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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Bangkok 30th Dec. 1865.

The compliments of the season to all. From the rapid flight of time, which brings back continually hollidays, and festivals and reminiscences to every one, even Bang- kok is not exempt. It appears to us but yesterday since we issued the first number of our paper, and now the year is closing, and the volume is complete. To us in this monotonous city time appears, shorter when we come to take a retrospect of it, because, perhaps, that, we have nothing that might be called big events to mark the different portions over which we have passed. When a ship starts out upon the ocean, the headland which she leaves behind appears for a time to recede but slowly and still appears comparatively near although leagues distant, because there is no inter- vening object to show the real distance. So upon the great ocean of time when no great events, or revolutions, or changes mark the months, and years as they roll by, when we come to take a retrospect they appear short.

But we have had some changes even here. Some who entered upon the year full of health, and hopes have been cut down, and numbered with the dead. Some have left our community for other places, intending never to return, where others have come in to take their places. Some too who entered upon the year with high hopes, and tolerable prospects for wealth, have seen those prospects vanish, and have been left to commence the world anew. Still the year has been full of mercies to all. Whilst some of our number have been cut down, still the general health of the community has been good. No pestilence has stalked through our midst—cutting us down in numbers, as in Egypt and some portions of the continent of Europe.—- Whilst therefore an all wise Providence has not prospered us in business affairs as we could have desired, still we have abundant reason to think him for his services.

It has also been a year free of calamity to the government in whose dominions we lived. The health of His Majesty, the Supreme King has for the most part been good, and excepting Chow Paya Yomrat the Lord Mayor no high official has died. It has been a year of scarcity and high prices in many respects, but there has been noth- ing like famine which was apprehended— no real suffering from want of food among the lower classes, and now the end of the year is crowned with an abundant crop, which will give food to the eater, and reward the labors of the husbandman, as well as fill up the royal treasury.

Now we must bid our readers adieu. We must retire from the striped and make room for our successor. We need not here state our reasons for retiring from the edit- orial department of the Recorder. Suffice it to say that it has not been for want of pro- per encouragement, nor from any conscious inability on our part to perform the duties of an Editor. Who is there, that doubts his own abilities! We thank own readers for their patronage and kind indulgence, we ask again, the favor of the community for our successor. And finally we as politely as possible make our bow and retire.—

To the Bangkok Recorder

Mr. Editor:—-I am one of the numer ous family of Browns. You are probably aware, or ought to be aware at least, that there are three great influential families which rule the civilised, and part of the uncivilised portion of this terrestrial ball viz—-the Smiths;—-the Joneses and the Browns. It is from the last of these that I claim to have descended. This family is large and influential. Some of them according to the customs of the countries in which they live are persons of family, whilst others are only family persons. Now I have thought that I might wield my pen to some purpose by giving some of the members of the family, to which I be- long, a few words of advice, through the medium of your paper. This I trust will tend to their general instruction and edi- fication. Friend Titcomb in his admirable series of letters, addressed to our Cousins the Joneses, has done an excellent work in lopping off "excrescences" and filling up deficiencies. Should I in my humble way be the means of accomplishing half the amount of good to my own family, my highest ambition will be satisfied. But my efforts at present shall only be directed to that portion of our family, which is col- lected from the different parts of the globe and brought together in this "floating city." Although we are closely related by the ties of kindred, we are nevertheless a heterogeneous mass. Of this mass we find the extremes perhaps in the consequential, all-knowing, all-important and somewhat domineering spirit of Johnny; and in the ever inquisitive, ever prying, ever guessing, and somewhat boorish air of a Jonathan. Should I succeed in bringing these extremes together into one more harmonious compound, I shall certainly have accomplished a great work. But any thing I may say will not be directed par- ticularly against any one individual of my family, but against particular errors, and peculiarities as a whole; and the hints thus thrown out will be like the coat, which any one whom it "fits" can put on. But before entering upon my duty there are some preliminaries, which it would be well to settle. You may want to know what are the standing, and qualifications which justify me in assuming this respons- sible duty. Suffice to say that I solemnly believe, that with all the rest of mankind I am descended from Adam. As to my immediate ancestors I can confidently say: I had a father, and grand-father; but far- ther back I don't dare to go. Whilst too, family distinctions are advantages; and even necessary some places, I am free to confess that I have never been raised in that belief, and rather detest them than otherwise. But here I shall not at all be troubled in that line; for as far as can be ascertained, we all stand upon the same footing. We are all tainted to some ex- tent with the mechanic or manufacturer. Not even two, do I believe, could be found free from such a taint to save the city, were it brought into judgement. A few lines from Saxe, although written for quite a different atmosphere may not be amiss here and may be equally applicable to all.

I take character, therefore and not birth, or wealth as the standard of a person's position in society. I consequently con- sider myself as good as any one, and con- siderably superior to many. I consider myself adequate to the position of sitting at any ones table, and with any company. My standing in society therefore I consider sufficient to justify me in the task which I have undertaken.

