The Bangkok Recorder.

A Weekly journal will be issued from the printing office of the American Missionary Association, at the mouth of the Canal, "Klawng Bangkok Yai" It will contain such Political, Literary, Scientific, Commercial, and local intelligence, as shall render it worthy of the general patronage.

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By James Montgomery.

The Press! what is the Press? I cried; When thus a wondrous voice replied; "In me all human knowledge dwells, The oracle of oracles; Past, present, future, I reveal, Or in oblivious silence seal: What I preserve can perish never—- What I forego is lost forever.

I speak all languages: to me The deaf may hear, the blind may see, The dumb converse, the dead of old Communion with the living hold. All lands are one beneath my rule, All nations learners in my school; Men of all ages every where Become contemporaries there.

What is the Press?—-'Tis what the tongue Was to the world, when Time was young. When, by tradition, sire to son Convey'd whate'er was known or done; But fact and fiction so were mix'd, That boundaries never could be fix'd.

What is the Press?—-'Tis that which taught, By hieroglyphic forms of thought, Lore from the vulgar proudly hid, Like treasures in a pyramid: For knowledge then was mystery, A captive under lock and key, By priests and princes held in thrall, Till the redoubled Alphabett Free their own great deliverer set: At whose command, by simplest spells, They work their mental miracles.

What is the Press?-—'Tis what the pen Was thrice ten centuries to men, When sybil leaves lent wings to words, Or, caged in books, they sang like birds. But slow the pen, and frail the page— To write twelve folios ask'd an age; And a pet babe in sport might spoil The fruits of twenty authors' toil.

A power was wanting to insure Life to work, worthy to endure—- A power the race to multiply Of intellectual polypi: It came all hardships to redress: And truth and virtue hailed the Press!

What am I, then?—-I am a Power Years can not waste, nor flames devour, Nor waters drown, nor tyrants bind; I am the mirror of man's mind, In whose serene, impressive face, What can not die on earth you trace—- Not phantom shapes that come and fly, But like the concave of the sky, In which the stars by night and day, Seen or unseen hold on their way.

Then think me not the lifeless frame, Which bears my honorable name; Nor dwell I in the arm whose wing Intelligence from blocks can wring; Nor in the hand whose fingers fine The cunning characters combine; Nor even the cogitative brain, Whose cells the germs of thought contain, Which that quick hand in letters sows, Like dibbled wheat, in lineal rows; And that strong arm like autumn sheaves Bears and binds up in gathered leaves, From that dead tree's well cultured soil. I am not one nor all of these;

They are my types and images, The instruments with which I work: In them no secret virtues lurk, I am an omnipresent soul; I live and move throughout the whole, And thence, with freedom unconfined, And universal as the wind, Whose source and issues are unknown, Felt in its airy flight alone, And life supplying with its breath, And, when 'tis gone, involving death; I quicken souls from nature's sloth, Fashion their forms, sustain their growth, And, when my influence fails or ties, Matter may live, but spirit dies, Myself withdrawn from mortal sight, I am invisible as light—- Light which, revealing all beside, Itself within itself can hide: The things of darkness I make bare, And, nowhere seen, and every where; All that philosophy has sought, Science discover'd, genius wrought; All that reflective memory stores, Or rich imagination pours; All that the wit of man conceives; All that he wishes, hopes, believes; All that he loves, or fears, or hates; All that to heaven or earth relates;—- These are the lessons that I teach By speaking silence, silent speech.

Ah! who like me can bless or curse? What can be better, what be worse, 'Than language framed for Paradise, Or sold to infamy and vice? Blest be the man by whom I bless; Accursed be who wrongs the Press; The reprobate in prose or song, Who wields the power of right for wrong Wrong to outlast his laurel's tomb, And haunt the earth till crack of doom!"

Dr. Kitto.

