The Bangkok Recorder.

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EXTRACTS.

SUMMARY OF INDIAN INTELLIGENCE. —The Neilgherry Exerciser, a jour- nal issuing somewhere under the Mad- ras presidency, details a catalogue of instances of the "Cattle Disease." The local opinion on it corresponds with the general one, by its being termed the "purging disorder." It is report- ed as largely prevalent in the neigh- bourhood of Ootacamund on the Neilgherries; and it is stated that it was known on the plateau of the Hills long before any European settled there. It is there supposed to be "imported" by bullocks that bring goods from the plains." The casualties are thus re- ported :—

"In a small village near this station, said to contain 140 head of cattle, 80 died in less than a month. In another, 7 miles off, 130 out of 160 died. A wealthy Bavlagah owning 100 cattle lost them all in a month, and a weal- thy Todah, who had 60 buffaloes, was made a beggar by the death of his whole herd."

The insurrection in Jamaica has been completely suppressed. The out- break was so sudden, that many bar- barities were committed before the authorities could bring the requisite power to bear upon the insurgents; but when they were able to act, the result was decisive. The two leaders were captured, and one of them, Gor- don, a rich merchant and member of the Legislature, was tried by drum- head court martial and executed. No less than two or three hundred of the rebels have been hanged; and it is hoped that the severity of those ex- amples will have a beneficial effect. Happily the rising which has just been crushed was only an imperfect manifes- tation of a much more formidable design. It appears from papers which have been found, that a plan was or- ganised for a general rising of the ne- groes throughout the island on Christ- mas day, the object being the annihi- lation of the whole white population, and of all landed proprietors, white and coloured. This horrible project was frustrated by a mere accident. One of the leaders was in danger of arrest for some crime he had commit- ted, and, in the hope of saving him- self, he gave the signal for revolt be- fore the plot was ripe. To this pre- mature movement may be attributed the failure of the diabolical conspiracy. Had the rising been accomplished as it was organised, there is little doubt that our troops, instead of extinguish-

ing the rebellion, would have had to reconquer the island.

The Fenian conspiracy in Ireland may be considered in the last agonies of a happy despatch. The queen bee is taken, and the hive is broken up. Stephens, the Head Centre who pas- sed under a variety of other names, has been arrested, brought before the police court, and fully committed to take his trial for treason. To do this hero justice, he braved it out at the police court with an audacity worthy of a [?] as of the celebrated tailors of Tooley street. He refused to acknow- ledge the authority of the court; he refused to admit any authority in Ireland that emanated from England; he would not acknowledge the force of any law in Ireland that was imposed by England; he went even farther—- he absolutely and unequivocally de- nied the existence of any English law or authority in Ireland. It seems a pitiful thing to inflict any punishment upon an unhappy man whose proper treatment would be a straitwaistcoat; but law and authority must be upheld, and examples must be made for the sake of the rest of the community. Stephens is clearly a “patriotic” lun- atic. The whole of his recent conduct shows plainly that he never could have had a due sense of the personal dan- ger to which he exposed himself. He appears to have imagined that he bore a “charmed life,” and that he was per- fectly secure in the midst of the most obvious peril. He lived in a conspi- cuous house in an open situation, and there, surrounded by luxuries far a- bove his station, he kept a sort of court for the reception of conspirators. He was so confident of his safety, that he made no great secret of his move- ments, although he knew that he was proclaimed, and that a reward was of- fered for his capture. His wife was impressed also with the conviction that no harm could happen to him, and she used accordingly to go out publicly into the streets of Dublin to shop, just as any other lady might do. But it happened that she was known to some of the police, and a watch was set up- on her, and she was tracked home to the lair where her husband and his confederates were afterwards seized. This enterprise ends the first act of the Fenian drama; but it is not easy to conjecture what is to follow.

The Princess Helena.

A Kiel newspaper mentions a rum- our that the Princess Helena of Eng- land is shortly to be betrothed to Prince Christian of Augustenburg. The 'Post' of this morning believes that this report is well founded, and adds:

The princess, who is the third daughter of the Queen, is in her 20th year while her future husband is in his 34th. He is the brother of the Duke of Augustenburg whose claims to the Duchies of Schleswig-Holstein have of late given rise to so much dispute. The duke has, however, a son, born in 1863, so that his broth- er is only heir-presumptive to his rights, whatever they may be. Prince Frederick is a major in the Lancers of the Guard of Prussia and, from the anxious and motherly care which the Queen bestows on all matters affecting the happiness of her children, we may safely presume that in character and disposition he is all that every loyal heart can wish to find in the husband of a daughter of England. We un- derstand that it is considered to be no slight advantage in this royal match that the prince having neither princi- pality nor functions which would re- quire his residence abroad, the future Princess of Augustenburg will be able to reside in England, and to continue to afford to her Majesty those filial at- tentions on which the Queen, like ev- ery mother, sets so high an estimation. This marriage, as adding to the hap- piness of our beloved royal family, will be welcomed by the nation with that warm sympathy which universally at- taches to all about the throne.

America.

Recent instructions issued to the provisional governors of the Southern States by the President, requiring them to continue the exercise of their official functions, has caused great des- appointment in South and North Car- olina and Georgia. It is, however, un- derstood that the President adopted that course merely to prevent a pre- mature withdrawal of national author- ity, and not with any purpose of subver- ting for any unnecessary length of time the local governments. The South Carolinians are very anxious that Mr. Orr, the governor elect, shall be regularly installed in office at the earliest possible day. Memorials are in circulation throughout the State, praying the President to rely upon the sincerity of the State, and to restore her at once to all her full relations with the national government.