As to literary abilities I make no great pretensions, I am not like the English Quarterly Reviewer, who knows more law than the Lawyer, more physic than the Phy- sician; more theology than the Theologian; more poetry than the Poet &c. I am one of rather mo?dest pretensions in that re- spect, I know that Milton, and Skakespeare wrote poetry, that Oliver Cromwell was an Englishman, and William of Orange was a Dutchman. I know when the battles of Hastings, the Boyne, and Waterloo were fought; and there probable bearings on the destinies of Europe. Have read Sir Wal- ter Scotts, and Dickens, Irving's Life of Washington and Abbot's Napoleon. Should any of you therefore doubt my ability to instruct you from a literary point of view I shall not join issue with you so fiercely as on the other point. Having thus stated my designs I shall bid you good night. Should this effort not prove too much for me, you may hear from me again at some future time. In the mean time I remain your obedient and affectionate Sister,

The last night of the old year.

Silence now is brooding like a gentle spirit o'er the still and pulseless world. Hark! on the winds the bells' deep tones are swelling—'tis the knell of the departing year. The departure of the old year, that has brought with it sorrow and joy, is a time memory and tears. Deep within the recesses of the heart a spectre points, with mournful look, to the joys of childhood pass- ing away with the old year never to return. He lifts the coffin lid of Hope, Joy, and Love, and looking sadly upon their wan and wasted forms, shakes his head mourn- fully, saying, "Passing away! passing a- way!" Its mark is on each brow, its shad- ow on each heart. In its swift course it waved its sceptre o'er the beautiful, and they are not. It laid its pallid hand upon the strong man, and the haughty form is fallen; the flashing eye is dim. It trod the halls of revelry, and the bright joyous voice is hushed. It entered the hovel of the poor and removed a sufferer from this world of sorrow and want. Swiftly o'er the battle- field it glided, laying its icy band alike on the young and on the old.

How little one is apt to think, when en- joying the old year, what the new one will bring forth. Perhaps the moon, which looks so gladly down upon us while ushering in the new year, will on the next anniversary shed its silvery light over our graves.

The midnight hour was rapidly approach- ing. It was cold, bitter cold. The few who were out drew their overcoats and comforters close around them and hurried on to their cheerful homes. From the prince- ly mansions beamed a golden light, and fell glistening on the pavement. Graceful forms flitted by in the mazy dance to the sound of gay music, while the merry jest was greeted with a burst of happy laughter. The tired seamstress passing the brilliant mansions clutched her bundle more closely with her stiffened figures as she thought of the few hard earned shillings soon to be hers, and the bitter tears would rush to her eyes as she thought how differently would her New Year be spent from that of many.

'Ah! she little thought, as she stood there gazing with admiration at the fairy-like forms flitting by the window, what a scene was being enacted in the story above. A pale, glimmering light streamed through the window. The heavy damask curtains were half drawn, the fire dimly smoulder- ing, and

upon the floor,"

grim shadows seemed to play upon the op- posite wall.

The death-like stillness was broken only by the quick tick, tick, of the little silver time-place. Seated in a deep elbow chair was a man in the prime of life Some in- ward emotion was plainly depicted on his countenance. His dark hair was tossed wildly back from his heated forehead, on which the blue veins were traced with pain-

ful distinctness. His dark eye had a wild, crazed expression. His right hand clenched closely a written document; his left, tight- ly clenched, hung loosely at his side.

He had forged to a large amount; but this fearful crime was locked closely within his own breast. The wife and daughter little imagined the occupation of the hus- band and father as they bandied gay words with their guests in the rooms below.

A dying ember fell suddenly to the hearth, and grotesque shadows seemed to play on an old-fashioned picture suspended from the wall, his heavy eyes were lifted. It was his boyhood's home!

Swinging back in his chair with a stifled groan, he thought of the time when he roamed an innocent child through the fields, over the meadows.

that girdle his childhood’s home.

Or he stops to lave his throbbing head

in the waterfall’s glancing foam.

He swings the scythe till the mellow horn

Comes echoing o’er the silken fields

of the green and rustling corn.

But more than all did the picture bring to mind the old homestead, where "across its antique portico, tall poplar trees their shadows throw." He thought of the New Year then, when "great fires up the chim- ney roared," and friends by the score sat down to the sumptuous table groaning be- low its weight. These thoughts rushed madly through his brain. Low voices be- neath his window seemed to bring him back to the present. Quickly he leaped from his chair and opened the door. The merry laugh and gay music jarred painfully on his ear, and quickly closing it he opened the window. The cool air seemed to cool his throbbing brain, but looking below at the forms on the steps he distinctly saw a star glittering in the ray of light from the win- dow. His face grew more ghastly. Too well he knew their errand as a merry peal from the bell ushered them in. A low knock aroused him.

"A gentleman wishes to see you!"

"In a moment," he answered, and step- ping quickly to a cabinet, he drew forth a revolver. The deep voice of the church bell commenced pealing forth the midnight hour.

