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.

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September 30th 1886.

September which has just closed has giv- en quite a different face to the business prospects of this place for the next year. The rains held off until September, and even it commenced with apparently every prospect of a short crop. Merchants, pro- prietors of rice mills, and traders of every The kind wore a disheartened look. The na- tives were apprehensive of a famine. In many places extraordinary efforts were put forth in movie making in order to induce the rain to descend. The Lieut. Governor of one of the provinces, who is more enter- prising than most of his countrymen, con- ceived the more sensible and effectual idea of damming the river in order to make the water overflow the rice fields. Before his dam was completed the rains came and swept it all away, and the river rose and overflowed the fields more effectually.

At this place our first heavy rain came on the 2nd Sept. In the evening a cloud came up in the west which appeared at first as if it would pass off in wind, but soon the rain began to descend in the real old fashioned way. That rain has been fol- lowed by many others of the same kind. Reports from all parts of the country are in- couraging and there is every indication an abundant crop. Men's faces, which are a good barometer in business affairs, indi- cate a considerable rise in the mercury, and the passing off of the clouds which obscured the horizon. Every one is preparing for business. Rice mills are hastening to be ready to start. During some great and un- expected calamity occur, business affairs will soon bear the ordinary aspect of prosperous times. Prices abroad were also for a time discouraging, but at the expense of a por- tion of the people of China a fair market is open. The high water in the North of China has destroyed to a great extent the crops, so that the rice of Siam as usual will find a fair market there.

Rong Lao.

The principle avenues of trade to this great emporium of Siam, this floating babel Bangkok, are the canals lending from it to different portions of the kingdom. Like rays of light in a camera they are brought to a focus here, but taken in an opposite direction they diverge until they cut the principle rivers, the great arteries of the kingdom. They thus become the chief avenues through which the produce from distant provinces reaches a market. Some of these canals are natural channels wind- ing their serpentine courses, and often- times too, wrathful and raging as if they would tie themselves into knots. Then again there is the artificial ditch apparently straight, or as straight as they usually makes things in Siam. Through these can- als the water ebbs and flows with the tide. in the rivers. We started out one morning to buy a small quantity of molasses for the purpose of mixing mortar for brick work. Now there are some things although they may be plenty, are as difficult to be obtain- ed in small quantities in Bangkok as water upon the mountains of Gilbos. You in- quire where you think it ought to be found, and they send you to the Chow Sua and the Chow Sua send you to some person else, until you become disgusted and give up the pursuit. We inquired several places for the article we wanted but it seemed to be the general opinion, that we must go to the Rong Lao (distillery) and to the Rong Lao we went. We have from a kind of instinct that the distillery was some where above the city and told our men to go there. To our surprise how- ever they entered the canal known as Klawng Koot Mai; a direction apparently opposite to that which we wanted to go. We knew there was a canal entered the river above the city and had passed through it before but now it appeared a strange course to take and we could hardly recon- cile ourselves to it, but being assured that it was the shortest and best way we yielded. The Klawng Koot Mai is one of the new canals dug by His Majesty the present Su- preme King. It commences away down in the great bend and cutting across enter the river again just above the Custom House, or Harbour Master's residence. After en- tering the canal the right bank for some distance is studded with Chinese paddy mills where the Chinamen manage with their basket mills to hull considerable quantities of paddy. Indeed in some places a number of these mills may be found on either bank. We could not however help thinking of the time as not far distant, when these mills will be among the things, that were in Siam. They even now appeared fewer in number than when we last passed through. They first, must yield to the power of western civilization. There are already three steam rice mills ready, wait- ing only for a move in the paddy before they move. They are capable of turning out at least three thousand piculs per day. The machinery is already landed for a fourth steam mill, and rumour says there are still more in contemplation. Loath therefore as the Chinamen may be to give up their favorite basket mills, "Ichabod" is written too plainly upon them not to be- noticed by the most casual observer. Chin- ese muscular power and basket mills, cannot compete with steam and six feet stones. This however will all turn out well in the end. The Chinamen thus driven from the slow process of hulling a few buckets of paddy per day, will disperse throughout the country, and turn their attention to raising paddy. The rice crop will thus materially increase from year to year. Many portions too, now covered with jungle, will yield to the axe and grubbing hoe of the China- man and soon a good crop of rice will be harvested in those places. We saw quite a number of small paddy boats at the native mills, and more coming in, but they would be a mere handful compared with the quantities which arrive in ordinary business times.