The ovation to General Grant at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, was a great affair. It is described as sur- passing in grandeur, prestige and bril- liancy anything heretofore witnessed in America. The vast hotel was crowd- ed to repletion by the elite of New York, and an enthusiastic mass was gathered together outside the building. They were regaled with music and fireworks. On the following day, Gen- eral Grant was paraded through the city, with a military escort en route to Washington, and his reception was most hearty.

It was reported that most of the colored troops in Texas were to be mustered out of the army, and this, it is considered probable, accounts for the sending of regiments to the Rio Grande.

Few or no pardon applications are coming in at the attorney general's of- fice. The President has directed the suspension of the issue of pardon war- rants, except by special order to the contrary. The suspension is under- stood to be caused by the flagrant breach of faith committed by some who have been pardoned. 20,000 pardons have thus far been granted.

Jefferson Davis is reported to be in fair health and serene mind. Nothing was known at Fortress Monroe in re- gard to his trial.

The 'New York Herald' takes it for granted that the Shenandoah would be unconditionally surrendered, and says:—

In regard to Captain Waddell, we apprehend we shall have no material difficulty. Being regarded as a pirate by Great Britain and ourselves know- ing him to be such, we have only to remind the British Government that we have an Extradition Treaty with them which requires the rendition of all criminal offenders against the laws of either Power. On this ground, the United States will demand Waddell, and punish him as the laws and courts of our country shall decide. England cannot deny this claim or refuse to grant it; or, if she do, she may find in an incredibly short time the Fenian Shenandoahs on the St. Lawrence and Fenian Alabamas on the seas.

The 'Tribune' says:—"The Shan- andoah is where she should be, and we trust our government will neither claim nor accept her." It as well as several other journals regards the re- turn of the Shenandoah to England as a fresh illustration of the truth of the proverb that "curses, like chickens, come home to roost."

The 'Times' of this morning con- tains the following, in a letter from its Philadelphia correspondent:—

The correspondence published in England between Earl Russell and Minister Adams has not been regarded in America as of any grave importance. The publication has been anticipated for some time, as Secretary Seward and others connected with the govern- ment have lately been hinting that a demand for damages on account of the depredation of the Confederate cruisers had been made. It therefore has not taken this country by surprise, and long before the published corres- pondence was made known the public had considered the prospects of pay- ment, and concluded, correctly as the event proved, that payment would be refused. Our people having come to this conclusion have gone farther, and made up their minds that if England refused payment they would not sued and about it, but would give up the claim rather than break the peace be- tween the countries. The commer- cial ties binding together England and the United States are too strong to be broken, even for ten times the amount of the claims made by Mr. Adams. Mr. Seward has become convinced of this, and, while he will no doubt ac- cept the proposed reference to a com-

mission, should it decide against the claim he will abandou all idea of any further prosecution of a cause founded on so questionable a title.-—House News.

The World on Fire.

The day had been fine, with a moderat, wind from the northwest. When the sun went down behind the ridge of mountains limiting the day, a perfect calm followed, with a sky absolutely cloudless. At 4 P. M., there had been seen one solitary and peculiar cloud hanging in the heavens to the north about fifteen degrees above the horizon. This cloud was a deep, dark blue, looking much like the capital letter S. This at last disap- peared, and the night set in, still, beautiful, and mild, with myriads of stars shining with apparently greater brilliancy than ever.

I had gone on deck several times to look at the beauteous scene, and at nine o'clock was below in my cabin, going to bed, when the captain hailed me with the words, “Come ashore, Hall, at once! The world is on fire!”

I knew his meaning, and quick as thought, I re-dressed myself, scram- bled over several sleeping Innuits close to my berth, and rushed to the com- panion stairs. In another moment I reached the deck, and, as the cabin door swung open, a dazzling, over- powering light, as if the world was really ablaze under the agency of some gorgeously colored fires, burst upon my startled senses! How can I describe it? Again, I say, no mortal hand can truthfully do so. Let me, however, in feeble, broken words, put down my thoughts at the time, and try to give some faint idea of what I saw.

My first thought was, “Among the gods, there is none like unto thee, O Lord! neither are there any works like unto thy works!” Then I tried to picture the scene before me. Piles of golden light, and rainbow light, scattered along the azure vault, extend- ing from behind the western horizon to the zenith; thence down to the eas- tern, with a belt of space within twenty degrees in width, were the fountains of beams like fire-threads, that shot with the rapidity of light- ning hither and thither upward and athwart the great pathway indicated. No sun, no moon, yet the heavens were a glorious sight, flooded with light. Even ordinary print could have been easily read on deck.

Flooded with rivers of light. Yes, flooded with light; and such light! Light all but inconceivable. The golden hues predominated; but, in rapid succession, prismatic colors leaped forth.

We looked, we saw and trembled; even as we gazed, the whole belt of aurora began to be alive with flashes. Then each pile or bank of light be- come myriads; some now dropping down the great pathway or belt, others leaping with lightning flash from one side, while more as quickly passed in to the vacated space; some twisting themselves into folds, entwining others like enormous serpents, and all these movements as quick as the eye could follow. It seemed as if there was a struggle with these heavenly lights to reach and occupy the dome above our heads. Then the whole arch above became crowded. Down, down it came; nearer and nearer it approached us. Sheets of golden flame, corusc-at- ing while leaping from the auroral belt, seemed as if met in their course by some mighty agency that turned them into the colors of the rainbow. Each of the seven primary, three degrees in width, shot out to twenty- one degrees—-the prismatic bows at right angles with the belt.

While the auroral fires seemed to be descending upon us, one of our number could not help exclaiming:

“Hark! hark! such a display! al- most as if a warfare was going on among the beauteous lights above-—so palpable-—so near-—seems impossible without noise.”