He glanced out, all was calm, still, and cold; muttering, "ere it strikes twelve the New Year will indeed dawn upon my dead body," he fired, and as the bell struck twelve, the New Year did indeed dawn up- on the marble face of the suicide.

The music and dance still went on, no one heard the pistol shot—no one knew while the sound of revelry was going on be-

But we turn from the scene of crime and gayety, and look upon a narrow, crowded street. The houses close together, looking every moment as though they would fall to the ground. Can it be we are only a few blocks from the mansions of gayety! Impossible! Yes, such is the case. In a small room in one of these miserable build- ings, we see tossing upon a bed, a pale, enaciated female, a torn bed-quilt scarcely shielded her from the bitter cold. No car- pet covered the rude uneven boards, and the furniture consisted simply of one chair. A monthly rose looked singularly out of place on the window sill.

With open mouth the sufferer gasped for breath. No one was there to moisten the parched lips, no one to calm the feverish brain, while in the frenzy of delirium she tossed on the hard bed, murmuring inco- herently, while the drunken shutters broke the solemn stillness. The beams of the moon struggled thro' the sufferer, who would at one time, with calm voice, recall the memories of bygone days, and forget- ting the bare room, would seem to wander in pleasant fields, while before her eyes rose the home of her childhood.

Again the fever returned, and with hoarse voice and flushing eye, she would call loud- ly for vengeance, and exhausted, sink back upon her pillow of straw, with a hollow moan, and with pigeons accents, beg to be taken from that loathsome place.

The delirium subsided, reason returned, and clasping her hands over her breast, with a smile of peace hovering round her mouth, she died as the old clock chimed the midnight hour—died peacefully, but without a friend to close her sightless eyes, or drop a tear over her pale corpse.

The New Year dawned upon scenes of crime, sorrow, and happiness, and when washing it, the spirits of the seasons breathed in mournful cadences, that came abroad like the far wind harp's wild and touching wail, a melancholy dirge o'er the dead year gone from the earth forever.

UNDER THE MISTLETOE.

Away o'er the blue waters, where the stars shone down on the fair English house, the Christmas chimes rang out on the clear night air. Aged couples, tottering down the hill of life, guided by children and grand children, stole up the sacred aisles of the house of prayers, and knelt in rever- ential awe and thanksgiving for the babe born more than eighteen hundred years ago in the Bethlehem manger, and raised up their hearts and voices in praise.

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,

And glory shone around, and glory shone around."

Happy family circles gathered round the merry yule log fires! Happy hearts met beneath the mistletoe, and happy young heads nestled down mid the soft pillows, peeping furtively though the half open door toward the big chinnies, trying, oh, so hard, to keep awake, and see the funny little man they call Santa Claus come down and put the pretty things in their stocking mamma hung so invitingly near, and wondering with the childish curiosity how said funny little man can get over that big pile of crackling logs, or coals, and not tumble in and burn himself and chattels, or smutty all the pretty toys.

Two parties had met in the large old handsome manor house of Sir Mortimer Grant, one above and one below. Sir Mor- timer and his good lady received with cour- teous English hospitality the gentry from far and near, who rolled up in their carri- ages and were deposited for the one above. Dame Ulrica, the house-keeper, and the butler, her good man, received with as much hospitality, though mayhap more awkwardly proffered, the gayly attired lads and lasses of the village who came tripping into the great servants' hall for the one be- low. A grand band discoursed sweet music for the graceful waltz or stately minuet above. The merry fiddler, in high glee, capered among the dancers in the lively reel, or merry country-dance below. The gallant gentlemen bent most gracefully to kiss his fair lady love beneath the huge mistletoe above; and she as equally gallant rustic, smacked the lips most heartily of some fair village belle beneath another huge mistletoe below. Truly happy faces beamed on happy faces, both above and below, that merry Christmas Eve, in the spacious home of Sir Mortimer Grant. There was a big plate of bright English sixpences, laid aside for the Christmas Carol singers who came in parties and sang the sweet words in honor of our Saviour's birth-night without, with the bright stars gleaming down on them; then, by the kind invitation that is usually given and expected, enter, partake of the good cheer and the contents of the plate, and depart for some other equally hospita- ble house. Some times a party of young men, fantastically dressed, so as to repre- sent Old Christmas, the Old Year, New Year, and the King, arrive, and in a species of pantomime play, highly amuse the spec- tators by their antics, and themselves after- wards in glasses of beer or mulled wine, and the contents of a well filled plate of money, ere leaving the company.

Among all this gayety, though there was a sad look in both Sir and Lady Grant's faces this Christmas Eve, five years before that night they had turned from their hearth and home a loved and only daugh- ter, a beautiful girl, who had refused the hand of an Earl's son, and given her heart to an American; a Yankee adventurer, her parents termed him, with neither fortune or title to place him in their eyes worthy the hand of their daughter; and when on that night, Christmas Eve, five years before, they both had knelt under the mistletoe that hung in the great Castle Hall, and con- fessed their love and their marriage. Sir Mortimer, in a towering English passion, ordered them from his door, never to enter it again under penalty or his curse.