Of course, John was set to work, and shoemaking seemed the pursuit best suited for him. At this time, he commenced keep- ing-a journal, and formed the valuable habit of putting down his thoughts, clearly and correctly with his pen. But a grief happened at this time that nearly reduced him to despair—the death of his beloved grandmother. He had clung to her with all the tenderness of one who had a heart full of love, and none to call it forth, but the friend who had been more than a moth- er to him-—it is heart-rending to read his remarks about his parents at this time. “Will they not, when they think the edge of my grief is blunted, relapse into their former indifference? I expressed this doubt to my mother. She assured me of her con- tinued kindness. I would have said, but did not, ‘Oh! my mother!’ representative of the dear friend I have lost, would that I were certain this kindness would con- tinue.”

The sight of death and the grave solemn- nised the mind of the youth; from this time his journal contains frequent reference to religion, and it was evident he was led to God in prayer. A few months after he felt himself completely alone in the world, a man came to the workhouse to choose an apprentice, and seeing John’s work, chose him; but the youth demurred, alleging his deafness, and perhaps not liking the looks of the man, however John’s objections were overruled, and he was bound. Poor fellow; he had a hard master—-a brutal ty- rant! who used in his fits of rage to strike the poor youth with the hammer. That head which was rendered almost sacred by misfortunes and privations, was exposed to savage blows from this wretched man. By this dreadful treatment, John was nearly driven to despair, but he took the wise re- solution of writing a calm statement of his condition, and it was given to the guardians by his friend Mr. Burnard. This paper was so respectful and so well-ex- pressed that an inquiry was instituted, which ended in the youth being released from the wicked tyrant who had made sport with his affliction, and added to his sorrows. John returned to the workhouse, where he was now an esteemed inmate. And many friends who had not the means of giving him much help, were yet useful in providing him with good books, encourag- ing him in his work of self-culture. He never seems to have wasted an hour. Dil- igent at work, and diligent to improve his leisure by careful as well as copious read- ing, the Plymouth Town Library was open to him, and he gladly availed himself of its contents. Even in his casual walks he noticed with an intelligent eye all he saw, and his powers of minute description were aided by his yet greater powers of careful observation. About this time, three little essays of his, on Happiness, Home, and Contemplation were inserted in the “PLY- MOUTH JOURNAL,” and an appeal was at length made to the public on behalf of this youth, which proved so successful that he was placed to board and lodge with Mr. Burnard his kind friend, he thus had leisure to continue his studies.

From this time his career was upward and onward in all respects. The vows he had made when bowed down with sorrow, when he laid his griefs before God in prayer, he did not forget when prosperity dawned upon him, in joy as in grief, he lived near to God—-and the Lord was with him.

In his twentieth year, the once friendless youth was received into Mr. Groves’s family at Exeter, as a gratuitous pupil, and in consideration of any services he could render, was to receive £15 a year. After a time by the aid of friends, he was moved to the Missionary College at Is- lington, to learn printing. But his love of literary composition somewhat interfered with his pursuits as a printer—-at length the career opened before him, by which he became celebrated. The Church Mission- ary Society sent him with Dr. Korck to Malta, and while there the habit of care- fully writing down his impressions of all he saw, was fully developed, and al- though his deafness was a great privation it seemed to be compensated by his in- creased power of observation. One great advantage at this time was the recovery of the power of speech. From never hearing a sound, the subject of our narrative was in danger of forgetting the way to speak words—indeed he disliked the effort of using his voice, but while at Malta, he overcame this dislike which threatened to make him dumb as well as deaf, and so practised his voice, that he could be very well understood.

Some disappointments led to his giving up his situation in Malta, and returning to England in 1828, where after some delay he agreed to accompany one of his best friends, Mr. Groves, on a Christian mission to Persia. The journey of the party was made through Denmark, Russia and Tar- tary to Bagdad. He made a considerable stay in Persia, and became familiar with Oriental customs and modes of life. In 1833 our deaf traveller returned to Eng- land, his mind full of various learning. The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge ultimately secured his services as a writer, and he wrote that most inter- book, “THE LOST SENSES,” which attracted much attention.