The sights in one of these canals, near the city are but those of the river on a smaller scale. The urchin rides along complacent- ly in his Sampan, freighted with Chinese sugar cane, crying at the top of his voice "Oi Hin Hin Oe.” Next comes Ma Tim, or Ma Tap, or some other Ma with an eating saloon, and confectionery combined and all afloat, crying out at the same time the extent and quality of her com- modities. A few rods in extent too, suf- fice, to give a correct idea of the whole scenes, and scenery along the banks. Em- erging from one of these short cut canals into the broad river again, it behooves a person to take a new reckoning and find out exactly his position, for should the tide be flowing, one unacquainted with the bear- ings might easily mistake the course for home and take an opposite direction. Right opposite the place where we entered the river, stands the distillery. We made straight across, and after landing marched along a kind of avenue, up to the main building, where we found a gentleman seated cross legged upon a small platform. We asked him as politely as we could, to sell us a small quantity of molasses. His prompt reply was "mai mi." We pointed to two boat loads standing at the landing, but he insisted that they were empty and still said "mai mi." There was no mis- taking the boats however, they were loaded to the waters edge.... It is so common for the natives themselves to liar each other, that the kahok came up instantly in our mind, and we felt like bringing it out, but considering that we were in the wrong place to assume any thing like authority, we softened down our tone, and begged some of the refuse which flows from the still, and which might possibly answer our purpose. It was readily given for the taking away. The truth of the matter we found out afterwards to be, that molasses are very scarce, and they can barely get enough to answer their purpose: but instead of telling us so, oriental like, he told us a down right lie, and said he had none at all. This distillery is a Chinese establish- ment, and upon the whole, presents a species of Celestial scenery which to give in full detail would have defied even the pen of Thomas Dick. In one place are seated a group, indulging for a time their insatiable appetite for gambling. Near by is another group taking their noon day meal of cungy and fish, and were thus satisfying another appetite, which in a Chinaman is second only to that of gam- bling. Some straggling fellows also each had a stick of sugar cane in his hand gnawing at it with apparently as much relish as a hungry mastiff does a bone. There is always something disgusting about a Chinaman's eating. The Siamese al- though they use the most primitive imple- ments, eat with such dexterity and neatness that one can't help but admire the opera- tion. There is also a freedom from res- traint, a relief from any fear of violating one of the minor rules of table etiquette which gives the whole affair an air of real enjoyment. There is apparently no fear lest they should commit the almost unpar- donable offence of opening an egg at the wrong end, or in some unguarded moment put the knife into the mouth instead of that most unwieldy of all table implements the solid spoon. The Chinese invented the chop sticks, and they must be well sat- isfied with the invention for they appear to make no effort to improve upon it, but who that ever saw a Chinaman slabbering, and blowing over a bowl of rice with a pair of chop sticks, did not long to see him back at the more primitive fingers. The men who invented the knife fork, and spoon, and some other sine qua nons, was certainly bene- factors of the race. But the march of mo- dern civilization has imposed upon those who move at all in fashionable life a bur- den of formality which destroys to a great extent the natural ease and satisfaction which should be enjoyed in the partaking of ones meals.

Of the horde of Chinamen about this establishment, but few appeared to be ac- tually at work. The whole of the opera- tions were crude. An almost innumerable quantity of earthen jars, containing twelve or fifteen gallons each were standing around, in which were rice and molasses in every state of fermentation, and from each of several small stills, was running a stream about the size as a large straw of boiling hot arrack. The whole apparatus though crude, we suppose is not more so, than that which used to turn out the famous Irish and Scotch whiskey, or that which made the “Menongahlea” in the days of the whiskey insurrection in Pennsylvania. There was only one little ray of consolation in. seeing that liquor running from the still, and that is, it is to a great extent pure. It is not a mixture of poisonous drugs as the modern liquors of England, France and America. If a man will burn his inside out, better do it with pure fire, than such corroding staff as sulphuric acid and other drugs.