But no noise accompanied this wondrous display. All was silence.

After we had again descended into our cabin, so strong was the impres- sion of awe left upon us that the cap- tain said to me:

“Well, during the last eleven years I have spent mostly in these northern regions, I have never seen any thing of aurora to approach the glorious vivid display just witnessed, and to tell you the truth, friend Hall, I do not like to see the like ever again" —Hall's Arctic Researches.

Josh Billing's Opinion of Men
of Genius.

A big genius is generally a phool; he knows how to do one or two things so much that he ain't fit for anything else; he is like a grey hound, good for running fast, that's all. You kant lara him easy more than you can an eagle; he knows how to ti up and look at the sun without winken, bekase he was born so, and when he gets up on the peke of the mountains and gets well lit, you kant go tew him, nor he won't come to you, but thare he sets till the dinner bell rings. After dinner, he flize oph agane, and you won't see him till supper time. Tha are like mum- mey's, very euris kritters, and kepe a long time spiled. If tha only had common sense, so that you could make talers or shumakers ov them, thare would be some sense ov having the breed more plenty; but one or two is all that is profitable to have on hand tew onst, and tha are enough to kepe enny body uneasy about what tha are tew dew next. They live about 40 yeres ahed of the times, and when the world ketches up with the best one, an- other is born, who spends most ov his time in digging up the old bones that the last one has buried. The most unfortunate thing about having a big genius on hand, is that so ma- ny try to imitate them, but they don't generally get any farther up than their vices, and thus one big genius suck- les a thousand phools. Tha don't gen- erally live happy bekause tha ain't built right to fit things as tha find them. Tha ought to have grate place tew stop in, where thare ain't nothing generallyrs to dew, and whare tha kan play tost and ketch with the stars, and krack butternuts and mountains. Tha are curious critters.

Tha ain't afraid to straddle a hurry- kane without enny bridle on, and stuck in the spurs, but a nice ribbon in the wanescot will drive them bareheaded into the street. They can plant, but they won't cultivate nor reap.

If I was a woman, I would as soon marry a porcupine as a big genius; tha are either as hot as the stove in the districkt skule house, or as cold and unfeeling as the shoes on a dead om- nibus horse. A genius is like a big comet, that appears once about so of- ten and makes every body nervis, and I then disappears, and though we may not at the time be able to put our fin- gers on the indiwidual good that have dunn us, still thare visit is a big one, and the grate reseryoyrs are pumped up fuller, and we pour none, the rest ov us, when we stick in our little fountains, find that the waters have been frothened and sweetened by sum- body.

UNITED STATES.—-The President has delivered his Message, which is calm and moderate in tone. The con- duct of England during the war is complained of, but he "does not ad- vise any present attempt at redress by the Legislature." The report of the Secretary of the Treasury favours the repeal of the Legal Tender Act at the earliest possible moment. The expenditure for the year ending June next will exceed the receipts by $112, 000,000; but in June 1867 there will be a surplus of $11,000,000. No rep- resentative of Southern States had yet been allowed to take his seat in Con- gress. Mr. Hoffman, a Democrat, has been elected Mayor of New York. Fears are still entertained of a servile war in the South.

—It was a good idea which one of our city ministers presented last Sau- day evening in an address on the train- ing of children. “I think it well to prejudice my garden in favor of violets and roses, or corn and wheat, if I would keep out the weeds.” —-N. Y. Paper.

—The following lines are inscribed on a board near a watering place in Vermont:

'Temperance fountain good as can be Better far than rum or brandy; If this truth excite your fury, Let your horse be judge and jury.

Bangkok Recorder.

As our Buddhist combatant is cer- tainly a most remarkable man, so the religion he advocates is the most re- markable and unique we have ever heard of. It is so from the fact that it is a trinity not of three persons in one god-head, but of three religions—din- metrical opposites, in one Buddhism. In other words, according to his most accredited advocate now standing be- fore us clothed with all the power of church and state, New School Budd- hism is sustained by three pillars. The first and chief is her own inherent worth; the second is Brahminism; and the third Mohamedanism. Did any one ever hear of another such amalgamation? Why, we would ask our enemy of the Bible, does Budd- hism thus lean upon props out of her- self if she be indeed founded on truth, and is stable as he would fain have all believe he thinks her to be? We be- lieve in the adage "that union is strength." But we have ever before thought it indispensible that in such cases the union be complete while it professes to be a union. And we have never before heard that several distinct religions, naturally at total variance with each other, could be so united as to form one mighty unity, and yet each maintain her own identity, and independent sovereignty. There was, it is true, something quite analogous to this in the late confederacy, in re- gard to her civil relations to the United States of Am. And as in that case the abnormal union, having the principle of independent sovereignty continually drawing it asunder, was found to create only weakness, leading to a speedy overthrow, so we apprehend it will turn out to be with this modern Buddhism not many years hence. We conceive Brahminism and Mohamed- anism to be used by the kings of Siam much as props are employed often- times to keep old buildings from tumb- ling over, and they seem not to have ever dreamed that these props are themselves rotting down—hastening to the time when they will all fall together.

Our antagonist, it seems to us, has made a wonderful concession in saying, as he does, that "the teachers and leaders of the Buddhist religion are as yet very ignorant." If this be true (and who can doubt it when such a man admits it, and when every obser- ver sees it) does it not prove that the religion they hold and teach is not one of light and knowledge, but con- trariwise darkness and superstition? Do not such follies as that of the Yaks swallowing the sun and moon, and thus causing eclipses, grow legiti- mately out of their sacred books? Have not those books, even such as are regarded as the most canonical, always fostered in the minds of their followers a love of teaching full of that which is not only without any evidence of truthfulness, but positive- ly absurd?

