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Bangkok November 1st 1865.

We look in vain these times for some- thing exciting from the western world, with which to fill up our columns. Since the crashing out of the rebellion in the United States, and the quiet which follows, Euro- pean journals appear to be at as great a loss as ourselves for something to fill up their columns. Every thing in Europe is quiet. The review of the English and French iron-clad fleet is over. The Atlantic telegraph expedition has been abandoned until spring; and even the Schleswig—Hol stein question has been settled. Her Bri- tannic Majesty is enjoying excellent health at Rosenau near Coburg surrounded by most of her children. She was to witness on August 26th the inauguration of a memo- rial statue in honor of the late Prince Consort.

The Emperor and Empress of the French have been enjoying a visit to Arenberg in Switzerland since the residence of the Em- peror's mother. The place is big with re- miniscences of the more youthful days of the Emperor.

Affairs in the United States are as quiet as could be expected after what they have passed through. Some unpleasant occur- rences are still taking place of which the unfortunate negro is still at the bottom. Old prejudices against him still exist to a certain extent in many places. It has al- ways been a characteristic of the race to be a little impudent when circumstances favored. Not yet understanding fully what freedom means, some of them may have pressed their claims a little to far. These things have led to several small, but un- pleasant collisions throughout the Northern States.

In the South lately in rebellion the whites and negroes are getting along as well as might be expected. In some places, es- pecially in some portions of Virginia, the whites declare they will have nothing to do with their former slaves. In other places however they appear to be adapting them- selves as well as possible to the circum- stances. Men are either hiring their form- er slaves by the month or giving them a certain share of what they raise.

The north is evidently a little too hasty to "reconstruct," and as a consequence of this haste many who were lately arrayed against the government have so adapted themselves to the circumstances as to man- age to get rather lucrative appointments from the government. Whilst others who, in sympathy at least, have remained firm to the government, through the whole struggle have been passed over. This is likely to create unpleasant feelings.

Some of the English papers still insist that there is difficulty pending between the United States and Mexico, but we see no thing that looks very much like it. The reasons they assign for such a belief are the declaration of some of the leading generals and others. There is no doubt that such feelings exist to a great extent and Gen. Sheridan would desire no better past time than to invade Mexico, but it must be re- membered that those men are not the government.

The most disgraceful thing which has occurred for a long time in the United States courts, was the kind of mock trial and acquittal at Washington, of Miss Harris for the murder of a young government clerk. Young Burroughs a Treasury clerk, had made a marriage engagement with Miss Harris, which engagement he failed to ful- fill. The lady became desperate and took his life. During the trial the prosecuting attorney appearance have done his duty, but the judge delivered no charge to the jury, and they, after remaining out about ten minutes returned with a verdict of "not guilty." The verdict was received with enthusiasm by the crowd of spectators, who rushed forward in numbers to congratulate Miss. H. on her acquittal. She fainted, and was taken out in the arms of her senior counsel. The grounds of the acquittal were that it was an act of "insane impulse." Young men who make such engagements should be made to fulfill them, but the law is strict in such cases, and the injured ones seldom fail to get redress through that, when they apply in the proper way. There is no need therefore for them to take the law in their own hands, and commit delib- erate murder. It is to be hoped that such scenes will not be repeated. We are glad to see that the press generally comes down on the whole proceedings. There is no- thing that reveals so clearly a fearful state of morals, as laxity, or corruption in courts of justice.

Consular Dignity Vs. Social
Intercourse.

That the Consuls of the different Treaty Powers here are an important class of men I presume there are few that will attempt to deny. There are many here who have had a trial of it without the assistance of these officials, and who will fully testify to the advantages of the latter administration. They of course are the highest official auth- ority of the Treaty Powers here. Some of them are invested with very high powers, from their decision there is no appeal, and some of them have even the power of life and death. They deserve also great respect as the legal representatives of the Treaty Pow- ers here. So far therefore as they honor the powers which have honored them they deserve great respect from the subjects of those powers. This I believe they one and all have. I know of no one here, who has not a most profound respect for the Consul of his nation as such. I know of no one, who would not willingly assist his Consul, in every way in his power, in the exercise of his official functions. And I have not seen any one here who, notwith- standing his personal feelings toward the official would not enter the arena in defence of his Consul, if he heard him assailed by any one else. There is another matter how- ever which is not so closely defined as those referred to above. It is the social status to which I refer. In this they may possibly want to assume more than will be willingly accorded to them. The question therefore is how much superior socially does the donning of the Consular button, make a man to those whom he governs, and who may be morally and intellectually his equal or perhaps much his superior? These re- marks have been suggested by some things which have been transpiring during the last years. His Majesty the Supreme king of Siam has been accustomed for some years to give a birthday dinner. It was usually a kind of general affair to which all were in- vited. It was not however a matter of much grief to any one who might be passed over in the distribution of the invitations. The occasion gave His Majesty an opportunity of seeing those who had become residents of his kingdom and afforded them on the other hand an opportunity of expressing their good will toward him. Last year how- ever two of the Consuls thought they could not sit down to table with the plebeians and consequently took upon themselves the re- sponsibility of suggesting the setting of a se- parate table for Consuls and the principle at- taches. The result was that most of the guests considered themselves insulted, and left. It must be said however to the credit of most of the Consuls, that they did not approve of the affair and some of them expressed their disapprobation. The result has been I be- lieve the breaking up of the general dinner. And although the one who was made the "scape goat" last year, is not present, still there is reason to believe that some sugges- tions have again been made. When the birth day came the Consuls and attaches were alone invited to dinner. Had it end- ed in a Consular dinner we presume it would have cost no one a thought after- wards but a select company was invited the next morning to breakfast, there is reason to believe however that it was even more select than was intended. In this affair therefore the Consuls have been vic- torious. It is to be regretted that any one would thus lower the dignity of the office which they seek to elevate by condescending to be master of ceremonious, of a royal dinner. And whilst I presume there are few who will grieve over the affair, yet it would be well to inquire where these things will stop, and what are our rights, even if the inquiry should be dropped in as unsat- isfactory a manner as the discussion of the Pilot question.