Retail customers appeared to be tolerably plenty. They would lay down the money to the chief clerk, and he would give them a nicked bamboo stick indicating the amount, and they went to the man who measured out, and got their bottles filled. One thing was noticeable. None of the men engaged about the establishment, appeared, as if they indulged too freely. They presented rather a contrast with the customers, who were mostly Siamese and whose eyes and faces indicated too clearly the course they were going. It would be interesting to know exactly how many Chinese there are in this kingdom. We believe every es- timate of their numbers here, falls far short of the reality. They are, it is true, a float- ing population to some extent. Numbers return to China every year, and as many new ones come. They are found in num- bers in every city and village, both on the coast and inland their outlandish tones are heard in every market, floating house, and junk. No class of Asiatics who are not already subjects of some European power have a better chance to get along here than the Chinese. They pay only a small tax every four years of four ticals and many of them manage to escape that. Many of them too manage to make money. These same Cel- estials are swarming in every habitable is- land in the Archipelago, and can roll up their seventy thousand in the United States. The following extract from an address, lately made by Rev Mr. Speer Missionary to the Chinese in California (during the sessions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church O. S.) may not prove uninteresting in this connection.

"But I rise to night to represent one of the most remarkable missions of the present age. The Divine process for the evangeli- zation of the world, after Christ came, was first to make the Gospel clearly known around that central sea—-the Mediterranean -—in the parts of Asia, Europe and Africa lying upon its borders. Then, after four or five centuries of culture and preparation, God poured out there the barbarous tribes from the ends of the earth—-the Huns, the Goths, the Vandals, the Turkish races, many of them from the very shadow of the Great Wall of China-—who there learned to know Jesus as their Redeemer and God, and sent back heralds of the glad tidings to the de- serts and kingdoms far away.

God is thus conducting the great reform- ation of the Church. It is the fourth cen- tury since Martin Luther, and John Calvin, and Ulric Zwingle. Upon this prepared Continent, God has disciplined his Church. Now behold the tribes of Asia, following those of other divisions of the world, pour- ing out from the same region as of old, divinely led to seek the same glorious light. There are now sixty or seventy thousand Chinese on our Pacific Coast. But there will follow millions. They are now spread- ing over California, over Oregon, Washing- ton, Nevada, Utah, over Northern Mexico, over the islands of the Pacific and South America! The day is coming when enor- mous railroads will connect the Pacific coast with the rest of the country, and when they will reach the Valley of the Mississippi, and the Valley of the Ohio, and labor on your farms, in your shops, in your families. Just as water flows from a level where it has been long dammed up, so a crowded po- pulation of hundreds of millions must gra- vitate toward the immense unoccupied or thinly settled regions in the west and centre of this Continent. No human power can hinder it. And how far beyond all concep- tion must be the influence to be hence exerted in bringing the numberless myriads of China; and the great nations of that Continent, to believe in and serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

What then are these Chinese, mentally? They are shrewd, business-like, active, as ourselves-—well called the "Yankees of the East." One of the most learned and distinguished of the divines of this coun- try (the Rev. Dr. Shedd, of New-York,) said to me a few days ago, "If such an estimate is true, it will put a new face upon the Chinese movement, in my own mind, and in that of the country." This estimate is true. They come to California, and compete successfully with our own mer- chants and artisans. They go to the Sand- wich Islands, as I saw at Honolulu and Lahaina, actually take the native trade out of the hands of Americans and other for- eigners by superior management. One built a locomotive in California; put it upon a track laid around a large shed, and charged us barbarians twenty-five cents each for a ride. Another constructed a small and perfect steamboat, four feet long, which worked handsomely. They can do many things that astonish us white bar- barians. A Chinese doctor, Dr. Li Po-ti, is now practising in San Francisco, not homeopathy, nor hydropathy, nor motor- pathy, nor any of our patients, but on Chinese principles, feeling the twelve pulses in each arm, and prescribing Chinese doses, for our benighted people—earning, one of the newspapers says, $10,000 a year. I heard of a Chinese doctor who made a for- tune at Havana."