While our friend of Buddhism does not affirm that His Majesty the king of Siam either holds or rejects the common Buddhist notions of the eclip- ses, yet he does positively give us to un- derstand, that the king has no confi- dence in the notion that the Yak Ra- hoo has any thing to do in causing them, and that he knows well what are the causes, and how to calculate for them. We are right glad to know that the present illustrious king of Siam has so much loosened the shack- les of Buddhism in which he was born as to have felt an irrepressible desire for intellectual expansion, and that the great knowledge he has conse- quently acquired has made him by far the most illustrious Siamese king that has ever lived. But it is certainly most preposterous for our champion to intimate, as he does, that the king has obtained this distinction by virtue of his strict Buddhistical principles. As well might he affirm that dark- ness produces light, or ignorance and superstition knowledge and sound wisdom. Pray, where did the king acquire his knowledge of astronomy for which his people are so proud of him and he so vain of himself? Did he get it by studying any books or follow- ing any teachers that originated in Buddhist countries, or even among the Brahmins or Mohamedans? Will he dare to dispute the fact that all his extraordinary knowledge of astronomy as well as of other sciences originated in christian countries and were taught him by men who had been edu- cated in christian schools? Who was his most faithful, and longest continued, and beloved teacher but the late Rev. Jesse Caswell a Protestant Missionary, whose tomb he has delighted to honor, and upon whose widow and children he has twice bestowed princely dona- tions?

We feel that we cannot better close this review than in the very words of our Buddhist advocate with which he opened his batteries on the Bible. And in doing so we are assured that we have possession of his guns and can now turn them upon him with vastly more power than he used them upon us. "These words sound very strangely to the ear. Are they words written in earnest or in sport? Are they for adults or are they designed only for children to hear?

Correspondence.

Mr Editor,

How unconscious soever we may be of the fact, we are evidently mov- ing; we are undergoing a change. Our floating, babel city is in a transition state. Whilst we are apparently fixed in reference to each other, still like some stars of greater magnitude we are all moving toward some other cen- tre. Whither we are tending, how we are moving, and by what motive power, may not perhaps be so easily deter- mined. In nothing is this changing process more evident, than in us “farangs” ourselves. In many things the “first run” is always the best: but the law will not hold good in every thing. When a new place opens up with fair prospects for trade, the “first run” of those who repair thi- ther, is generally the worst. After- wards the more reliable, industrious, and moral classes come in. It is a proverbial saying, that eight or ten years ago a sober European in this place after dinner, say 9 o’clock P. M., would have, been a curiosity. This however must be taken with some honorable exceptions, for you Mr. Editor; were here ten years ago, and it is not for a moment to be supposed that you are to be included in that number. But even were the saying to be applied now, it is to be feared that it would be fraught with “more truth than poetry.” We were struck with a remark, which we over-heard a well known citizen here make a few days since. A new comer made a remark which we did not fully under- stand, but took it to be rather dispa- raging of the place. The citizen in question remarked that he knew of no better place than this. He had known men here who had not done a stroke of work or business for the last three years, and still were able to be “drunk” every day, and “and what better place would a man want than that.” We contend however that the place has been changing for the better for some time, and that the change is still pro- gressing, although we may be, to some degree, unconscious of it.

Whilst the change may not be as visi- ble, or as rapid as could be desired, still it will eventually manifest itself more fully. Society, too, is changing. Some may contend that the change is not for the better, and in some respects, with some show of plausibility. But an unmistakable evidence of the change for the better is, quite an accession of ladies to that society. Ladies have always a benign influence upon society. Mothers, wives, and daughters have a restraining, mollifying effect upon the sterner sex. True, they sometimes bring with them their gayeties, and fashionable tendencies, which are more than is meet. And even those from whom we have reason to expect much, sometimes lack the stamina necessary to battle with fashionable error, still as a whole the influence of female society is elevating in its tendency. The more accessions of the kind to a new place the better.

The native portion of the place is also undergoing a change. Many of them are growing in wealth. Some of them are unconsciously becoming more European in their tastes. It is to be regretted, however, that they are more ready to imitate the vices, than the virtues of Europeans. Much bu- siness, too, is now done by natives. Foremost among the native business population are a number of enterpris- ing Chinamen. Every now and then a new Chow Sua opens out. As an evidence of the increase of wealth we see new residences going up all over the city.

Most of these residences are Chinese and are in themselves a village. Some of them, too, are models of neatness in appearance. Among those most im- posing is that of Poh Yim, well known to all Europeans. There are many things about it however, which a Eu- ropean taste would change. It would not have cook houses and servant's dens in front through which every one must pass in going into the main building. A European would have cook houses, servants houses and all the etes in the rear, and present a clean front to the river. He would also pay more attention to healthy ventilation. For want of proper ven- tillation the air within a Chinese re- sidence, must be continually foul and unwholesome. Often-times, too, the appearance of fine buildings is des- troyed, by mooring dingy floating houses in front of them. Some of the Siamese noblemen, too, especially those who have been to Europe, are putting up houses a kind of Siamo-European style. Whilst there are many things we would suddenly change were we in supreme power, still as a whole we think they are gradually improving.