On September the 21st, 1833, he was married to a kind and estimable woman, who not only sympathised in, his literary— tastes, but made him in all respects a ten- der and admirable wife. With the domes- tic happiness that was now his portion, came the opportunity to devote himself to a great work, “THE PICTORIAL BIBLE,” his knowledge of Oriental scenes and cus- toms enabled him to be a most valuable expositor of Bible narratives, and no book has done more to diffuse an intelligent ac- quaintance with the Holy Scriptures. This was followed by a “History of Palestine and the Holy Land,” “The Christian Trav- eller,” “Uncle Oliver's Travels in Persia, a book for the young,” “The Cyclopædia of Biblical Literature,” and “Daily Bible Illustrations,” all works of great value. Besides these vast labours—-he often wrote most useful articles in “The Penny Mag- azine.” He was anxious to promote the instruction of his poorer countrymen—- never in his prosperity forgetting the claims of the labouring classes.

These continuous literary labours began to effect his health, which had always been delicate, and he was troubled with most severe nervous headaches-—his family in- creased rapidly, and with all his toils, his means were never ample. It was a great comfort to him, when our beloved Queen ordered him a pension of £100 a year from the Civil List, in consideration of his valu- able literary services.

A diploma of D. D., was sent him from the University of Giessen, and many learned societies in England, Scotland, and Ger- many, and America, united to praise him, not only for his learning, but his diligence and the way in which he made his great talents the means of diffusing a knowledge of the highest wisdom. Yes! the deaf workhouse boy was known to the whole civilized world as the famous traveler and Biblical scholar, Dr. JOHN KITTO!

It was scarcely to be expected that a life so afflicted and so laborious, should extend to old age; and repeated attacks of illness alarmed Dr. Kitto's family and friends. He made many journeys to different parts of England, in search of health, and at length resolved to visit Germany. In August 1854, Dr. and Mrs. Kitto, with seven of their nine children, embarked for Rotterdam, went thence to Mayence, on the Rhine, and proceeded to Stuttgart: in the latter place, his illness increased so rapidly, that Dr. Kitto felt certain his death was near. But the wanderers pro- ceeded as soon as his strength permitted, to Cannstadt, to try the mineral springs of that district, and his health might have been renovated, but it pleased God to afflict the family by the removal of the eldest daugh- ter, and the youngest son, in quick succes- sion. The former had been her father's joy and comfort, and the grief of losing her, though borne with Christian resignation, was more than his shattered health could endure. On October the 27th, he wrote what proved to be his last letter to his friend, A. H. Davis, Esq., of Adelaide, Australia. In it there occur these words,-— “I began to perceive that, by these vari- ously afflictive dispensations, my Lord is calling me ‘up hither,’ to the higher room in which He sits, that I may see more of His grace and that I may more clearly un- derstand the inner mysteries of His King- dom.” In a month from the time of writ- ing that sentence, Dr. John Kitto entered into the joy of his Lord. In nine days more he would have attained the fiftieth year of a life, the first sixteen or seventeen years of which, had been saddened by poverty, pain and privations, such as sel- dom have fallen to the lot of any human being. Through all this, the “excellent spirit” that was in him bore him up, and by God's grace the youth, feeble, friend- less, and deaf, was made the means of do- ing a great work, and living a noble life— his honoured name being a household word in thousands of families in his native land.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts.”

China Summary.

In the extreme north the Imperial go- vernment is attempting vigorous measures against the rebels. In addition to the 2000 drilled troops who were sent a few weeks ago into the Shing-king province, 6,000 additional troops have now been marched to Moukden. In spite of this movement however, the government seems to rely more on buying off the rebels than on crushing them by its military strength. Proclamations have been widely distribut- ed offering Mandarin buttons to the leaders of the bands on condition that they will give in their allegiance to the Imperial government. The death of San- kolin-sin seems to be confirmed. His son now commands the Mongol Cavalry, and he is reported to be advancing on the rebels.

