In three months 600 children have learnt to read, and 300 to write. In addition, a directory of the interior has been created, and civil tribunals have been inaugurated in the colony, which follow the practice of the Code Napoleon, in civil and commercial procedures, and criminal and penal prosecution. Rear-Admiral de la Gran- diere's departure for France is fixed for the 5th of March. He is to return to Saigon in the month of July or August next. Dur- ing his stay in Paris he will communicate to the Government very useful and correct information on the situation of Cochln Chi- na."

ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE LAND.—-

A writer for a Boston paper, who has visited the great falls on the Snake river, the south- ern fork of the Oregon, says: "The dis- tance the whole volume of water falls in one sheet is 200 feet. Above there is about 25 to 30 feet fall before it reaches the grand fall. The width of the grand fall I should judge to be about 2500 feet. I have visited the Niagara many times, but this fall eclipses it far. Four miles further above we found another one of less note, where the water divides into two parts, and falls a distance of 167 feet. When the Pacific railroad is completed this will become as fashionable a visiting place as Niagara is now, with, however, a wider range of curiosities to at- tract the attention of visitors."

The Law of Salvage.—-Judgment has

been recently pronounced in the case of the Fusilier, which had been brought by ap- peal before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and which raised an im- portant question as to the liability of the owners of cargo to contribute for salvage services in the saving of the lives of pas- sengers. The Court of Admiralty had de- creed £2,200 as salvage. It was alleged that passengers were not cargo, and did not come within the Act of Parliament. Lord Chelmsford pronounced the judgment of their lordships. It was an important ques- tion whether passengers were to be includ- ed, and also whether the owners of cargo were to contribute in the payment of the sum awarded. Their lordships were of opinion that on both grounds the Act in- tended that passengers were included, and the owners of a cargo liable. The appeal would therefore be dismissed with costs.

Weather.

The weather for the last fortnight has been the most promising. Rain has fallen abundantly in delightful showers. The whole vegetable and animal creation has awoke to a vigorous life. Rice producers are full of hope and on the alert to get ready for the planting. And Merchants and all classes dependant on rice, are now looking a hundred per cent more cheerful than three weeks since.

Entertainment.

The late visit to this city of TAN-KIM- CHING, whom His Supreme Majesty had, two or three years since, made Siamese Con- sul in Singapore, appears to have been very honorable to himself, as it was most agree- ble to the King and his princes and nobles. The title conferred upon him by His Majes- ty is Prà-Pee t’ate-Panit-Siyam-P’ee-chit- Pàkdee. He was honored by having several audiences with His Majesty, and special in- vitations to the residences of most of the no- bility and Chinese merchants of Bangkok, and was feasted sumptuously in many places.

The greatest parade made for him appears to have been at the palace of His Excellency Chow Phya Prà K'lang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and at the new and spacious man- sion of Prà P'asée Sómbàt-Bawrìboon. At both these places the feasting was conducted partly in the style of European princes and lords, and partly in the style of Chinese rulers. We have good authority for say- ing, that there were on each festival occas- ion more than one hundred different dishes served, not including the sweatmeats and fruits, which where full seventy in kind. When the guests had eaten at one table to a degree of satisfaction, they arose from it and engaged in chit chat, tea drinking, and tobacco smoking, while the dishes were all being removed to give place to others equally numerous. When all things were ready they were seated at the second table. Having feasted a while they again arose to chat, to drink, to smoke, and wait for the third table. Thus did they feast and enjoy themselves from the edge of the evening until 1 o'clock in the morning.

His Excellency the P'râ kl'áng had the Lion of the day honored, by the playing of his fine band of native musicians, on "the cornet, flute, harp, sackbat, psaltery, dulci- mer and all kinds of music" indescribable. And P'râ-pasée-Sômbât graced his festival with Chinese music and theatrical perform- ances.

His Excellency, Chow Plya Sri Suri- wôngs gave Pr'n-P'ee-tate-P'anit, the oc- cupancy of his delightful garden palace, all the time of his stay in the city, and had a body of servants constantly devoted to the care of supplying all his daily wants in re- gard to board and lodging, and a fine boat well manned placed at his command to con- vey him wherever he wished to go.

We were glad to learn that the Consul for Siam, in Singapore, had been thus hon- ored.

-—Honesty is the best policy of insurance against

—-Mr. Lincoln said the other day that almost

with a baby in it. fire in the next world. every officer, whether entitled to a staff or not, had four aides—promenade, lemonade, serenade and gasconade.