Mr. Editor;—

I am almost sorry you called me out again by your query in the issue of 1st inst. I was thinking that I had perhaps made too rash a proposal, and felt that if my kindred here were sa- tisfied, I was also. But a person who is called out in public will certainly make a speech, if there is any speech in him. Under the circumstances, therefore, you will allow me to quote the words of one—who in my esti- mation—is the greatest general in the world—“I propose to fight it out in this line.” Although nearly related by the ties of kindred, our nationali- ties are widely different. As a conse- quence our education and tastes are separated as widely. Our manners and customs too are oftentimes anti- podes. All attempts at fusion under such circumstances are attended with difficulties. Oftentimes, too, it is hard to overcome our prejudices. I once knew a lady who had a most profound antipathy to a gentleman of a differ- ent nationality. True, he was not one whose conduct and manners were calculated to win the good graces of many, but the same faults which the lady condemned in him most severely she overlooked to a great degree in those of her own nationality. It is therefore oftentimes difficult to per- suade ourselves that any good thing can come out of Nazareth. Our so- cial qualities too are as diverse as our nationalities. Some of us, of course, are possessed with conversational and social powers of a high order—con- versational powers capable of turning, and twisting a subject, and presenting it in all its phases, and of wringing the changes upon it ninety nine dif- ferent ways, and thus are enabled to entertain a company for hours upon very small capital. Others of us again are “slow of speech” and every word has apparently to be pumped out by a kind of suction principle. A high or- der of conversational powers is certainly an endowment very much to be en- vied. It does not follow, however, that the most inveterate talkers are possessed of the highest order of in- tellect, and have their minds best stored with knowledge and “ vice versa.” Indeed the “vice versa” in a cer- tain sense holds true, for as a general thing the greatest talkers are the most superficial in their attainments. The empty barrel makes the loudest noise, and the flow is not in proportion to the quantity contained, but in propor- tion to the size of the bung hole. Some of the cleverest writers have been the merest blocks in social socie- ty, among whom, if I mistake not, was Byron. One of the brightest scholars, most profound thinkers, and most powerful and impressive orators, who now adorns the pulpits of the Ameri- can churches, when in a social gather- ing invariably seeks a corner, and keeps it until the company disperses. When a young man, he once walked home with a lady a distance of several squares, without exchanging words. The lady, however, although much his junior, and belonging to one of the wealthiest, and best families of the city, afterwards married that same gentleman in direct opposition to the will of her father. She was certainly not attracted by his conversational powers; but saw the jewel within, and did not fail to appreciate it.

Garrulity does not necessarily indi- cate a paragon of wisdom, nor is taci- turnity a sign of a block-head. We must bear with each other in this res- pect even if some of us have to be pumped. When it does come it is generally a good article. The deepest wells usually afford the coolest and best water. Nor is a want of ease or gracefulness in social society by any means an indication of plebeian origin. True a constant mingling in society has a tendency to improve the manners of most persons, but some are naturally averse to society, and all the use in the world will not rub it off. A man so constituted is not to be set down as a boor, and excluded from those privi- leges which his character, and educa- tion justly demand. The customs of the countries too, which we represent differ vastly in regard to what consti- tutes the "sine qua non" for good stand- ing in society. A man who perhaps would stand well in his own country, might not be assigned the same posi- tion among his cousins the Britons. For instance, a farmer stands well among his friends in the United States, —-all things being equal, whilst in some other countries it might be quite dif- ferent. There he is lord of the soil, -—he is nature's nobleman; —he is in- dependence personified. From the farming community are taken the le- gislators, governors, and presidents, and very good ones they generally make. In a place like this therefore, where all have equal rights, no one should attempt to assign to his cousin of another nationality, his place in socio- ty. If he is a modest man, and pos- sessed of good common sense, he might prefer to take a lower place than that which justly belongs to him, whilst at the same time he might not be willing to brook the idea, of hav- ing that place assigned him by any one else.

Scarcely any thing is more difficult than to get up amusements in which we can all join. So diverse is our tastes that this is an Herculean task. That to which the tastes of the ma- jority run is dancing; still there are some, —perhaps a minority who can- not conscientiously engage in that, or even favor it with their presence. But some will say why not? There certainly is no sin in dancing. That de- pends wholly upon circumstances. It is one of those things which is not "malum in se." The evil is all in its tendencies. The per se argument is all fol-der-al. There is scarcely any thing, short of a positive violation of the moral law, that is an evil in itself. I can take a dance in a certain com- pany, or a glass of wine, or hold slaves, without committing any sin. But I hold, that promiscuous dancing is immoral in its tendencies, and I can not therefore conscientiously encourage it. But some may say why not go and look on? But I may just as well dance as look on. I encourage it just as much by my presence as if I act- ually fling the "light fantastic toe." I also encourage it just as much by my presence once in six months, as if I were present on every occasion. I have great confidence in the exam- ple of Paul in such matters. "Where- fore if meat make my brother to of- fend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my bro- ther to offend." But a truce to this I had no intention of getting up a quarrel with my friends upon this subject nor do I suppose that any- thing I may say will change the opin- ions of many on the subject, how much soever I might wish to do so. All I can do therefore is to let those dance who wish to do so. But what I contend for is this, that there might be some amusement found in which all could conscientiously engage. By that means we might have a meet- ing occasionally which the whole fa- mily could attend. Such a meeting might have a salutary effect. But I have already transgressed on your patience —-so I shall bid you good night.

LOCAL.