Ats and Copper Coin.

What do those individuals mean who publish their opinions so frequently in the newspaper here, on the subject of tin and copper and what they repeat so often is already known by their readers. Are the writers and composers of these articles the authors of the reports which are noticed a- broad that the king of Siam is a mere tool of men, doing every thing which they de- sire without gainsaying? My advice to them is, write no more to make others weary of you. If you wish to get gain import copper or bars of copper as merchandise. If the price be moderate will purchase some of it; but do not circulate a false re- port that the government has ordered it.

As for forbidding the use of the tin ats and consenting that others should bring copper ats and sell them to us it cannot be done, we cannot allow it. The Siamese have skill enough to make copper ats themselves, but the copper metal is difficult to be obtained, and tin is abundant in Siam. We have a- vailed ourselves of the best materials had for making ats, and even if people easily counterfeit the tin ats, they cannot make a great business of it, they cannot be made like the royal ats, they are much softer and can easily be detected by bend ing them with the fingers. And if the peo- ple take them as lawful tender let the mint so. When they bring them to the royal mint to exchange for silver they can very easily be tested and proved to be suspicions. The mere effort to bend them is enough to show what they are made of. The composition of the royal ats cannot be cast in the coun- terfeiter's molds, because it is made of tin, copper, and zinc, a very hard substance.

Whenever any one shall bring these spru- cious ats to the royal mint to exchange for silver, they will be easily detected as a very slight twist with the fingers will bend them. and when such ats are brought they will fetch only the value of the tin, which is one fuang for 3½ ounces, whereas genuine ats will be taken at their established value, that is one fuang for eight ats.

Do not write any more visionary articles on this subject, we are too lazy to read them, and if you publish them we shall not be ashamed of ourselves, because we know that even tin are far better than the old fashioned cowries.

We intend however to make a variety of copper coin, and that quickly—On kind will be at the rate of two for one fuang and will be called hung or seek, and another at four for one fung to be called Ka or Seok. These will be ready for use shortly. Now do not talk dreamily about this any longer, for we are too lazy to read or hear any thing more on this subject.

If the Editors of the papers shall get this paper, let them publish it—-or if they prefer despise them, and manner and continue telling their dreams, why, let them mur- mur on, we shall not count them offenders. if they do so: but we do think that kind of dreamy murmuring is useless toil, for there is no one of us that will think of following them. It is all of a piece with the telegra- phic wires and railroads, which the writ- ers on these subject have written to make us wonder and astonished, until the subject has become quite insipid, and we are lazy of reading and later in hearing of the subject. But a little of such curious things to amuse ourselves such as balloons and a few others, something which we can turn to a little profit according to our feeble a- bility,-it would be quite reasonable we should desire to obtain some of them in proportion to the small means of our pover- ty stricken country.

Look at the Steam Rice and Saw Mills here. What a noise has been made about them? And where are the great results of it all?

Notification.

CHOW PHYA PRAKLANG, Minister for Foreign affairs, hereby informs the Consuls and Vice Consuls of the Treaty Powers resident in Bangkok, that the Siamese government has directed him to make known unto them the causes and reasons of the late changes made in taxing coconut trees and oil.

Formerly the rate of taxation allowed by law upon coconut trees, was fifteen cents for 16 trees, and the tax was farmed out to one man. After this plan had been tried for a time, the oil farmer complained, that it was very difficult for him to manage the farm, and begged that he might be al- lowed to relinquish it, requesting that the monopoly of trading in coconuts should be given him instead; This was granted, and the people were allowed to make oil with- out any tax upon it.

When Sir John Bowring Minister Plenil potentary for Great Britain, and his Assis- tant Mr. Harry Parks, came to negotiate a treaty between G. Britain and Siam (it being the first treaty made with the western powers) a consultation was held, among the officers of the King of Siam on the subject of double taxes; which resulted in a peti- tion that hencforth only one tax should be put upon each taxable article. This petition was granted to a great extent, and the tax levied on cocoanuts was removed, and the tree taxed at the rate of one salung for three trees.