A Kind of Angling that doesn't al- ways take-—Fishing for compliments.

Jesuitism.

Some naturalist has aptly described man as "a religious animal." Certain it is that there is no nation or tribe without some sort of a religion, and a history of the or- igin and influence of the multiplicity systems of faith which have prevailed in the world, would afford a most interesting study. The somewhat unique character of the Jesuits, and the important influence which they have already exerted and seem likely yet to exert upon China and Siam and other countries in the East, has led us to look with some care, into the history and inner workings of the strange Order known as the "Society of Jesus," and we propose to lay before the readers of the Recorder an impartial view of this "right arm" of the Roman church. We write in the interests Of no sect or party, but our aim is simply to present the truth as we find it.

In the history of our race, all great pro- gress has been accompanied by revolution. What are known as the "moral forces" have not achieved their greatest victories, by quiet daily contest with evil, but there have been epochs, mighty conflicts of truth with error, where the future supremacy of the one over the other has been staked upon the issue of the contest. At such periods heroes are born,—men who are self-appointed champions of the opposing forces,—men of comprehensive mould-masters of the times, who are able to grapple successfully with the difficulties of the day, and give direction to the current of events. Such a period was that embraced by the latter half of the 16th and first half of the 16th century, and such a leader and hero was Ignatius Loyola—the founder of the Society of Jesus.

Those years of the Reformation were among the most eventful of all history. During all the dark-ages the heart and the intellect—the church and the state of Eu- rope had slumbered; but now the dawn was breaking, and the long imprisoned forces were in chaotic tumult. Yet, amid all this confusion, there were two grand ideas in conflict with each other, and these were, the rule or the reign of Papacy. For each idea, there was, in the wise order- ing of Providence, a special champion,— Luther, the advocate of religious and intel- lectual liberty,—Loyola, the "incarnation of spiritual despotism,"—the knight errant and special defender of the Papal church. Devoted Romans are pleased to remind us that in all the Christian centuries, when His truth has been particularly assailed, God has sent forth a special servant for its defence. Thus was the unequal contest carried on between Athenasius and Arius, Cyril and Nestorius, Jerome and Vigilan- tius, Augustine and Manichees, Bernard and Abelard, Dominic and the Albigensess, in ancient times David and Goliath, and now in these last days Ignatius Loyola vs. Mar- tin Luther and John Calvin. Let but the last equation of this series be transposed and Protestants will give to the conclusions drawn from it, their steady assent.

But what was the mission of this great order of Jesuits, which was reared up as a bulwark of Romanism, and a defence against the attacks of Luther and his co- reformers? In making a reply to this, the life and character of Loyola first claim our attention.

In 1491, eight years after the birth of Luther, and one year before the discovery of America by Columbus, Don Ignatius Loyola first saw the light in the mountains of Biscay in Spain. His father was a Count and Ignatius was reckoned as his eight son and the thirteenth child. At an early age he was sent to attend as page at the Court of Ferdinand and Isabella, where he remained to enjoy the smiles of royal favor till the age of twenty one. At this period while engaged in some military ex- ploit, he received a severe fractures of his limbs. While patiently waiting his recov- ery, he shuffled away the tedious hours, by reading tale of knight errantry, and a few devotional treatises, a life of Christ, and a book of legends of the deserts, with ac- counts of chivalric deeds performed by some Christian martyrs.