We learn that His Majesty the king, has recently sent, or is about to send an expedition by the land route to Oxaooa, for the purpose of taking pat- terns of the famous Buddhist Teupple there in ruins, with the ulterior view of erecting one after the same model and nearly of the same proportions in this city. We are informed that the king has sent architects, designers, car- penters, masons etc. to make a thorough and successful work of it. It has been reported that His Majesty some years since dispatched men to Oxocox with the view to bring away from that Tem- ple many of the most interesting curi- osities to be found connected with it, and that the expedition failed. It is even surmised by some, that the king does not relish well the idea that there was a time, many hundreds of years since, when believers in Buddhism were far ahead of any living Buddhist in the arts and sciences now, thus seeming but too plainly to show, that the Bud- dhist religion has in herself no principle of improvement, and that without the powerful aid of government, and other exterior props, she invariably falls to ruin. But should he succeed in creating another Ongcor in the locality of Bangkok, and one equal in style and splendor with the original, how would that at all disprove the patent fact that Buddhism is on the decline of ages simply for the utter want of the light and love of the Bible? The reproduct- ing of the exquisitely refined architect- ture of Oxocor, in that case, could not be ascribed to any inherent prin- ciple in Buddhism, but wholly to the aid of the arts and sciences borrowed, as it were, from Christian lands.

It is too late for the king of Siam to think of staying the decline of Bud- dhism. She is in her dotage and must soon die. As it was in vain for Alex- ander the Great to attempt to rebuild Babylon, so will it be for P'rabat Somdetch P'ra-chom-klow Chow-yu- hua, to attempt to rebuild Oxocoa.

It is fervently to be hoped that His Majesty the king will not allow the ruins of Oxocor to be so disturbed by rude and ignorant hands as to destroy the pleasing possibility of learned men reading, in due time, to a waiting world volumes of most interesting ancient history from them.

We learn that Mr. J. Thomson the celebrated photographer was, on the 9th inst, at Kabin pressing on for Ongcor, and that he and his traveling companion, H. G. Kennedy Student interpreter to the British Consulate, were quite well. They were expect- ing to reach their destination about the 20th inst. Mr. Thomson will have a grand field for the exercise of his skill in the fine art of Photography, and we trust will give a new and power- ful impetus to the researches that have already been made at Ongcor.

The Siamese steamer "Arrow" ar- rived from Petchaburee on the even- ing of the 13th inst, bringing as pas- sengers Rev. Wm. Dean D. D. and his wife. This steamer is owned by the enterprising deputy governor of Pet- chaburee who is ever wide awake for improvements. By the means of this little vessel he has made a good be- ginning in lessening the distance of that beautiful city from Bangkok. It is to be hoped he will be seconded by the government, and the improvements go forward until lightning speed shall be given to the communications be- tween the two cities.

We learn that the Siamese Iron steamer "Siam," Capt. Bragg, will pro- bably sail on next Saturday for Sings- pore, and that she will proceed thence to Penang.

A company of five European miners, we learn, are to leave Bangkok this evening for P'itsanõolüke. Their names are Thomas Rock, J. W. Smith, R. Haxton, J. Bilby and J. Britian. They take a good passport from the Prime Minister of the Northern div- ision, promising them all the assistance they can reasonably ask. There are no natives to accompany them. Their rowing and cooking by the way is all to be done by themselves. They ex- pect to be full 20 days pulling up to the gold mines, which are said to be more than a thousand years old. Mr. Rock visited the mines last year, and is now the leader of the new ex- pedition. He says the country in that region is most beautiful and grand, and the climate good. It is the inten- tion of the party to remain there until the next wet season, and then to return to Bangkok.

The Siamese barque "Diamond City" arrived in port on the 13th inst and reports, that in the Chinese Sea she was boarded by Pirates, and robbed of about $10,000.

Passenger per "Amoy." Mr. Neu- bronner.

Passenger per "Coral Nymph." Mr. Correa.

As we were passing up the river this morning, on the eastern side, near the front of the palace of the king, we were suddenly ordered to back down to a certain guard boat, and cross over to the other side, if we would pass up the stream. We enquired the reason of such a peremptory command. The little Siamese dignitary would not deign to tell us. He felt that he was clothed with power to forbid us, and that was all his pride and insolence would have to do with us. It was galling to be so treated, but we judged it best to submit quietly, not being able to get a word of explanation, until we reached home, when our Siamese writer informed us that His Majesty the king had come down to his seat at the royal landing to feed the Bud- dhists priests, on this the 2nd day of the Chinese New-Year-hollidays-—and that he did the same yesterday, and will do so again to-morrow. Hence all that would pass up and down the river, while the king is there, must pass. at the distance of 100 yards, or more from the royal landing.

Curiosities of Eating.

An old bean, formerly well known in Washington City, was accustomed to eat but one meal in twenty-four hours; if, after this, he had to go to a party, and take a second dinner, he ate nothing at all the next day. He died at the age of seventy years.

A lady of culture, refinement, and unusual powers of observation and com- parison, became a widow. Reduced from affluence to poverty, with a large family of small children dependent on her manual labor for daily food, she made a variety of experiments to ascertain what articles could be purchased for the least money, and would, at the same time, "go farthest," by keeping her child- ren longest from crying for something to eat. She soon discovered, that when they ate buckwheat cakes and molasses, they were quiet for a longer time than after eating any other kind of food.

A distinguished judge of the United States District Court observed, that, when he took buckwheat cakes for breakfast, he could sit on the bench the whole day without being uncomfortably hungry; if the cakes were omitted, he felt obliged to take a lunch about noon. —Buckwheat cakes are a universal favorite at the winter breakfast table, and scientific investigation and analysis has shown, that they abound in the heat-forming principle, hence nature takes away our appetite for them in summer.

During the Irish famine, when many died of hunger, the poor were often found spending their last shilling for tea, tobacco and spirits. It has also been observed in New York, by those connected with charitable institutions, that when money was paid to the poor they often laid out every cent in tea or coffee, instead of procuring the more substantial food, such as meal, and flour and potatoes. On being reproved for this apparent extravagance and im- providence, the reply in both cases was identical; their own observation had shown them that a penny's worth of tea, or tobacco, or liquor, would keep off the sense of hunger longer than a penny's worth of anything else. Sci- entific men express the idea by saying, "Tea, like alcohol, retards the meta- morphosis of the tissues," in other words, it gives fuel to the flame of life, and thus prevents it from consuming the fat and flesh of the body.