A frightful tragedy has taken place in the China sea, on board a coolie ship named the NAPOLEON CANEVARO. This vessel left Macao on the 8th of March, with 663 coolies on board. Some rumors of an intended rising reached the ears of the captain that day. One or two of the ringleaders were flogged and put in irons. The next day the whole body of the coolies revolted. After a desperate fight they set fire to the ship below hoping to tempt the crew down. For the men to have gone below, however, amongst them would have been certain death. They passed a hose to the coolies but this was destroyed instead of being used. In a short time the crew and captain finding the fire irresistible, had to take to their boats. The vessel was lost, together with all but six or seven of the coolies who were found eight days later by a passing brig, clinging to a half burned spar. The men in the boats were picked up by an- other vessel and taken to Saigon, whence they returned hither to tell their fearful story.

A curious illustration of the way in which the British government, in attempt- ing to put down piracy in these waters, is playing into the hands of foreign na- tions, is afforded by the memorandum which will be found in another column, of charters and settlements at Hongkong. Out of nineteen vessels now offering here for the coast trade, only three are British owned. This state of things which is not of an extraordinary or exceptional char- acter, will show how just it would be to require from the various continental pow- ers whose subjects trade with China, contributions towards a force specially devoted to the suppression of piracy.

The great increase in the export of tea from China to the United States, during the past season has already attracted notice. It may be worth while to call attention to the table of exports from Yokohama, where it will be seen that whereas to this date last year the export of Japanese tea from that port to America had been 1,749,813 lbs. the quantity sent during the present season, amounts to 9,269,194 lbs.

Hankow.

The Imperialist troops in this neigh- borhood have inflicted a severe defeat on the Nienfei who evacuated Hwangpe and were dispersed with great loss. The disciplined Chinese force which M. Giquel has been organizing is beginning to ac- quire shape, and Mr. Giquel himself has been appointed commandant. Important correspondence has taken place between the Hankow and Shanghai Chambers of Commerce, in reference to a system which has been adopted at the former port that no goods should be delivered to Chinese from foreign godowns unless on receipt of five day's bankers' orders. In Novem- ber last the merchants combined to enforce this rule for the sake of greater security but one or two individuals have infringed it by discounting long dated orders; and the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce was asked to express its opinion in the matter, which it did by condemning the latter practice.—-IBID.

Japan.

It is our painful duty to record the suicide of Mr. Patrick Dall one of our well known residents. For some time past he had been in a low desponding state of mind, in consequence, it is believ- ed, of non-success in his business affairs. We are informed that twice before, in the course of last week, he attempted self- destruction, once by stabbing himself, and again by taking laudanum, but not effecting his object—-and being prevented from making a third attempt, as he stated his intention of doing by means of his revolver, which was taken from him—-he seems to have gone deliberately to Mis- sissippi Bay, and there hung himself up- on a tree, near to the cutting descending to the seaside. The body was found by a private of the Royal Engineers, about 4 P. M., on Sunday last, on the right of the New Road. It had fallen down from the tree where it had been hanging. The eyes were half-closed, and he appeared to have been dead some time. The body was perfectly rigid. On being brought into the settlement, Dr. Dalliston was speedily in attendance, but found that the deceased must have been dead some four or five hours at least —JAPAN HERALD.

Commercial.

Business has been excessively dull. In fact, we are nearly at the end of the silk season and the crop is evidently short; this, coinciding as it does with a great decline in the value of native coin, makes money excessively scarce among the native merchants; finding their calculations as to the price of booms at fault, they are unable to meet their engagements to take deliv- ery of imports. At the same time they will not give way in their demands for their silk sufficiently so enable foreigners to operate; hence a partial stoppage of trade. The only solution of the difficulty we believe to be a considerable fall in the price of silk, which we confidently predict, as likely soon to take place; for a large share of the stock is in the hands of Eu- ropean merchants and bankers, who have advanced upon it to the native owners. These cannot renew their promissory notes and if foreigners are firm, which their home advices are likely to make them—natives must abate their present— most exorbitant demands. We refer our readers for more details to our Commer- cial Report, and while leaving the sub- jects, re-iterate what we have persisted in from the first establishment of the OVERLAND MAIL:—-that those European merchants who think that the silk crop of Japan is likely to be rapidly progressive, are mistaken—until the whole country is thrown open to foreign capital and enter- prise there will be no marked advance beyond the average of twelve to fourteen thousand bales.—-IBID.