After this the people finding that the tax on cocoanut trees was very heavy, were in- disposed to plant any more trees. The old trees decaying, and the price of cocoanuts becoming higher every year, all who had to do with either the nut or the oil com- plained greatly, until the matter came be- fore His Majesty the Supreme King and his government.

At the beginning of the year of the Cow the 6th of the decade, it being full 13 years from the commencement of the pre- sent reign, the time deemed suitable for hav- ing a new assessment made on taxable mer- chandise, a party of officers were sent to examine the orchards, and make a new as- sessment according to the old custom of Siam. This being accomplished, His Ma- jesty, together with all his counselors was fully persuaded that the people had neglect- ed their cocoanut orchards, and had not planted new trees because they felt the taxes on them to be oppressive; it was therefore deemed wise to adopt some other plan. To this end it was decreed that the tax on the trees be taken off, and the people encouraged to plant new ones with all free- dom, so that there should have been a hundrance of them. And in regard to the revenue. which has heretofore been obtained by tax- ing the coconuts trees, amounting to 1285 changs and 33 ticals, it was decided that the government, in order to make up in part for the loss, put a tax upon the cocoa- oil at the rate of one tenth.

An offer has already been made for the monopoly of this at the rate above specified, guaranteeing to pay for the farm the sum of 700 changs per annum. This leaves a deficiency in the revenue for cocoanut trees, amounting to 585 changs and 33 ticals. This the Siamese government consents to loss, on the principle that it is better to suffer the pecuniary lose by removing the tax, than than that the article of revenue should be injured. And whatever article of merchandize or business there may be suitable to be taxed, the government must seek from it a revenue according to the old custom by a monopoly. But there will be only a single tax imposed on all the produce of the cocoanut tree.

In the 9th Art. of the treaty regulations made by Harry Parks Esq. the following clauses is inserted, viz.— "On the part of the Siamese, if they have any article in their country which has not yet been taxed and they think it well to put a tax upon the said article or business; they are at liberty to do so, and the Siamese government are allowed to make new taxes." Mr. Parks agreed to this clause, only insisting that the taxes be always reasonable and always single.

This exposition the Siamese government beg to publish that no foreigner shall mis- understand the matter.

Issued on Monday the 8th of the waxing moon, 9th month in the year of the Cow the 7th of the decade; July 31st 1865.

Oil Tax

Phya Racha Pakdee and Phya P'é-Pit P'ok'ei recieved a royal command saying, that in the year of the Cow the 5th of the decade, eight servants of the king examin- ed the orchards of the people, and made a record of the cocoanut trees in each, and the amount of the taxes to be paid upon them at the rate of 100 cowries for one tree, and this assessment was sent to all the proprie- tors of cocoanut trees in the kingdom.

Sometime after this the farmer of cocoa- nut oil entered a complaint that the people would frequently make coconut oil and sell it, and when he sent his officers to take, and imprison them, quarrels arose and complaints were made by them before the tribunals, causing much trouble and loss of time to the farmers, and he therefore beg- ged that the farm might be removed from the oil and put upon the cocoanuts, them- selves, giving the farmer the exclusive privil- lege of purchasing the coconuts. Having had a conference of the royal counselors touching this matter, they were unanimous in requesting that this change should be made, and consequently the petition was granted, and it became a law that the farmer have the monopoly of the purchase of co- coanuts. But (in the year of the great dra- gon 8th of the decade,) the farmer did not abide by the law concerning it, and pursued a course that oppressed the people. There- fore the government caused the taxes on cocoanuts and on the trees to be removed, and placed a tax of one salung on every three trees, thus allowing the people to sell cocoanuts and oil as they pleased.

In the year of the rat 6th of the decade, it was found that both cocoanuts and oil had become much dearer than before, and His Majesty, in considering the subject, concluded that the prices had risen partly because the coconuts trees had become too old to bear, and partly because many of them had died. Thus fruit bearing trees had become fewer, and moreover the peo- ple were not inclined to plant new trees in their orchards, fearing the tax of one salung for every three trees. Consequently His Majesty was graciously disposed, in the year of the rat, (last year) to issue a decree to all the owners of cocoanut orchards about Bangkok, and in all the provinces, who were liable to pay taxes on cocoanut trees, that from and after the beginning of the year of the Cow the 7th of the decade, it shall henceforth be forbidden the officers in charge to take any tax from the people for their cocoanut trees, and that instead thereof, a tax shall be put upon cocoanut oil as it was formerly. Therefore let all the owners of cocoanut orchards replant their orchards with new trees in greater abun- dance than formerly, and that will become a source of wealth to the country, cocoanut oil being of great use in the country, and it will become a profitalbe article of mer- chandise in the provinces of Siam, and a- broad in other countries.