Lady Mortimer was of the proud old Eng- lish blood, and though she did not storm and go into a passion, her back was turned on the outstretched arms of her daughter; and so out under the stars of that chilly Christmas sky, the two had wandered over the diamond frost-sparkling path into the icy covered church, and kneeling before the alter, those two loving but sorrowing hearts, asked humbly of their Father in Heaven for forgiveness of anything wrong.

A few days later an American bound steamer bore the discarded aristocrat daught- er and her noble American husband toward his own fair New England home.

A letter, full of piteous entreaties for for- giveness, from both daughter and son, came over the blue ocean, and rested at last, in the hand of the irate Sir Grant. There was a tender relenting spot in both father and mother's hearts when they read the tender, beseeching letter of their beautiful daught- er. They had sadly missed her—-sadly longed for one more sight of their sweet, gentle child, and had almost held out their relenting hands over the broad sea to the anxiously awaiting couple. But not yet would they bend their haughty hearts to their child's flagrant act of disobedience. Let them suffer and sue a litter longer—-let another letter come over the waste of wat- ers, then, perhaps, an answer would find its way back.

Another letter did come, but never reached its destination, and so at last, des- pairing of forgiveness from their titled par ents, no more messages crossed the Atlantic, and so it came to pass that beneath Ameri can skies two young hearts could have been entirely happy but for the forgiveness de- nied them over the seas, and beneath Eng- lish skies, two older, but prouder hearts, mourned in secret the absence of an only child, but could not bend from their haugh- ty, proud decision.

"More carol singers. Bessy, mull some wine, and fill the plate with copper pennies, there is only two of them," and Dame Ulric hurried from the finish of a lively contra dance, to issue her orders.

A man and a woman's voice mingled in the sweetest accord in the words of a beau- tiful carol. No common voices theirs. Every one paused to listen, both above and below, and orders came from their masters to conduct them, by especial invitation, above, on their entrance.

So Dame Ulrico nodded complacently in the doorway, inviting their entrance. A tall man, muffed in a big overcoat, and slouching hat, holding in his arms a laugh-

ing-eyed, curley headed little girl: a slen- der woman's figure, muffled in rich furs, and deeply veiled, holding a chubby boy by the hand, passed her and was conducted up the broad oaken stairs, by the gracious butler himself.

Sir Mortimer Grant and his wife were standing under the mistletoe, in playful ban- dinage of the time, long years ago, when he had won her, the fair daughter of an English baron, and kissed her beneath the mistletoe, in her father's halls.

When the strange carol singers entered, there was a cry—a cry of long pent up emotion, and the slight figure of the strange lady singer was kneeling before the stately pair, her veil thrown back, and her slender hands held beseechingly up.

"Oh! mother oh! father—-dear parents, forgive! forgive your only child. Five years ago to-night you turned us from your heart and home. Take us back, oh take us back, to—to—"

And covered her face with her hands, heart rending sobs burst from her lips, as the tall stranger knelt by her side, supporting with his strong right arm, his gentle wife, his slouching cap falling off, and the hand- some face of their American son-in-law looked pleadingly up.

Down on their knees the aged couple knelt, clasping in one embrace their long lost son and daughter. The little boy and girl foundled the gray hair of the two bow- ed heads, lisping,

"Grandma, grandpa, Maggie and Henny love you; papa and mamma love us too."

The guests stood by with sober faces, but smiling eyes; the mistletoe swayed gently to and fro above, dropping its slender green leaves as though in blessing on the kneeling group beneath. Dame Ulrico and her good man, the old and honored servant, stood smilingly arm in arm, waiting for an opportunity to greet their young mistress, while further back, gathered in groups, or peeping through the doors, were the rest of the servants, intermixed with the lads and lasses, all anxious for a word from one who had been loved and mourned through that long five years of absence, and above all, the tender peal of Christmas chimes stole in sub- dued cadence through the rooms from the old ivy-covered church, where five years be- fore the young couple had knelt, asking for forgiveness, and every one knelt involuntary when the old gray-haired father raised his hands in prayer and blessing over his children, thanking God for the gifts he had granted him that night; and all over merry England no happier hearts were there than had met under the mistletoe in the honored home of Sir Mortimer Grant.

When the holidays had been counted mid things of the past, Henry St. Clair, the American son-in-law, and his fair English wife, embarked once more for the land of Columbia, despite the tears and entreaties of their titled parents, who would fain have kept them by their own fireside. But gen- tle Mary had learned to love free, fair A- merica, and the beautiful home her loving husband had borne her too, and though she wept at parting from her loved parents, nothing could have induced her stay, and nothing reconciled the parents to this sep- aration again, but the solemn promise that every Christmas eve should find them all reunited again in the old English mansion of her forfathers, kneeling under the mis- tletoe.

General Summary.