But the ambitious spirit of the young courtier grew restive under the prolonged constraint of hospital life. He longed for the time to come when he could once more grasp the sword, and with Quixotic courage could emulate the noble deeds of the knightly heroes of which he read. But his dreams and ardent hopes of military glory were not to be realized. The sur- geon had been unskillful in setting his frac- tured limbs. The end of the bone was left protruding, and the right leg was a full inch shorter than the left. Twice he submitted without a groan to the tortures of the rack. In order to remove the diffi- culty, but all in vain,—he was doomed to be a cripple for life. His towering ambi- tion must be gratified by other than milit- ary exploits. And what more natural than that he should resolve to achieve sainthood! The daily Pabulum upon which his mind was feeding, consisted of fabulous tales of the martyrs of the church. He determined if possible to excel them all, in self-sacrific- ing devotion to the faith. The examples of the holy Dominic and the holy Francis should serve to urge him on to yet higher achievements. He would at once renounce the world, and make a pilgrimage to Jeru- salem,—barefoot, with daily flagellations. In 1522, on the very day that Luther was summoned to appear at the Diet of Worms to answer for his "execrable heresies," Loy- ola visited a church of the Virgin and publicly dedicated himself to the service of God. He began his pilgrimage traveling in the guise of a beggar. On his way, he paused at the village of Manresa, and kneeling before the shrine of St. Mary, he made a three days confession of his sins and took upon himself the vow of perpetual chastity. His religious fervor grew apace, and he burned with an intense desire to be- come the champion of the church, and the apostle of truth to the world.

Arriving at Rome, he reverently kneeled, and devotedly kissed the toe of Pope Adrian VI. After many curious adventures, he reached Jerusalem, and with high hopes and great ardor, undertook the work of converting the infidel Turks and Moslems who filled the Holy City,—to Christianity. But the Provincial objected, and forced him to quit the place. Thus his first mis- sionary tour was a total failure.

Not at all disheartened, he returned to Barcelona, and resolved to fit himself more thoroughly for his great work. According- ly he began a regular course of elementary study, and we find him at the age of 34 thumbing his Latin Grammar and subject- ing himself without a murmur to all the discipline and floggings usually enjoyed by boys a third of his age, at school. His student life continued for a term of nine years, the last five of which were spent in Paris. By this long period of pupilage, he attained to a good degree of literary culture, and evinced great strength of will and powers of endurance. He proved his ability to govern others, by first subduing himself. While pursuing his studies at Paris, he employed much of his leisure time in preaching the Word, and many are the "heretics" whom he restored from Lutheranism to the bosom of the Holy Moth- er Church. His services in these! abors won him many friends, and in this way was formed the nucleus of that Company who's influence fifteen years later, was felt in every quarter of the globe.

In the next, we shall proceed to speak of this "Company" and of the constitution, order and practical workings of the far famed "Society of Jesus.

The Blue Veil.

"Look out for Lizzie, in a Blue veil, by the six P. M. train. FRED."

"A dollar and twenty cents, sir, and sign your name in the book, if you please," said the boy from the telegraph office.

"A dollar and twenty cents! sign my name in the book!" I repeated stupidly; "but this telegram isn't for me."

"Yes, sir. It is sent to Mr. Charles Ches- ter, at the Lakeville House, Lakeville, N. Y. There is no other Mr. Chester in Lakeville, and you always board here, so it must be you, sir. All right. The telegram has just come, and it was so near six that they sent.

me around with it in a hurry. It has been delayed some-where in coming from New York, but the fault wasn't at our office."

Lizzie—could it be Lizzie Clare, or was it one of Mrs. Stowell's handsome daughters? There was no time for me to be idle in sur- mising which Lizzie I want to meet; I paid the boy, snapped the patent lock of my, valise, and drove hurriedly to the depot, duly to look out for Lizzie, to take the night train west. The New York express line had already arrived, and the iron horse was snorting; impatience to be off. Pas- sengers were crowding into the cars, bag- gage was rattling by, the bell was ringing —and where was Lizzie?

At length, near the door of the ladies' room, looking uneasily around, I espied a lady wearing the identical blue veil."

"Is this the Lizzie whom I am to meet? I ventured to ask, groaning in spirit as the ignorance in which I had been left regard- ing any other occomen.

"Oh! yes. And this must be Mr. Chester, I suppose. You knew me by my blue veil, did you not? Fred said that would be a sufficient signal. You are very kind to take charge of me. I was fearful that you would find the care of a lady a great burden on a night journey; but Fred insisted that you would not mind it, if you took the trouble for him; so here I am, as you perceive. Are not the cars just about starting!

"If I have time to see to your baggage," I managed to say.

"Oh! thank you; but Fred had it check- ed through, and bought my ticket. It is all right."

"I knew it was all wrong; but what bache- lor of two-and-thirty would decline to es- cort a charming Lizzie in a blue veil, thus mysteriously committed to his protection!

We had just a minute and a half in which to secure our seats ere the western train was off, and my companion uttered a very contented murmur of satisfaction as we slowly steamed out of the depot.

"Oh! I was fearful that you would not be here to meet me, Mr. Chester," she said, "and I dreaded to undertake the journey alone."

"It is a long journey," I replied, with a faint hope that I might tempt her to men- tion her destination.

"Very long," she answered, demurely. A call of the conductor revealed the fact that the lady was going to Cleveland. My ticket had been purchased for Cincinnati, previous to the reception of that bewilder- ing telegram, and I thought with some sat- isfaction that I could stop in Cleveland, if I so pleased, without any change of route.

As we rode along, I scanned my travel- ling companion as closely as I dared; but only a suggestion of bright eyes, ruby lips and a dazzling complexion reached me through the blue veil.