Pirates.

An article in the DAILY PRESS of some days back on pirates has led to sugges- tions which tend to show more plainly than before how very possible it would be to find the means of keeping on foot a force specially devoted to the suppression of pirates. We were pointing out that the colony of Hongkong could not be expected to bear the whole expense of such a naval force as might be strong enough to combat the existing evil, even if the permission of the Home Govern- ment, for its establishment as a water police, or under any other title might be obtain- ed. It would be natural, however, to expect that the various governments of Europe whose merchant navies frequent this port, should in some way contribute towards the maintenance of the preven- tive force. We will set aside for a moment the contribution which ought certainly to be exacted from the Chinese government. That would not be obtainable by reason. Given? the deliberate conclusion of the English government that it was right to exact it and the rest might be left to Sir R. Alcock. The European governments, however might be loth to pay any direct sum in the nature of a subsidy to the antipiratical fleet, and indeed the Eng- lish government might be loth to take the contribution in such a form. It might again be injudicious to raise the necessary sum by anything in the nature of direct impositions, which would more or less deprive Hongkong of that reputation, through the world, as a free port, which must be highly advantageous to its trade. It is now suggested that the necessary payment might easy be made by each foreign ship through the consuls of the power to which she belonged, and that the pressure which consuls might be empowered to use, in case a captain made objections to the payment of this quota, should be brought to bear through the Insurance officers. Certainly the Insurance officers must be anxious to suppress piracy, and if it were found impossible to insure a ship which had not paid to her consul a certain ton- nage due for the preventive force, there would not be many defaulters. The question would be how far it would be pos- sible for the government to enter on a line of conduct which would involve re- liance on the action of private companies. The government could not force the com- panies to limit their commercial operat- ions in a certain way, and in the first in- stance it could only be by their voluntary cooperation that any thing could be done. There must be difficulty at all times in combining voluntary co-operation and governmental action, and this is the ob- jection to the idea heretofore. It is look- ing along way ahead no doubt to discuss the way in which an antipiratical fleet should be supported, but until the means of doing this are clearly discerned, no step could be taken towards the accom- plishment of the great end in view. It is desirable therefore to make out exactly, if possible, the mode in which the scheme could be worked and the suggestion now put forward might contribute to this result.

Bangkok Recorder.

The Present Crisis.

We are thankful that our _twin broth- er"_ the Rev. Dr. has kindly allowed us to insert in the present issue his private letter to us, criticising our actions as conductors of the _Bangkok Recorder_ and stating clearly his own views of the present American Crisis. Although "written for our private eye alone" and from the spur of the moment, yet like most of the hasty productions of his pen, the letter seems to us well pre- pared for the press, and will be likely to do good in print,-—his own opin- ion to the contrary notwithstanding, "if we are not wanting in judgment" as he fancies we were in our last lead- er, and frequently have been in our se- lections from foreign papers.

Though our "twin brother's" criti- cisms seem to us rather severe, yet we cannot but regard them as being in all verity "goodness and severity" so hap- pily blended that we feel determined to say to the advances of bitterness and resentment, be gone, and to love and gratitude, come in and control our feelings under the present crisis.

We are not at all surprised to learn that our brother "does not like some things that have appeared in the late issues of the _Bangkok Recorder_" for we do not and did not like them ourselves, and we felt quite at a loss what was our path of duty in the pre- mises.-—But having asked wisdom of God, hoping He would guide us in de- ciding the question, we concluded to give them a place in our columns, as the usual characteristics of public af- fairs, and hence, as we judged, lay open for criticism through our paper. But it was the uncourteous and unkind lan- guage chiefly which offended our feel- ings and taste, and we would hereby beg our correspondents to be particu- larly cautious in their future produc- tions to avoid all such offences. While it is right and proper to _hit_ the object at which we aim by our pen and make it a strong blow if we like, it is never necessary or right to abuse any one with vulgar or harsh epithets or any ungentlemanly censure. It is far better to take the counsel of Solomon, that "a soft answer turneth away wrath" and "a soft tongue breaketh the bone." These counsels of divine wisdom un- doubtedly comprise words that fall from the pen as well as from the tongue.