The new Ministry has quietly taken pos- ession of power, with one minor office still vacant, which Earl Russell is evidently in no hurry to fill up. The discussion, how- ever, about the balance of official represent- ation between the two Houses still goes on, and the Duke of Somerset is said to have placed his resignation of the office of First Lord of the Admiralty in the hands of Earl Russell, in order to give the Government an opportunity of appointing a Commoner in his place. Whether this statement be true or not, it is certain that modifications in the Ministerial arrangements will be accomplish- ed sooner or later. In Lord Palmerston's time the preponderance of high official men in the Lords was felt to be a great obstacle to the progress of public business; but the presence of Lord Palmerston, as first Min- ister of the Crown, in the Commons was a counterpoise which reconciled every body to the inconvenience. Not only was his lordship rigid in his attendance, but he knew every thing about the Departments, foreign and domestic, and spoke upon them all. Now that the leader, whose universality and adroitness enabled him to answer every question with facility, and to manage the House to everybody's satisfaction, is gone, the case is altered. Earl Russell will find it necessary to strengthen his hands in the Commons; but whether he will do so be- fore the meeting of Parliament, is one of those contingencies which must be deter- mined by circumstances.

Efforts are making in particular quarters to show that the accession of Mr. Bright is indispensable to the security of the new Cabinet. It is said that, the country look for this movement, now that the impedi- ment of Lord Palmerston's presence has been removed; and the people who say this affect to be penetrated by a terrible fear that Mr Bright cannot be prevailed upon to accept office. They need not be a- larmed, for there is not the remotest likeli- hood that Mr. Bright will ever be placed in the painful position of refusing to serve the Queen. There are greater obstacles in the way than Lord Palmerston, and the greatest of them is Mr. Bright himself. His notions upon Reform would set the Cabinet by the ears, and his extreme views concerning government in general would bring down to the dust the strongest ad- ministration that could be formed in the existing state of parties. It may be taken for granted that it is not in that direction Earl Russell looks for new blood.

The Shenandoah, after committing tre- mendous depredations in the capacity of pirate, has run into British waters, and sur- rendered to the English Government. Here is a new complication for England, upon a point of international law which involves the most serious considerations. To render the whole affair still more perplexing, there is some ground for believing that the cap- tain is an Englishman. No step has yet been taken, beyond that of placing a guard upon the vessel; a precaution which is in- dispensable in any event, while the law of- ficers are exploring for precedents.

The published correspondence between Mr. Adams and Earl Russell does not ap- pear to improve the relations between the two Governments, and the American journ- als, even those of the most dispassionate character, are of opinion that war must come. This is not the general opinion on this side of the water; but most people regret nevertheless that Earl Russell per- mitted himself so often to be betrayed into outbreaks of peevishness and ill-temper. Of the two parties, America had the best ex- cuse for showing a little asperity, and England was placed in a position in which a conciliating spirit would not have been in- consistent with dignity. But we have not yet reached the end of the negotiation, and there is plenty of time for Lord Clarendon to make amends for the hasty tone of his predecessor.

America.

The news from the South is meagre, but satisfactory. Business is being rapidly revived, and Northern capital largely in- vested. The question of labour still, how- ever, engrosses serious attention, and fears are entertained that the crops for several seasons, pending the effectual organization of free labour, must be far below their former averages. In some quarters the negroes are said to be discontented, idle, and turbulent to an extent justifying fears of an insurrection; but should any such outbreak occur it is presumed that it would be confined to some not very extended locality, and would be speedily quelled by the military. The Freedmen's Bureau have, however, taken important measures to prevent such occurrences.

The South Carolina Legislature has as- sembled. The governor's message congra- tulates the members upon the benefits which will result from the abolition of slavery, and eulogises President Johnson's policy towards the South. It also opposes any act tending to the repudiation of the State debt. General Wade Hampton has been elected Governor of South Carolina. General Howard has announced at Charles- ton that the Freedmen's Bureau will con- tinue to exercise to authority until South Carolina allows negro testimony in the courts. The Georgia State Convention has repealed the secession ordinance, and appointed a committee to memorialize President Johnson to release Mr. Davis and other Confederate prisoners.

Washington advices of the 25th Oct. state, that the Hon. Caleb Cushing was about to leave for Europe on an important mission. A New York telegram confirms this statement, and says that the Hon. Caleb Cushing leaves for England on Nov. 7, on a special legal mission connected with the State department, the nature of which has not transpired; but it is believed to be in relation with the adjudication made of the claims for damages by the States on Great Britain for depredations of the Alabama on American commerce. It was believed that the government had ac- cepted the proposition of Earl Russell to appoint a commission to settle such claims.

France.

The emperor set out on the morning of November 8 for Cornerhonet, the estate of the Princess Bacciocchi. His majesty will be present at the meeting of the agricul- tural committee of that district. Count Bismarck had an interview with the em- peror on the 4th of November, and left Paris for Berlin on the 6th.