"I think we have never met until to-day,"

I remarked, hazarding an observation which might or might not prove to be correct.

"Oh! no; but I have heard Fred speak of you so frequently that I do not feel as if we could be strangers long."

She smiled, and put up her blue veil. With the veil lifted, she looked somewhat older than I expected; I had fancied she was seventeen, but she now appeared seven-and- twenty. Yet she was so fair, so dazzling white with eyes which matched the blue of her veil; but I forgot the question of her age is speculating on the possibility of her being near-sighted. Seated by that radiant vision, I became specially conscious of my rough coat and shabby man-of-busin- ess aspect; and, while I secretly vowed an amendment for all future time, in various particulars, I hoped that she might not prove too observing.

"This is rather a sudden journey of mine," remarked my fair companion, "My trunk is nearly packed, and I expected to leave on next Monday, and travel alone; but when Fred heard that you were going to take the evening train, he telegraphed to you immedi- ately, and hurried me off.

"Ah! Fred," through I, "it seems to me I have you now. It is just like gay Fred Dalrymple to surprise one which such a tele- gram, all in the dark, and this must be his sister Lizzie. She is going to Cleveland to visit Robert and his wife; and Fred, hear- ing that I was to start on my trip to-night, sent his sister along, under my care, without my ceremony."

The mystery was explained, and with a lighter heart I turned to the young lady, stimulated by this discovery in my previous determination to render myself desperately agreeable.

"How is your dear Jenny!" suddenly in- quired my comrade of the blue veil.

"My dear Jenny!" mused I. "Oh yes, sister Jane, I presume, she means."

"She is very well," I replied.

"We have so often exchanged messages with our love, through the medium of your correspondence with Fred, that I feel quite well acquainted with that dear Jenny, Mr. Chester."

"Humph!" I said to myself, "just like Fred Dalrymple to forget to deliver his sister's messages, and than invent replies to satisfy her questions and cover his negligence."

"And do tell me something about that baby," continued Fred's sister. "You need not be afraid of praising it to me, for you know we ladies always take a lively interest in babies."

"I would gladly gratify you if it were possible," I replied; "but, to own the truth, I seldom take much notice of the baby race."

"As if I should believe you in this par- ticular instance," returned my interlocutor, quite gayly. "Why, somebody told Fred that you burned the gas all night, on pur-

pose to see how cunning this wonderful baby looks when asleep."

"Me!" I exclaimed in horror.

"Yes! You need not deny it," said she. "I can readily understand that bashfulness conceals your raptures. Of course, it is intended for you."

It happened that sister Jenny's youngest child had been christened Charlie in honor of his bachelor uncle, and I surmised that her supposition was not incorrect.

"When I see Jenny I shall feel it is my duty to tell her what heartless indifference you have feigned in regard to that baby; but you cannot impose upon me," said the owner of the blue veil. "I shall acquit you of possessing any of the old bachelor non- chalance with which you have tried to veil your interest."

"You must not expect to manufacture a baby worshipper out of an old bachelor," I said, jestingly.

"Oh! no; but young fathers are not such sublime savages as you would try to have me believe."

"Gracious! what can she mean!" was my silent ejaculation.

As she did not seem inclined to rally us further we fell into quite converse on com- mon-place themes, very much as if we had been some dozens years acquainted.

"We will ride all night," I said, finally, "and ought I not to secure a berth for you in the sleeping car! I notice that you seem very much fatigued."

"I am weary; but I detest those sleeping cars."

"So do I the same," was my hearty re- joinder.

"Really and truly!" she asked, with some incredulity.

"I fancied that I ought to take one on your account, to release you from the pen- ance of sitting up in these hard seats all night. But it would be a great pleasure to me, if you could be as comfortable, to have you accept my shawl, and my arm for a pil- low, and make yourself cosy for the night."

"Do you thing that Jenny will not object to my accepting such a service of you?" she asked, sweetly.

"Certainly, Jenny will not object," I as- sured her.

I would gladly have added that Jenny would not object, on some future day, to be presented with a sister-in-law wearing a blue veil, but I hardly dared to hazard the suggestion while our acquaintance was still so recent a date.

She took off her bonnet—a dainty bit of millinery—-which I regarded with a species of silent awe, and scarcely ventured to put up in the rack above us. Then the blue veil was tied tightly over her curls, and resting her head upon my shoulder, the beauty was soon asleep.

But I, Charley Chester, could not sleep—- too many visions were haunting me.

Was this really Fred Dalrymple's Lizzie! would I ever see her again after this journey was ended! And oh! most desperate and enticing speculation of all, could I ever hope to take to myself the life-long burden of looking out for Linnie is a blue veil!

This might seem to thee delicious reverie. When we were within a few miles of Cleveland, my face changed color.

"Do you feel rested?" I inquired.

"Oh! very much. You are exceedingly kind to have taken such care of me. Fred told me that Jenny's husband would be a most desirable escort, but I find that he scarcely told me half the truth."

Jenny's husband! It struck me dumb, so I was Jenny's husband, was 1!