The charge of circulating this decree is given to Pra-kaao K'aruratts, hawdee chow krom, K'ŏŏn Pê păt-tâna-kawe, palat of the left, and Kŏŏu Wësootta palat of the right, treasurers for the inner orchards; and Lóôang kâao chow krom, Kŏŏn Sĕé Sôm- bat palat Krom for the outer orchards. Kŏŏn Mŭn nai-rwâng has been put in charge of distributing this decree to all the owners of cocoanut orchards. Now let there be no delay in replanting all cocoanut or- chards to the full extent, that the trees may be abundant in all alike. And from the be- ginning of the year of the Cow the taxes on cocoanut trees shall be given as a royal favor to the people and owners of cocoanut orchards. Let there be no violation of this decree.

Issued on Monday the 12th of the wan- ing moon, 9th month of the year of the Rat 6th of this decade. And sealed with the seal of Phya Pê-pit Po-kei Aug. 29th 1864.

Elephant Festival.

The grand procession of elephants came off according to previous announcements, at about 4 O'clock p. m. on Monday 25 ult. We were just in time to meet the procession on the street in the rear of the Royal Pa- lace. It was one of those motley, non- descript affairs, we are accustomed to see here, and was peculiar in many respects to Siam. The object appeared to be to have the royal elephants, horas, carriages, cattle, &c., sprinkled with holy water. On either side of the street, and nearly opposite each other were two small stands erected, about ten or twelve feet high and upon which were three or four men, one of whom had a bunch of bamboo splints, in his hand and kept sprinkling the passing crowd with the consecrated water. Along either side of the street filed a line of men, fantastically dressed, with a red coat and a glazed hat, shaped like a sugar leaf, and resembling a Sow-wester. Some of these men carried small pendant flags, with all kinds of devices. Others carried simply a stick, resembling a walking stick, whilst others had bows on their shoulders. As they marched along they were sprinkled from the stands.

Between the files of men, and at ir- regular intervals marched the royal el- ephants with slow and ponderous steps. One or two had a kind of howdah or their backs, but no person in them. The driver sat upon the neck of the animal. Others had no hoodlums, but had one or two per- sons besides the driver riding on them. One large redish coloured one had a kind of throne on his back, in which was seated a man with a pea-cock tail in each hand, and was making all kinds of outlandish gi- rations. The elephants numbered about thirteen, or nearly as we could count (for we forgot to commerce in time), and they were made to pass close to each stand to get sprinkled. When a few drops fell on the riders they rubbed it over their heads and faces with most profound reverence. Be- hind each elephant were several men walk- ing bearing platters, containing plantains, nicely prepared sugar cane, &c. to feast the royal creatures. Some of the elephants were evidently old residents with large tusks, which were profusely ornamented with heavy rings which were probably gold. Along with the elephants were two venera- ble looking white monkeys, each seated on a pole, carried on mens shoulders. Each one of these, too, had his appropriate train, and feast following the same as the elephants. Next to the elephants came the horses, richly decorated with foreign saddles, bridles, holsters, and pistols, and each led by a groom. Next came a number of emp- ty European carriages, drawn by horses and the horses led by grooms. Next came some reddish coloured cattle and buffalos, and in the crowd some where (we forget exactly the place) was a highly ornamented buffalo cart loaded with persons. We forgot to asy that the whole was interspersed with discordant sounds of native music. The rear was brought up by a flourish by the native soldiers. After the procession was past His Majesty amused himself for a short time by throwing limes, each probably con- taining a small coin, down amongst a crowd of boys some of whom showed great agility in scrambling for them in the mud.

Atlantic Telegraph Expedition.