The emperor, in a letter to Marshal M'Mahon, which has been published in a pamphlet form, has expressed his views on the Algerian question. Its concluding paragraph, which we subjoin, is a resume of the entire communication:-—

I would turn to account the valour of the Arabs rather than bear hardly upon their poverty; render the colonists rich and prosperous rather than establish settlements of emigrants; and maintain our soldiers in healthy situations rather than expose them to the wasting climate of the Desert. By the realisation of this programme we shall appease passions and satisfy interests. Then Algeria will be to us no longer a burden, but a new element of strength. The Arabs, restrained and conciliated, will give us what they can best give—-namely, soldiers, and the colony, becoming flourishing by the development of its territorial riches, will create a commerical movement emin- ently favourable to the mother country.

It is asserted that a private letter from the emperor to King Victor Emmanuel concerning the Roman question will shortly be published.

There has been an election for the depart- ment of the Upper Pyrenees. The govern- ment candidates, MM. Larrabure and Chesenlong, were elected by very large majorities. M. Giord has been returned at Bourg as member of the Chamber of Deputies. He was the only candidate, and received 21,526 votes.

Origin of the Water fall.

It is a well known fact that we are in- debeted for many of our customs to the heathen. Especially is this the case in re- gard to ornaments such as jewelry &c. These are rather relics of heathenism which cling to us. The Waterfall it appears originated with the Karens. The late Rev. A. Judson D. D. writing a number of years ago from Burma refers to the passion of that people for ornaments, and the trouble they gave him in building up the church, refers also to a visit to the Karens where he finds the same passion prevailing.

"In the meantime I was called to visit the Karens, a wild people, several days journey to the north of Maulmain. Little did I expect there to encounter the same enemy in those 'wilds, horrid and dark with o'er- shadowing trees. But I found that he had been there before me and reigned with a peculiar sway, from time immemorial. On one Karen lady I counted between twelve and fifteen necklaces of all colors, sizes and materials. Three was the average. Brass belts above the ankles; neat braids of black hair tied below the knees; rings of all sorts on the fingers; bracelets on the wrists and arms; long instruments of some metal, perforating the lower part of the ear by an immense aperture, and reaching nearly to the shoulders; fancifully con- structed bags, enclosing the hair, and suspended from the back part of the head, not to speak of the ornamental parts of their clothing, constituted the fashions and the ton of the fair Karenesses. The dress of the female converts was not essentially different from that of their country women. I saw that I was brought into a situation that precluded all retreat—-that I must fight or die."

Items

The principle local event of impoatance since our last issue is the starting of the steam rice mills. All three started up about the same time. It was perhaps rather premature as paddy is likely to go right up again. There is necessarily a little rivalry among them, and also among the agents they have taken up buying, which has already given paddy an upward ten- dency. But if buyers can stand it we suppose others need not complain. The place wears considerably more of a business aspect for the last ten days than it has for twelve months before.

Birth.

Birth of a royal son, on the 23d Dec. a royal son of the Supreme King of Siam was born, by Her Excellency Lady Piam the 17th mother, being the 7th by number of pregnancy, and the 6th by living child- ren, she was delivered at 18 minutes past 2 P. M. This is the 76th royal offspring, and 38th royal son. His Royal Highness, name will be Prince "Suarte Sarjate" or "Suwate Sarjate."

The Death of a Nobleman

His Excellency Chow Phya Yomarat, the Lord Mayor of Bangkok, who was born on the 10th of April 1808, and was ap- pointed to the office of Lord Mayor on the 29th Nov. 1864. He having exercised the duty of the said office one year and twenty days, was seized by Apoplexy at 7 P. M. on the 17th Dec. 1865, and expired in a few minutes after. His Excellency was 57 years and 8 months old.

This information is published by order of His Majesty the First King of Siam, for the information of the foreign friends of His late Excellency, hoping that they will be moved thereby, and bear in mind that this is the path which must be followed by every human being.

Prince "Damsong riddle" the 36th royal son, 70th royal offspring of the present first king of Siam, the 5th child from the 13th mother, Lady Chao Chom Bua, the daugh- ter of the late governor of Ligore, having been born on Jan. 17th 1865, and became affected by liver complaint during the last two months, on the 18th inst, he became worse and expired on the 22nd at 11 A. M.

The Shenandoah.

The notorious Shenandoah, one of the Confederate cruisers which has been press- ing upon American whalers so long after the war was over, came most unexpectedly into the port of Liverpool on Nov. 6, and surrendered to her Majesty's ship Donagal, the guard-ship lying in the Mersey. It is said that the first question the captain of Shenandoah asked of the pilot who boarded him was whether the war was over.