"Neither shall I believe, after your gen- tleness and attention to me, that you can be as indifferent to your baby as you would try to have me think."

My baby! The woman was adding insult to injury! First a wife, and then a baby be- stowed on me, at five minutes' notice, as if they were the most every-day affairs in the world.

"I think we must be near Cleveland," continued my companion, arranging her tangled curls, and putting on her bonnet.

"It is possible that my husband may be at the depot, to meet me, and relieve you of any further trouble on my account. If he is not there, I shall only ask you to put me in a coach, and send me home—unless, indeed, I can prevail upon you to stop over one or two trains in Cleveland, and visit us. My husband would be delighted to have you. Why will you not be content to do so?"

Not Fred Dalrymple's sister, after all! I muttered something in reply, I know not what, but she took it as a refusal to accept her hospitality, and continued—-

"And if you cannot or will not stay with us now, I want you to promise that you will come soon, and bring dear Jenny and the baby, and make us a long visit."

The cars stopped. We had reached Cleveland, and the ensuing bustle relieved me from the necessity of replying. I assist- ed her to alight, and consigned her to the arms of a tall, bearded fellow, who kissed dear Lizzie before my very eyes!

"And this is Mr. Chester-—Fred's friend, you know, Harry."

Harry rolled his eyes around, but evident- ly did not recognize me, and said nothing.

"Fred received a letter from Mr. Chester, saying he would be in Lakeville on business on Tuesday, and would take charge of me if I would meet him at the evening train—so Fred telegraphed to him to look out for me, and here I am, very much obliged for his care and escort.

"But where is he all this time!" asked the husband, impatiently.

"Hang the blue veil! There is some mis- take here," I exclaimed, pulling out the telegram as a voucher for me. "I am Char- les Chester, of Lakeville, at your service. I reside in Lakeville, and I received this dispatch yesterday. I took charge of this lady as well as I knew how; and though I could not satisfactorily decided who she might be, or by whom committed to my care, it is only within half an hour I have discover- ed that I, myself, was not the Charles Chester who should have been on the "look out for Lizzie, in a blue veil!"

They started. They read the telegram. The oddity of the mistake bewitched us all, and they took him home with them to laugh it over where they found that no Jenny was awaiting me at my journey's end. And as all's well that ends well, let me tell you that my young wife, to-day, is Lizzie's sister, and equally partial to a blue veil.

Wat Visiting.

Mr. Editor-—Among the many displays which His Majesty the supreme king of Siam has recently made of his glory as monarch of the country and protector of the Boodhist re- ligion, none probably was more august than that of the 14th inst. in state Barges on the river near the royal palace and in Bang- kok-yai cana' near the office of the "Recor- der." As in entering this canal His Majesty must necessarily pass near the office, and thinking perhaps that I would be out taking notes of the scene for publication in the Re- corder, His Majesty sent an officer to me about an hour beforehand to invite me and my family to repair to Wat-Hong, the tem- ple which he was to visit, and have a view of the royal procession from its landing. The order was, that I should go prepared with paper and pencil for taking all the notes I might think proper. I had previously made up my mind that in consequence of a pre- sure of cares I would make no effort to see His Majesty that day though he were go- ing to pass close by my gate. But as the opportunity presented by the invitation of the king was one wholly unprecedented for acquiring accurate information of much that was yet enveloped in darkness to for- eigners about the royal visitations of the temples, I could not well decline the liber- al offer. There were then waiting with me several persons of the Am. missionary community hoping to get a clear view of His Majesty in passing the gate. These the king's messenger felt at liberty to invite with myself and family into the immediate presence of His Majesty at Wat-Hong. And as it was an extraordinary opportunity, favoring well their object, they gladly availed themselves of it. The king's mes- senger advised us all to get into a boat at once, and hasten to the temple that we might have leisure for making observations about and within the sacred enclosures, before the arrival of the royal cortege. We did so, having him with us clothed with the high- est authority for giving us full scope; con- sequently no one dared to offer the least objection to our scrutinizing as minutely as we could wish even within the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Being the only person in the company prepared for taking notes, I endeavored to improve to the best of my ability the op- portunity given me. Although I have been a resident in this city more than 30 years I then saw many things that were novel to me, having never before had so close and careful a view of them, and only vague reports of others. But it will not do for me to think of inflicting upon your readers the task of reading a full account of what I regarded as worthy of note, and hence I will confine myself to a few of the most interesting particulars.

Having spent half an hour in walking about the court of the temple, passing even into the OOBOSOTE—the sanctum sanctorum, where all the priests of the temple are initiated, and where the king worships the idol once a year, the long accustomed Siamese proclamation Sadet Laaoh, (the king is coming) together with the rushing of state Barges, and the sounding of OLD SIAM trumpets and the playing of the brass-band of YOUNG SIAM, announced to us clearly that the king was approaching. Our royal guide advised us all to stand on the right side of the landing by which His Majesty would enter the court of the tem- ple. We had previously been sitting in a Sala at the landing a little elevated above the walk on which the king would proceed into the most holy place. Hence it was thought becoming in us to come down a step or two to be on a common level with Siam's Monarch when he should there favor us with his gracious audience and royal salutation. And this we had no hesitancy in doing as it required no sacrifice of prin- ciple and no undue humiliation as we were allowed to stand up in our common manhood with the king.