Nothing could be more auspicious than the weather of yesterday, and certainly nothing could be more successful than the final splicing of the cable, and the departure of the Great Eastern. From first to last there was not a single incident to mar the satisfaction of those present, or which could be construed into an unfavourable omen to the mighty work in hand. The shore end of the cable has been tested every few hours in the receiving house at Follihum- merum Bay since its submersion, and while on board the Caroline the return was only seven millions of units to the minute, it rose to thirteen millions before the wire had been under water 24 hours. This in- crease means practically that from one to two words a minute can be passed along the cable, in excess of what was done before the laying; the cold water having increased the insularity, and strengthened its already splendid condition. The Great Eastern was ordered to hold herself in readiness on Saturday, and about midnight on that day Captain Anderson received a final message from Mr. Glass that everything was ready, and that the big ship was to steam out to the Caroline with all convenient speed. The Hawk - a swift screw steamer, built as a Confederate blockade-runner, and recently purchased by the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company—left Valentia at 9.30 A.M., with Lord John Hay, Sir Robert Peel, M.P., the Knight of Kerry, and the Misses Fitzgerald, Mrs. Glass, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, Captain and Mrs. White, Mr. J. C. Parkinson, and others, on board, and after passing Bray-head, and the rugged island rocks called the Skelligs about 11 A. M., came up to the Great Eastern and Caroline soon after one A.M. The day was bright and comparatively calm, but as the Hawk steamed along the coast and up to the bay, at the far point of which the little telegraph hut could be seen, a mere white dot in the distance, the admirable fitness of the landing place chosen was as apparent as were the difficulties besetting all at- tempts to utilise this rough and dangerous coast. The cliffs up which the cable pas- ses from the sea the receiving-house are more than 250 feet high, but from the deck of the Hawk they appeared level with the sand, so vast and extensive is the lofty range of rocky fastnesses against which the Atlantic heavily breaks, and so com- pletely do they dwarf all objects in their vicinity. Desolate grandeur and terrible magnificence are the characteristics of these wild Kerry hills. For miles not a house nor a human being can be seen. There is no sign of cultivation, and no apparent probability of cultivation being successful. A ruined watch-tower, a lighthouse or two, and a deserted and crumbling fort, spoken of as Cromwell's, dot the coast line at long intervals; but it is manifest that by far the greater portion of the land immediately above the rocks the sea lashes with so much of sullen fury has never been trodden by the foot of man. Now rising flush out of the water, perpendicular as the Victoria tower, now shelving down abruptly, and and presenting a smooth and polished sur- face to the breakers, and now abruptly jutting off into fantastic shapes—-as if some wicked genie had determined to realise a nightmare, and had put into stone the strange figures haunting his unholy sleep— these rocks seem to defy science and mock at the puny strength and petty resources of man. The cormorant may be seen, greedily dipping into the waters below them, the seagull slowly flits about their rugged surface, the plaintive cry of the curlew mingles with the roar of the sea, and the gannet and puffin dispute for sup- remacy over their points and peaks. But these are absolutely the only signs of life. Neither sheep nor cattle are browsing on the bright green patches which alternate with the sombre blackness, of the massive rocks; and the hissing, seething spray bub- bling furiously up through the crevices it has forced, and the caves and crags it has shaped and broken through long ages, alone breaks the stillness, and gives other animation to the scene. Such is the stony shore holding the English end of the Atlan- tic telegraph. Captain White, who is in command of the Coast Guard here, devoted many days to sounding Foilhum-merun- bay, in his self-imposed capacity of honora- ry adviser to the company, and at length succeeded in hitting upon a natural groove in the ground-rock under the sea, about a foot deep and half a foot in width. In this the landing end of the cable was carefully laid; and the importance of this fortunate discovery may be estimated from the fact that it is so situate as to preserve the big wire from the waves at the very time of their breaking against the shingle. This wire, which, it should be mentioned, grad- ually decreases in size until at the end of its 25 miles it is of the same circumference and bulk as the one with which it was spliced yesterday, is of formidable strength at this point, and well calculated to resist the hard treatment it will certainly experi- ence from the sea. Still, a natural channel in which its last twenty feet will lie like a child in its cradle is a grand aid to permanence, and the company is to be congratulated on the result of Captain White's patient and persistent soundings.