This vessel, formerly the Sea King, was fitted up as a Confederate cruiser when the American struggle was drawing to a close, and consequently she had comparatively little chance of committing ravages upon Northern shipping. After the close of the war, however, having obtained a quantity of supplies at Melbourne, the Shenandoah appeared in the Oclok Sea and in Beh- ring's Straits, and did infinite damage to the whaling fleet. It is estimated that since ler depredations in these seas began she has destroyed in all nearly 40 vessels, the ma- jority of them whalers; and it is known that sperm oil has in consequence advanced from £76 to £120 per tun. and that, owing to the scarcity of this article from the de- struction of these vessels, prices may ad- vance from 25 to 50 per cent, higher still. Captain Waddell, the commander of the Shenandoah, states that the last vessel he spoke was the Barracouta, from Liverpool for San Francisco, from which he learnt that the South was really and truly defeated. On this he at once stowed away his guns and ammunition in the bold, and steered for Liverpool, stopping at no other port. On arriving near the port, he took a pilot on board, and finding the news of the de- feat of the Confederacy was correct, he de- sired him to take the Shenandoah alongside a man-of-war, if there was one in the river. The ex-cruiser was, in consequence, placed alongside the Donegal, and a crew from that vessel was placed in charge of her, some custom officers being also in charge with them. Captain Waddell was more than once told, it is said, while cruising in the Pacific, of the termination of the war; but as his informants were the crews of the Northern vessels he destroyed, he persistently refused to give credence to the statement. The vessel is closely watched by the gunboat Goshawk, Lieutenant Cheek. Captain Waddell, his officers, and crew all remain on board, and no attempt at an escape has been made. It appears that Captain Waddell has in his possession a large amount of money and valuables, including a number of chronometers, which he is anxious to deliver up, considering that they are now the property of the United States government.

On the night of Wednesday, Nov. 8, Cap- tain Paynter, of the Donegal, liberated on parole the captain and crew of the Shen- andoah, by order of the Government.

NOTICE

THE subscribert desires hereby to in- form the patrons of The Bangkok Re- corder that the responsibility of Rev. N. A. Mc. Donald as Editor of the paper will cease on the issuing of this last No. of the, 1st volume. The chief reason for this change is, that his increased cares in the Mission to which he belongs will not allow him to bear further charge of that kind. He expects, however, to continue to take a lively interest in the welfare of the paper and hopes to be able to contribute fre- quently to its columns.

The subscribers propose to change the form of The Recorder to that of a sin- gle sheet of but two leaves, to contain about sixteen pages. He proposes also to convert it into a weekly Journal making it more of a an ordinary Newspaper that it has hither- to been, as there is such a paper is more needed at the present there in Bangkok than one more thoroughly literary.

The subscriber has good reason to ex- pect that nearly all who have hitherto con- tributed freely and ably to the columns of "The Recorder" will continue their sup- port. And he hopes also to solicit others to write for it; and would hereby respect- fully solicit the aid of all permanent or transient residents who can "drive a quill" or in any way furnish valuable intelligence for the paper. It shall be the constant aim of the proprietor to elicit reliable and import- ant information of a local character with which to enliven and enrich every successive number, so that "the Recorder" may often, not to say always, be considered of sufficient value to send to friends abroad.

The 1st No. of the second volume of The Recorder" will be issued on the 11th Jan'y. 1866. and all successive numbers will be issued, on every Thursday with as much punctuality as Divine Providence will grant ability to secure.

The Recorder will be open to correspon- dents, subject to the usual restrictions.

The proprietor will not be responsible, for the sentiments of his correspondent.

No communication will be admitted un- less accompanied by the name of the Cor- respondent.

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

Yearly in Advance $16.00

Half yearly do 9.00

Quarterly do 4.50

Extra copies to Subscribers 0.30

" " Nom. do . 0.40

First insertion ten lines or half a square and under One Dollar, and each addition- al line, Five Cents.

Subsequent insertion, Seventy Five Cents, for ten lines, and each additional line, Five Cents.

Advertisers must be particular to specify, the number of insertions.

Standing advertisements as per Con- tracts.

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

Passengers and Mails from outside the Bar the same day.

Letters for non-subscribers $ 1.00 Passage to or from the Bar $ 5.00 Special boats to or from the Bar $ 10.00

Bangkok, 3rd Aug. 1865. (T-T)

Sapan-wood 3 @ 4 pl. Tic. 3¾; 5 @ 6 pl. Tic. 2¾

Teak-wood Tic. 10⅖ Yok.

Rose-wood Tic. 260 ? 100 picul.

Buffalo Hides Tic. [……..]

Cow Hides Tic. 15¼ ? picul.

Gum-benjamin-Middling Tic. 140 picul

Gamboge-Tic. 49 ? picul.

Teelseed Tic. 79½ Coyan.

Sticklao - No.1 Tic. 19. No.2 Tic. 10½ picul.

Ivory Tic. 320 @ 235 picul according - to size

Cardmimums-Best Tic. 160 Bastard 21⅞ picul.

Mat Bags Tic. 80 ? 1000.

Silk-Laos, Tic.- Cochin China, Tic. picul

Gold-leaf - No.1 Anaing, Tic. 16½ Tical weight.