The procession of royal Barges was in- deed grand as it passed in the canal leading to the temple. His Majesty was seated on a highly gilded throne under a pagoda-form- ed canopy in one of the royal Dragon Barges, propelled by eighty men with pad- dles. He was fully and richly attired in gar- ments wrought with gold, and decked with diamonds and other precious stones. He wore a hat of immense brim adorned with gold and jewels. His Majesty being of slen- der form, the Prā Mahā-Mala, as the royal hat is called, did not become him nearly as well as it would have done one of his cor- pulent halfbrothers. Still it distinguished him as the Monarch, and that was was enough. More than a dozen of His Majesty's child- ren followed him in another beautiful Barge with capacious acomomodations for a large family of little Princes and Princesses which the king is fond of taking with him on such occasions. Somdet Chowfah, the heir ap- parent, a smart lad of 12 years had a fine Barge all by himself.

Having waited a few minutes for the princes and lords, the royal guard and brass band to get in readiness to receive him in the court of the temple, His Majesty laid off his hat of estate, and taking his sceptre in hand walked golden shod up the steps of the landing alone, while all his subjects, await- ing him in the temple, as well as in the Barges were prostrated in the profoundest submission. As we had assigned to us a standing position near the landing, and as I was the elder of the company, His Majes- ty immediately saluted me, and gave me his hand, and then walked forward on the grass matting which had been spread out for him the whole way to the Oobosote, which may have been 40 rods or more. A company of the royal guard on the left of the path presented arms as the king passed, and the brass-band played the first strain of "God save the king." His Majesty having over- heard one of my company inquire whether we might be allowed to follow him into the temple, promptly responded—-O yes. We accordingly followed the train into the porch of the Oobosote. We observed just outside of the porch a large flat water basin having the appearance of being made of silver in which it was said that His Majesty washed his feet before he went into the holy place. There was passing from the basin into the temple a clean strip of muslin on which the king walked to preserve himself from any further defilement with earth before entering the most holy place. The balcony surrounding the Oobosote, was decorated with numerous bouquets set in neat vases. There was also arranged tastefully among these flowers a great vari- ety of the fruits of Siam common to the season. All these things were intended as offerings by the people, not to the idol, but to their king.

We supposed of course that the invita- tion given us by the king would allow us to proceed no further than barely into the entrance of the sacred hall. But the event proved that we had unduly limited it. His Majesty being at the farther end, and seeing us all standing at the door, beckoned us to come to him. We promptly com- plied with the call, and went up and stood within six feet of him at his right hand as he went through with all the ceremonies of the occasion. Here we had a clear view of what heretofore we had been able to get only from the reports of natives. The naked halls of Oobosotes and the dumb idols seated each high on thrones where the old fashioned christian churches had their pulpits, we had many times seen. But the king of Siam prostrate before the idol and a hundred or more Boodhist priest's closely packed, seated on the floor on the right side of the hall, holding their telapoins or fans and taking their turns in the wor- ship and rehearsals we had never before witnessed.

Between the king and the idol stood an ordinary table about 4 feet by 3, and on this were ten candles in quite common glass stands arranged in rows of five each. These were nearest the king. Next beyond were five golden vases containing each what appeared to be a large cake of pago- da-form but which, as the king informed us, was made of wood and painted to have the appearance of being a cake of parched corn. The next row consisted of five similar vases filled with flowers. There were also here and there a few incense sticks.

His Majesty was seated on a silken rug eight feet square. On the same rug on either side of him were carefully arranged a cashion richly wrought with gold and set with jewels,—a gold drinking cup,— a gold cigar case,—a betel box elegantly fin- ished with gold and glistening with diam- onds, and the royal sword and lance in scab- bards thickly studded with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. Besides these there were many other costly and to me nameless arti- cles, intended to display the riches and glory of His Majesty. One of the vessels was of solid gold weighing at the least two pounds.

Soon after the king had taken his seat in the midst of those insignia of royalty he first lighted the candles and the incense sticks. He then bowed down on his knees and elbows with his face in the palms of his hands to the floor and thus worshipped the idol. Rising from this prostration he turned to me and said, that what I had pub- lisbed in the Bangkok Calendar for 1863 under the head—What the king does in the temple, was incorrect in several respects. The chief of which appeared to be the state- ment I made that the king then renews form- erly his covenant to keep sometimes the five and sometimes the eight rules of the Boodhist religion. He acknowledged that that was the old custom, but said, that in this reign it had been dispensed with. This statement was made in the " King's Eng- lish" which no man can murder, and which it is exceedingly difficult for an English- man or American to understand. Hence it is quite possible that I have not got precise- ly the idea His Majesty meant to convey to me, but not at all probable that I have in the main misunderstood him. It struck me, on hearing that statement, that it indi- cates a marked declension from strict Bood- hism.