If a person gets into the habit of taking lunch between breakfast and dinner, he will very soon find himself getting faint about the regular luncheon time; but let him be so pressed with important engagements for several days in succession as to take nothing between meals, it will not be long before he can dispense with his lunch altogether.— These things seem to show that, to a certain extent, eating often is a mere matter of habit. Whole tribes of Indian hunters and trappers have been known to eat but once in twenty-four hours and that at night.—-Dr. W.W. Hall.

A long Look Ahead.

A cotemporary turns his visage to the future, and in the misty distance of two hundred years, sees and describes the following:

Scope-—House of a citizen of New York.

Time-—A. D. 2,065. A telegraphic message has been sent to a servant, who presents himself at the window in a balloon.

Master-—John, go to South America and tell Mr. Johnson that I shall be happy to have him sup with me this evening. Never mind your coat, go right away.

In five minutes John returns.

John-—Mr. Johnson says he will come; he is obliged to go to the North Pole for a moment, and will call here as he comes back.

Master-—Very well, John; now you may wind up the machine for setting the table, and telegraph to my wife that Mr. Johnson will be here presently. After that, John, you may dust out the balloon-—I have an appointment in London at ten o'clock.

John disappears to execute these or- ders, while his master steps down to the West Indies to get a fresh orange.

Earnest men.

Enthusiasm is magnetic. Like the magic fiddle of little Fritz in the Ger- man legend, it fascinates and draws after it the crowd. No eloquent en- thusiast ever lacked followers, whether his creed were right or wrong. The earnest man of action, even though a very bungler in his rhetoric, is sure to have plenty of friends. His deeds speak for him. Cromwell's speeches were generally unintelligible, but he was terribly in earnest both as a fana- tic and a soldier. It was impossible to doubt the sincerity of his prayers, or to misunderstand the logic of his vic- tories. Mahomet was a man of vast capacity, a great orator, a furious sec- tarian, and an honest-hearted hero. Such a combination was irresistible, and he founded at once a new Empire and a new creed. Had the intellect of Luther been a more passive type, his conquests over error had never been achieved. It was the war-like ardor with which he challenged and defied his antagonists, that enlisted sympa- thetic spirits under his banner, and made the Reformation a success. To come down to latter times-—confid- ence in his own destiny was the in- spiration of Napoleon, and it was be- cause he believed in himself that his army believed in him. He thought himself irresistible, and so thought every man in his hosts, from the mar- shals of the empire to the meanest followers of the camp. To this de- lusion, as much as to his genius, may be ascribed the glories of his dazzling career.—-Stonewall Jackson-—a man of no very extraordinary talent-—was an enthusiast whose zeal and fervor were worthy of a better cause and a better fate. No red cross knight ever shout- ed the crusader's shibboleth “God wills it!” with more passionate devo- tion than he did the war cry of Treason.

It has ever been thus, and ever will be. Without energy and earnestness, nothing that the world will remember can be accomplished. They often save a bad cause from defeat, and al- most invariably secure the ultimate triumph of a good one. In the field, the forum, and the pulpit, in art, science, literature and love, they are alike in- dispensable to success. “Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might,” is a glorious precept.

The Social Problem Solved.

Oberlin claims to have solved the great problem of the times—what is to be done with the colored people. For a whole generation they have en- joyed equal rights and privileges in all departments of that institution About one-twentieth of the graduates have been colored. They have, with- out offense, always sat side by side with whites in the classes, the lecture- rooms, and the public assemblies. The teachers assure me, that they have found no difference in abilities indi- cated by complexion. Many of the oppressed race have found a refuge in the place. They labor at all employ- ments with the whites—are blacksmiths, masons, carpenters, and business men. There is a colored lawyer in Oberlin, an able man in his profession, who is perhaps oftener consulted by whites than any other lawyer. A colored blacksmith has educated five of his children, supporting them all through college by his own labors at the anvil. One of the lady graduates this year from the college is a mulatto, born a slave, and has been employed part of the time teaching in the preparatory department, and has proved herself one of the most capable and popular teachers.

A load of forty-nine freed slaves from one plantation in North Carolina was at one time left there—almost dumped down in the streets, and left with but little money to take care of themselves. They did it so easily and noiselessly, that many of the citizens never knew of their coming.

And now as to the social result. For this whole generation of practical equality there has never been any collision on the one hand, nor on the other a single case of inter-marriage between the races. Some parties that had previously lived as husband and wife at the South have formerly ac- knowledged the relation after coming to Oberlin; but no such marriages have originated there. White and co- lored young men, and white and colored young women, are often seen walking together in the streets; but never white gentlemen and colored ladies, or co- lored gentlemen and white ladies. Practical equality has not promoted miscegenation, nor any other evil. The nation may hence "take heart and banish fear," and give the colored man his rights.—-Cor. Congregationalist.

Power of Prayer.

In 1821 there was a large family residing in C——, a town in Connec- ticut, of which several members were at that time unconverted. Two of the sisters became deeply solicitous for the conversion of their father, three brothers, and three sisters. They agreed, in the month of November, to meet every night in a chamber, at eight o'clock, to pray together for this great blessing, until it should be given. Satan seemed, as usual, to understand this arrangement, and immediately brought in a distracting influence, adapted to fill the minds of the young with frivolous desires.

On the night of a grand ball in April, to which the younger sister had gone, they were together in that chamber from eight o'clock until four in the morning, pleading with God.