But our "twin-brother" seems to have strangely mistaken what was said under the head of _Present Crisis_, in our last issue, for our own remarks. They were wholly extracts from the N. Y. Independent and inserted for the express purpose of "giving our readers some idea how the Radical Republicans feel in regard to the present crisis of political affairs in the States." While we frankly acknow- ledged that we deeply sympathized with those Radicals, we distinctly de- clared our displeasure at their impa- tience and harsh severity. And if our brother will read over our leading ar- ticle, he cannot fail to see that we have still great confidence in Presi- dent Johnson that he will abide by the Constitution, and, under God, carry our country safely through the present crisis.

That Mr. Johnson did use the lan- guage we cited in our editoral cannot be contradicted, and that he did thus commit a sad wrong is equally clear. The act of condemning such conduct in a ruler certainly cannot make us guilty of "speaking evil of the ruler of our people." We wonder why our brother did not consider that he might possibly be condemned for the same sin he fears is lying at our own door, by making public, as he does, the very damaging remarks he heard fall from the lips of one of the Senators against which Mr. Johnson aimed his barbed arrows.

And to our "twin-brother" we feel in solemn duty bound to say, that we think, he has sadly garbled, though unintentionally, a quotation he has made from our mutual friend Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, on the non- equality of the negro race with the Caucasian race. It is true that Mr. Beecher and every other sensible man, so far as we know, believes that the negro race, as it appears now, is not equal in point of mental stamina with the white race. But we know Mr. Bee- cher does hold firmly that before the law the African is equal with the white man and that the act of emancipation virtually promised him that he should enjoy equal privileges at the ballot box with his poor and weak white neighbor. Senator Wade of Ohio has well expressed this idea of equality in a late speech from which we have tak- en an extract and given it place in this No.

Not only our brother, but others not a few, intimate that it will do no good to agitate here, so far away from our country the political questions that are continually stirring her up from centro to circumference. We must frankly say that we cannot bring our minds to coincide with this view of duty in regard to the present crisis. We believe that questions involving the great principles of justice and mer- cy should be agitated everywhere. We regard Negro suffrage as one of those questions—-It is the great question of the age, and of the world. The principles involved in it concern all nations, especially such heathen na- tions as Siam. To enjoy the privilege of being an American citizen, or only a citizen of the world, and remain dumb as an editor on this question, would, in our estimation, be a sad blot on our name in the book of heaven where we hope it is recorded—-not to speak of the disgrace it ought to be in the eyes of fellow sinners here on earth.

We have thus far, endeavored to conduct our journal on the principle of giving both the shady and the sun- ny side of all political affairs that come within the range of our pen. We have, doubtless, more or less come short of our mark in this matter as we know we do in almost every thing we attempt. it being convenient, and as we thought, timely, we gave the shady side of the U. S. in our last issue, fully purporting to show the sunny side in a succeeding No. And now as our “twin brother” has written a capital article on that sub- ject, we do with much pleasure give it a conspicuous place in our columns to day, being fully authorized to do so by the following note.

Correspondence.

MY DEAR Dr. BRADLEY—In reply to your question I may say that my letter was written for your eye alone and I have no desire for its publica- tion. Still I think its views are sound and true. If you wish it published it is at your service as a whole—not in part, but I see no special good in its publication.

Bangkok May 17th, 1866.

MY DEAR FRIEND-—As your "twin- brother"—-I propose giving you a proof of my fraternal interest in your work, and welfare by telling you that I don't like some things in the late issues of the Bangkok Recorder. Some of the articles from your corres- pondents are not sufficiently courteous in language, and gentlemanly in spi- rit, to entitle them to a place in a public journal, presided over by a christian gentleman; and disclaim as you may, against all personal respon- sibility in the articles you select or admit from your contributers, you are nevertheless, held in some impor- tant sense, accountable for the senti- ments and style of every article ap- pearing in your columns. If not by men here, surely by your readers abroad, the character and reputation of the Recorder and its Editor, will be mea- sured by the intellectual, moral, and political character of the paper.