His Majesty next proceeded to make a formal presentation of suits of yellow robes to the priests. He first took a small part of a suit in both hands, and in a kneeling posture held it up between his face and the idol. Then turning to his left towards the chief priest sitting near by, he presented the robe with the same genuflections and manipulations as when it was present- ed to the idol excepting that he touched his nose to the garment as the last act. Taking it from the hand of the king, the priest then, in concert with eight or ten others, holding their telapoins up before then responded attoo satoo—-meaning that it is accomplished or perhaps more strictly amen and amen. This being finished the next move of His Majesty was to place all the ten or dozen suits, that had been ap- propriated to that company of priests, on a large vase or platter together, whereupon the chief priest led in Pali rehearsals over them. And then the whole hundred or more of the clerical fraternity joined in a Pali incantation which made the lofty ceil- ing as one grand sounding board and completely filled the place with the pecu- liar roaring of Booddhist chanting. His Ma- jesty in the next place distributed the suits to eight or ten of the priests, such probably, as had been previously designated as suit- able subjects of this royal favor. Having received them, they all retired for a few minutes into some kind of a vestry, and dressing themselves in their new robes re- turned and held other services, among which was prostrating themselves in their several places unto the idol. In this they were joined by the whole body of the priests-—This they did three times in quick succession-—And then followed again Pali rehearsals in general concert. The chief priest next addressed the recipients of the new clothing, to which they immediately responded and then finally the whole band chanted again in concert.

While all this was going on I stood up by one of the immense twelve brick pillars supporting the ceiling, and used my pencil in taking notes as freely as I would have done in any other place. My fellow visitors stood near by me conversing freely with His Majesty's charming children, some of whom were sitting on the floor about us, and some standing, most of them talkative, asking many questions about our dress, our country, our children, and our religion. There was not the least appearance of fear or reverence for the idol in any thing they said or did. One of the lads, a folicksome follow, even made sport of the great golden image of Boodh, and said—this idol is a stupid creature, and cannot talk. The one we have at home, said he, can talk not only Pali and Siamese, but English as well. In this remark he referred to a time when one of our number was visiting some of her old pupils in the royal palace. This regal spring of young Siam, then ran behind one of the idols there, and made himself spokes- man for it, speaking in the English lan- guage, and sportively said, "see how well he can speak English."

The king himself evinced very little rev- erence in all that we saw him do at the altar. He mixed up his devotions with free conversation with myself, and com- panions on a variety of quite undevotional topics. Indeed the whole affair appeared more like an effort to show how little of heart the present monarch of Siam and sworn protector of the Boodhist faith has in the religion of the country, than of a display of his zeal for it.

These children of His Majesty were very richly, and beautifully arrayed in golden garments thickly studded with diamonds, and other precious stones. They were lit- erally loaded down with gold chains, neck- laces, wristlets, anklets, having several of each and each of them quite heavy. The complexion of their faces and hands was converted to a soft cream colour by cosmet- ics, and their keen black eyes sparkled like splendid diamonds under their raven colored eyebrows, and lashes. Their royal sire was evidently very proud of them, seeming to be more desirous to exhibit them to us and the multitude than to dis- play any other phase of his glory as a monarch. The heir apparent, Somdet Chowfah was occasionally among them, and evinced a bright mind, and like a lad of promise, did not rely very much up- on dress to show forth his preeminence in the royal family. His Majesty's first born after ascending the throne, a charming look- ing princess of about 15 years of age, was there. As I was in attendance on her royal mother soon after her birth, and had the fire removed from the bed in which she was writhing, and was thus the means, as His Majesty has ever been pleased to think, of saving both mother and child, the king took peculiar interest in calling my attention to this daughter. Taking her by the hand, and lifting her up from her seat on the floor, he lead her to me, and put her hand in mine, when she saluted me very handsomely in the English tongue. His Majesty then remarked that many of his children could now speak English quite well. This ac- quisition he would have us understand was mainly to be put to the credit of Mrs. Leonowens their accomplished teacher.

The time we were in the Oobosote was but little short of an hour. The first move of the assembly to retire was the walking of His Majesty toward the door of the hall. Presently a number of royal servants come in and gathered up all the insignia of royalty and other articles belonging peculiarly to the king and carried them down to the royal Barges. His Majesty halted a little at the porch and presented some little tokens of friendship to His Highness Krom Hluong Wongsa who had been waiting there during the ceremonies. In descending to the royal Barge the soldiers and the brass-band sa- luted His Majesty in the same manner as when he ascended. It required some eight or ten minutes for the king to get himself adjusted on his little pagoda-formed throne, and to array himself in full state as when he came, and for all classes of his attendants to get themselvs in readiness to move off in due order. When all were ready, a man dressed in dirty white muslin kneeled be- fore His Majesty from the fore part of the royal barque and chanted a few words of praise to the king. Then all the boatmen prostrated themselves unto him three times on elbows and knees with their faces in their hands down on a level with their seats. They were fully clothed in red woolen fabric, and their caps seemed to be made of the same, and were rather taste- fully formed. The boatmen of the second royal barque were clothed in like manner, but did not I think unite in the triple prostrations. When the cortege began to move, the boatmen paddled to an ancient tune as to Siamese words, all of course in praise of their king.