As soon as the Hawk arrived within ear- shot of the Great Eastern yesterday, every one on board the big ship's tender came aft, and Sir Robert Peel gave the signal for three cheers, a hearty response so which soon came over the water. At this time the Caroline was within a few hundred yards of the chief cable ship, and half a dozen well manned boats, including the two pad- dle ones from the Sphinx, were busily en- gaged in easing the cable and facilitating the splice. From the stern of the Great Eastern, a line could be seen, which, dropping in the water at an apparently sharp angle, was towed by the boats to join the Caroline, and made to communicate be- tween the two ships. The splicing was pro- ceeded with without delay. First the end of each cable was divested of its gutta-percha coating its outside wires and hemp, and the core and marrow of the undertaking, the copper conductor, was exposed. Then, by

RUSSIA.—The warehousing system is to be allowed unlimited scope. The army is to be reduced to the ordinary peace footing. Various buildings occupied by the military at Warsaw during the insurrection are forthwith to be given up to their owners.

KINGDOM OF ITALY.—Cholera caused proved fatal at Ancona in 781 cases up to the 12th. The Archbishop and the Procurator Royal were among the deaths. All vessels com- ing from Italy are placed under quarantine in Sicily.

THE PAPAL STATES.—The Pope has au- thorised a new loan of 10,000,000 Roman crowns. The papal army is to have an in- crease of 3,000 men.

TURKEY.—The deaths from cholera at Constantinople from the 26th ult. to the 1st inst. were 1,442. The cholera is also at Smyrna and Syra. It is disappearing from the islands.

SPAIN.—It is said that the King was closely watched while on his journey to see his dying father. The cholera is infecting the Spanish ports, and the inhabitants have fled from Barcelona in large numbers.

PORTUGAL.—The King has recovered from his indisposition, and the Queen and infant Prince are doing well.

UNITED STATES.—President Johnson is still in bed health, and is going to the sea seaside. General Grant has left for Quebec. Jefferson Davis is better seated, and his friends are urging for a speedy trial. Mr. Benjamin and General Kirby Smith have reached Harpers Ferry. The troops disbanded near the end of the war number three quar- ters of a million. The Federal debt was $2,756,000,000 on the 1st July. A meet- ing of sympathy with the Mexican Republic has been held in New York, when a letter from General Sheridan produced great enthusiasm.

CANADA.—Sir E. P. Tache, the Prime Minister, is dead, and there will probably be a reconstruction of the Cabinet, the Con- federation question being the turning point.

WEST INDIES.—The reports of the crop are generally favourable. The Spaniards had not carried out the blockade of San Domingo.

SOUTH PACIFIC STATES.—The Chilian Con- gress have been reconsidering Art. 5 of the Constitution, which acknowledges the Roman Catholic faith alone. A fire at Valparaiso did damage to the amount of $2000,000. The revolution gains ascen- dancy in Peru, the fleet having gone over. The same is the case in Ecuador, where one of the Pacific Steam Navigation Com- pany's steamers was seized by the revolu- tionist fleet, and made to do good service.

COMMERCIAL.—The Bank rate remains at 4 per cent. Both English and foreign securities slightly improved. Consols 89½ to 89¾. The biddings for India bills took place yesterday. Bar silver, 60¾d. Mexi- can dollars, 60½d.

A recent attache of the royal Mint, Lon- don, recently visited [....] at Philadelphia. As he was leaving he remarked to the coiner, "When you come to London, I beg you not to visit our Mint. You are a hundred years in advance of us."

Our "darling Lillie" of three years, while trying to get on her stockings one day, discovering a few [.......], when she exclaimed, "Mother, I think I shall be an angel soon, the feathers are be- ginning to grow!"

An urchin in school reading about a singular gentleman, was asked by the teacher what the expression meant. The boy promptly answered, "A man that isn't married?"

The Steamer Chow Phya arrived at the bar at 4¼ o'clock p. m. on Wednesday 27th ult. Passengers Capt. Burn, Mr. Barlow and Mr. Thomson photographer.