Again I think you damage your cause, do discredit to yourself and dishonor your country, by the edito- rial or leading articles of the last No. in which you attempt to give your readers, a picture of the present state of things connected with the govern- ment of the United States. In the first place, I think you are mistaken in regard to the facts in the case, and next, even if they were true as you suppose, there promises no good but harm to result from their publication here. You neither profess nor desire to occupy the position of an enemy of our country, and still no one could take a stand better calculated to dis- grace our country in the estimation of her enemies and all foreigners, readers of your paper than the one you take in the last No. First then as to facts It would seem that on the evening of the 22nd of Feb. the most extrava- gant and inflamatory reports of Presi- dent Johnson's speech, on that day in Washington, were sent by Telegrams, and industriously circulated at the ga- therings in New York for the recep- tion of Gen. Grant and others. Spe- cial pains were taken to inform all as far as possible, that the "President had openly thrown himself into the hands of the Copperheads—that he had ha- rangued a mob of whitewashed Seces- sionists and Rebels in Washington—- repudiating all connection with the Union party,—-denouncing in the most vituperative language the recognized leaders of that party in Congress, and through the country. It was declar- ed in those despatches that no Union man in Washington, even, professed any longer to count upon his coope- ration in support of the principles of the Union party." The perusal of his address, must dispel that delusion and disclose the origin of the defama- tion.

It would seem that a general meeting on the anniversary of Washington, as- sembled in the city that bears his name, presided over by Philip A. Fendall the oldest member of the Washington Bar, and that meeting was addressed by such men as Mont- gomery Blair, Gov. Cox, Judge Kin- ney, two or three Representatives from different States, and as many Se- nators of known patriotism and de- fenders of the Union. At the close a Committee from this mass-meeting with the presiding officer for its chair- man, waited on the President with Resolutions expressing their devotion to the Union and to his policy for preserving it, after which the Presi- dent was persuaded to address the as- sembled multitude from the balcony of the White House and hence the speech in question.

The speech, evidently extempore, was straight forward, manly, and pa- triotic to the core. The great thought that pervades the whole was his un- alterable determination to STAND BY THE CONSTITUTION, as the only guide of his official conduct. I read the speech carefully from the beginning to the end, and failed to discover the slightest intimation that he had de- parted from the principles of the Uni- on Party, or the grand policy of his honored predecessor.

The position and principles adopted by the President which have called forth the hostility of a faction in con- gress and the country, are sustained by the Honorable Secretary of State, who stood by the immortal Lincoln in his life, and came near to following him in his death, and whose patriotism is still unquestioned. He spoke on the same day, but in a different city with the President, saying "I have said I apprehend no serious difficulty or calamity. This confidence arises from the conviction which I entertain that there never was and never can be any successful process for the res- toration of union and harmony among the States except the one with which the President has avowed himself sa- tisfied" and then asks "Ought the President of the United States to be denounced in the House of his ene- mies—-much more ought he to be de- nounced in the House of his friends, for refusing, in the absence of any necessity, to occupy or retain, and to exercise powers greater than those ex- ercised by any Imperial Magistrate in the world? Judge ye! I trust that this fault of declining Imperial pow- er, too hastily tendered by a too con- fiding congress may be forgiven by a generous people."

Again, the President and his policy are sustained by Henry Ward Beecher, the acknowledged leader of Radical- ism so far as that may be in har- mony with religion and constitutional government. There are other radical leaders who trample on all that is sa- cred in religion and binding in poli- tical compacts. I once heard one of the persons mentioned in the Presi- dent's speech, say before a public as- sembly that he "would rejoice to see the day, when every clergyman in the land should be silenced, every church closed, and the Union of the States dissolved," The public avowal of such sentiments may well entitle their author to share in the honors and awards of Jefferson Davis, and justify the President in holding up his name as a warning to the lovers of order and the friends of his country.