Exchange - On Singapore 3 ? cent premium

Dean Swift, when dining at a corporation dinner at Leicester, was rather severe upon a poor, sleek, quiet alderman. In the course of the dinner he was helped to the wing of a duck, and immediately called for mustard. "Doctor," said the alderman, in perfect innocence of heart, "you eat duck like a goose."

Method is the very hinge of business; and there is no method without punc- tuality.

"Don't trouble yourself to stretch your mouth any wider," said a dentist to a man who extending his jaws frightfully, as he was about to draw his tooth, "as I in- tend to stand outside."

NOTICE.

All persons indebted to the late Chas. H. Thomas, are hereby requested to make im- mediate payment to the United States Consul; and all persons having claims against, the said Chas. H. Thomas will present them properly authenticated at the U.S. Consulate.

Mr. Editor-—I am thinking that it may be my duty to give you a little report of my recent trip to P’etch’aburee and will therefore take a few moments at this late hour to write one.

Having heard that my son-in-law Rev. D. Mc Gilvray had been long suffering from fever and was getting worse, I broke away on the 18th inst. from my crushing cares at home to visit him. And by the politeness of Mr. Thompson and the kind- ness of His Excellency the Chao Phya Kahaoom, I accompanied the former gen- tleman to P. which place we reached on the 20th. We were very happy to find that Mr. Mc Gilvray’s fever had left him sev- eral days before our arrival, and that he was in all respects much better than we had expected to find him, and with every prospect of a speedy restoration to his health. All the other members of the Mission, to- gether with their children, were in the en- joyment of good health. But our ever constant and invaluable friend Prā-pālāṭ, the deputy governor, we were very sorry to find in deep affliction by the death of an infant child, and the distressing illness of his mother, whom he was highly honoring by giving her his unremitting attention day and night, scarcely leaving her for a moment during all the five days of our sojourn in the place. Her disease appeared to be a de?y in the head, producing excru- ciating pain and almost total blindness.

His honor the Prā-pālāṭ expressed great regret that he could not take time to give us more of his personal attention. But he so arranged that we had all our wants ade- quately supplied in the way of horses car- riages and men, so that Mr. T. was enabled to execute all his purposes of Photograph- ing on the palace mount, on the plains, in the caves, at a distant Laos village, and at other places. He made many beautiful pictures of the very unique and charming scenery in and about the city of P'etch'a- buree.

We found the rice crop in that province in the most prosperous condition, the yield being full a quarter more than ever being before, of excellent quality, and nearly all reaped and stacked. The oxcarts were just beginning to haul in the sheaves to the threshing floors.

We returned on the morning of the 26th, having urged our way home in 29 hours by an oar boat with six men, hoping to be in time to write by the "Chaw Phya" but were too late by nearly two days.

In consequence of having been absent from my business at home on an errand of mercy to my sick son, I find that I shall be under the necessity of postponing the issuing of "The Bangkok Calendar" for 1866 about as many days, and beg that my patrons in this most unprofitable enterprise, will kindly pardon this unavoidable failure.

Items

Just as our paper is nearly out of the press we hear with deep sorrow that Rev. C. A. Chulcott of the Baptist Chinese mis- sion in this city, is still dangerously ill of fever Friday 29th Dec. 3 o'clock p. m.

On Wednesday the 27th inst. His Excel- lency the Kralahome, gave a birth-day din- ner on the completion of His E's. 59 year. All the foreign consuls resident in B. (ex- cept the French) were present, also the Master Attendant, Com. of Police and a few of the representatives of the large firm here. H. E's son and brother, and Kim Ching the Siamese Consul for Singapore were also present. The dinner was mag- nificent and such as is only to be had at His Excellency's. H. E's band was in at- tendance, discoursing sweet music to regale the soul, while the guests did fall. justice to the good things within. Every thing went off in first rate style, but owing to the illness of the second King, there was no theatrical performance, and the party broke up at ½ past 8 o'clock.

The late Mr. Cobden used to tell the following anecdote:— "When in America," said he, "I asked an enthusiastic American lady why her country could not rest satis- fied with the immense unoccupied territor- ies it already possessed, but must be ever hankering after the lands of its neighbours: when her somewhat remarkable reply was, `Oh, the propensity is a very bad one, I admit; but we come honestly by it, for we inherited it from England."

The Reason Why.—Three or four times a couple appeared before a clergyman for marriage; but the bridegroom was drunk, and the reverend gentleman refused to tie the knot. On the last occasion he expres- sed his surprise that so respectable a look- ing girl was not ashamed to appear at the alter with a man in such a state. The poor girl burst into tears and said she could not help it. "And why, pray?" "Because, sir, he won't come when he is sober."

"Gentlemen," said Admiral Farragut ot some of the officials in the Navy Depart- ment who wanted to put off a lot of "favor- ites" upon the old sea-dog as efficient officer; "gentlemen, you can no more make a sailor out of a landlubber by dres- sing him up in sea-toggery and putting a commission in his pocket, than you could make a shoemaker of him by filling him with sherry-cobbler!"