This daily engagement was still con- tinued for three months more, God giving, in all this time, no outward encouragement. They then became more earnest, and remembering that “this kind goeth not out but by fast- ing and prayer,” one of the sisters set apart a day for this purpose, giving every thought to this one object. The next week these too united in the same exercise, and for three successive weeks they thus prayed together, with fasting.

During this month the Spirit came in power to convict the younger sister of her sins, to such an extent that she fearlessly, though a girl of only six- teen years, warned her sceptical father, all her friends, her brothers, and sisters, to flee from the wrath to come.

Then it appeared, from her confes- sion, that while these praying ones had seen no answer to their supplica- tions, at that very ball this girl and her intimate friend had such views of eternity, and the need of preparation for it, that they enjoyed nothing. They saw themselves dancing on the brink of perdition.

As they retired together to rest, they said, each to the other, "I will never attend another ball."

Others were now awakened; the minister appointed a meeting for in- quirers; one of the vilest women in the town was heard crying in her house, in agony, for divine mercy; a profane student in the academy was converted, and became a preacher of righteousness to all around him. The sacred influence spread, until the sal- vation of the soul became the one topic of conversation throughout the town. And it is worthy of note that the very ball-room in which Satan's enginery was employed to oppose the work of God, was soon set apart for a place of prayer by the consent of the proprietor, a decidedly irreligious per- son.

One of these young girls was called in one year to experience the reality of those celestial joys for which she had renounced the world. The other has but recently died—a woman of uncommon devotedness to Christ, mother of a large family, whose in- fluence was a rich blessing to the whole neighborhood where Providence had fixed her residence.

The revival continued for a year, affecting the whole town, resulting in the conversion of more than a hundred; making the next winter a perfect con- trast with the former in the moral tone of the village.—-N. Y. Independent.

Odds and Ends.

—-The higher an ass holds his head the plainer we can see his ears

—-Better a dog who works, Than a lion who shirks.

—-Poverty is a bully if you are afraid of it, but good natured enough if you meet it like a man.

-—A hair cutting machine has been invented in London. They used to have one in France; it took the hair off clean, head and all.

-—It is not safe to let things work unless you have put them in good work- ing order. You must make them work right, or they will work wrong.

-—A man who had a scolding wife, being asked what he did for a living, replied that he kept a hot-house.

-—Religion is the best armor a man can have, but the worst cloak.

—-Boys are a great deal like Farina jelly—just as you mould them they are likely to turn out.

—-A judicious silence is always bet- ter than the truth spoken without charity.

—-To show favor to the wicked is in fact doing injury to the good

—-A bone of contention should be thrown away when there is no longer any meat on it.

—-“There, now!” cried a little girl while rummaging a drawer in a bureau, “there, now, gran’pa has gone to hea- ven without his spectacles.”

Died.

In this city, on the 5th inst, of chro- nic dysentery, Michael Powers, age 20 years. He was a seaman, formerly con- nected with the "Gazelle" but left by her in port for medical treatment.

In this city, at the hospital of Dr. J. Campbell R. N. on the 10th inst. of acute dysentry, John Richards, second engineer of the steamer "Siam", age 33 years.

Besides the foreign shipping men- tioned below, there are in port about 52 sail of Siamese Vessels, variously rigged, and of an aggregate tonnage of about 18,500 tons.

Popery is Ireland's foe.

The Irishmen are always talking about England's being their enemy and destroyer. The Methodist says;

The population of Ireland, which, in 1841, was more than 8,000,000, was in 1851 only 5,750,000—-less by nearly a quarter of a million than it was as far back as in 1811. Since the latter date, England has about doubled her population, and Scotland has very nearly doubled hers. Why has Ireland not only not advanced, but retrograd- ed? In the decade from 1851 to 1861 every Irish country but one (that of Dublin, the resort of foreigners) lost in population, and every city and town except two, declined. Emigration is usually considered a sufficient reason for this decline. It is not; but if it were, it does not solve the original problem, for the question recurs, Why this emigration from the most fertile portion of the whole kingdom? There is more reason for Englishmen to emigrate than for Irishmen; but Eng- land advances-—Ireland goes down. But if emigration diminishes popula- tion, it ought, according to the pre- cedents of all other countries affected by it, to relieve at least want and pauperism, by raising wages. Yet we are told by this Irish authority that in the last four years paupers, reliev- ed by the poor law, have greatly in- creased; that the land under cultiva- tion has decreased; that there are now $15,000,000 worth of encumbered es- tates for sale in the market; that within the last sixteen years the sales under the "Encumbered Estates Court" have amounted to $100,000,000.

There is but one reason that can be logically assigned for this national in- effectiveness of Ireland; but one reason that is not refuted by the analogy of the other sections of the realm, as Wales and Scotland-—that reason is Popery. Ireland now has about a million and a quarter of Protestants (and the Irish Protestant is a recog- nized superior man all the world over), but she has also four and a half millions of Papists. There is the real explana- tion of her social position—the logical solution of her great problem.

—-Aim above morality. Be not im- ply good; be good for something.

—-The wickedest liar in life is he who lies for an object; the greatest liar is he who lies without one.

—-Does cheese belong to animate or inanimate nature ?

Union Hotel. THE OLDEST ESTABLISHED HOTEL IN BANGKOK. Billiard Tables and Bowling Alleys are attached to the Establishment. P. CARTER Proprietor, Bangkok, 14th Jan., 1865.

NOTICE. The responsibility of Mr. St. CYR JULLIEN in our firm ceased from this date, and Mr. J. M. ALLOIS will sign by procuration

REMFSCHMIDT & Co. Bangkok Siam Nov. 1st 1865.