Boodhism Vs. Christianity.

The following is a translation of an article received in answer to one which appeared in our last Siamese issue of the Recorder.

I understand the numerous questions you ask about the Christian and Boodhist reli- gion, and beg to answer a few of them briefly. In the endless discussions of those who hold to different religions there is no use of getting angry at all.

The assertion you make concerning the Boodhist religion, that it is plunged in ut- ter darkness, and does not spread nor-en large at all, I would answer by saying that the precepts of that religion are opposed to the depraved passions and natural bent of the human heart, just like a man rowing a boat against the current of a rapid stream. Those only who have great patience and perseverance can succeed in stemming the current. B?ddhism is very deep, and intricate, and difficult to be understood, because it opposes the will of man. It is not a religion to satisfy the present want as scratching satisfies the desire excited by itching. For the reason those who have arrived at an understanding of it have done so by the attainment, in the first place, of a state of indifference to everything. If we should go abroad and teach this religion in other countries no body would believe or receive it. Not even those who do hold to it are able to live up to its precepts. It is only those who have firm unshaken belief in it that can live up to it at all.

What you said with reference to light and darkness, that those who believe in the Christian religion, have great prosperity— their country flourishes, and light and know- ledge abounds, because of the power of that religion, I cannot yet agree with. I have understood that there are many in Europe who do not hold to the Christian religion, who yet have light and knowledge just the same as those who do hold to it; What light is this that shines and gives them prosperity, pray!

Again the Siamese, Chinese, Peguans, and Cochin Chinese in this country who have become Christians, hold to that reli- gion more firmly than the people of Euro- pe, and yet I have not seen them have any prosperity. On the contrary, they are much in debt, and in slavery. Why does not that light come and shine upon them better then on them who are not Christians ! If Christians have more prosperity than any other see, if they have more wealth, live to a greater age, have more happiness, and do not grow old nor die, nor never become poor, I will agree with you that the Chris- tian religion is indeed a great blessing. But this blessing I do not yet see, and how can I hold to it?

To what you state about your having re- ceived a royal invitation to visit the temple Wat Hōngsa-ran where you saw the idols, and what you say about the impropriety of worshipping idols, in answer I beg to say, that those who make Bōddhist images use them for the purpose of leading and as- sisting their hearts in thinking of Bōddh. They do not hold that the image is god; it is only something to assist the minds of those who look at them, in thinking of him who is the most exalted and sacred teach- er. He had truely a body. But those who hold to the images of tawada in the san chòw, I think are wrong, because they represent beings that have no body, they are invisible. Whether there are truely such beings as tawada or not I do not know. What advantage is there in worshipping the images of beings that have had no bodies, or indeed any thing we cannot see?

What you say about your visit to the idol's temple, and the fear you express, lest any one should think that you were half inclined to believe in the Bōddhist re- ligion, I think is true. Whosoever believes strictly, as you profess to do, in the Chris- tian religion, would never enter the doors of an idolatrous place of worship.

In what I have said, if I have given you any offence, it is wholly unintentional, and I beg that you will forgive the expressions used.

[The above will be answered in the next issue of the Siamese department of the Recorder.] Ed.

Names of Canal's etc.

His Majesty the Supreme King of Siam having sent us an article for our Siamese issue, directing how the people shall hence- forth call certain new canals and roads; we give below a translation of it.

The canal which begins at the Custom House and leads to Wat Tēwārāt-kōōn ch'awn, commonly called New Canal, shall be called Klawng p'́adoong-Kroong-krarem. The canal which leaves the Klawng p'́adoong-Kroong-krarem and passes straight to Bangaw, south of the mouth of the canal Prá kânong, shall be called Klawng Tánon-trong. The road upon its bank shall be denominated Tánon-trong. The new road leading from Wat Prá ch'etoo p'on straight through the city walls over a canal to the Malay and Cambodian village, and then bending comes near to Fort Pit- chānuk; and then passes over the Klawng- p'́adoong-Kroong-krarem, going straight to Bang-kaw-krŭm, shall be called Tánon chāmrǒn-kroong. It is hereby forbidden that any other names be used for these canals and roads than those herein given.

BIRTH.

On the 17th October, the wife of J. M. T. da Costa Esqr, of a son

Would you be exempt from uneasiness do not one thing you know or suspect to be wrong. Would you enjoy the purest pleasure, do every thing in your power you are convinced is right.

Two men, both cowards, made in a narrow way, neither was disposed to turn out of the road. "Give me the road," said one, in braggart voice, "and if you don't, I'll do for you what I did for the man who refused it to me, yesterday," The other [....] aside in terror, and when he of the braggart voice had gone by; asked him, timidly, "What did you do, Sir, to the man who refused you the road yesterday, and would not get out of your way!" "Why, said the other, "I let them keep the road, and got out of his way."