Mr. Beecher, while he ranks among the master spirits of the age, belongs to a different school of politics and religion. He has done as much, per- haps, as any other man in an un-official capacity for the freedom of the slave and the liberty of the country, though he has had the penetration to discover, and the courage to say, that "we are told by zealous and fanatical indi- viduals that all men are equal. We know better. They are not equal." This gentleman, the Champion of li- berty, and the advocate of the oppress- ed, declares in a public address in New York, his approval of the Presi- dent's principles and policy in the question at issue between him and some members of the U. S. Congress.

General Sherman says in a public address "I know the man at the head of affairs at Washington, and all we have to do is to trust him. Exercise forbearance and patriotism and give the President our hearty and earnest support." The Hon. Senator of Wis- consin calls on the Republicans of Con- necticut to stand by the President. He contended, that President Johnson has carried out every requirement of the Baltimore platform of 1864, and no set of men have a right to bind him to another. He adds that "Andrew Johnson is carrying out the policy of the lamented Lincoln," and that "he has not, and never will betray his trust."

The Rev. Dr. Bacon of New Haven, spoke at the same meeting and in sympathy with the same sentiments, while he said he did not come espe- cially to endorse President Johnson or any body else.

The Hon. Mr. Raymond, says in a public speech "It seems to me that the course he (the President) has adopted is not only the wisest, the most just, but it is the one which in the end must prevail."

The men from whose language I have quoted above, are men of ac- knowledged wisdom, some of them are connected with the present Congress, and enjoy special facilities for knowing whereof they affirm, all are Republi- cans, and for the rights of the freed- men, and the preservation of the Un- ion, of the country, and all recognize the written charter of our liberty as the guide of our conduct; and we may safely regard that man the best states- man who adhers the most closely, the most conscientiously to the letter and spirit of that great instrument. These men all—-and many more in high places in the land might be added to the list, have expressed earnestly and honestly their approval of the President's course of conduct in op- position to the policy of a faction, who seem determined that nothing shall be done though it meet their wishes, if it is not done in their way.

I was therefore pained to read in the last issue of the Recorder your remarks under the head of "Present Crisis" calculated to produce the im- pression that our country having suc- cessfully struggled against the rebel- lion of the South, is now to be ruined by a rebellion at the North. This I regard as giving publicity to ground- less scandal, calculated to produce per- nicious results, inviting our enemies to rejoice in our promised downfall, and awakening needless fears among the friends of our country, and bring- ing the Editor under the reproof of the divine injunction. "Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."

You will, I am sure, receive these suggestions in the spirit of kindness and candor which prompted them. I have with you a common interest of country, and a common interest in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and I claim also an interest in the Recorder, as an instrument of good to this coun- try, and don't like to see you cut off the right arm of its strength, by put- ting into its columns matter to mislead the reader, and cater to unprofitable gossip. Your plan, to give to the read- ers abroad, facts concerning the pro- ductions of this country, the customs of the people, or whatever may have a tendency to bless this nation or en- lighten others concerning it, is wise; but the repeated allusions to anarchy, suffering and slavery in our own country, indicate that the Editor is in want of matter to fill up his paper, or wanting in judgment in the selec- tion of his subjects.

My Dear Mr. Editor.—A short time ago oil was Tls. 4 P 20 catties it is now Tls. 5½ maw (a reputed 20 cattie jar, but which, if weighed, would be nearer 19 catties.) I also get a receipt for the oil, similar to an opium receipt, and this I am told is because the farmer alone can sell it and can also charge what price he thinks pro- per, and that it is very likely the price will be higher yet. Do you think that an article of consumption such as oil, which every one must have, should be so heavily taxed (directly or in- directly) as it is? Is there no better way of deriving a revenue than by raising the prices of the ordinary ne- cessaries of life?

Another complaint I have to make is, that a great many of the scales, and weights used by the market, people are false, and that the Police refuse to arrest the parties in whose posses- sion they are found, on the plea that they are all alike or nearly so, and that when you purchase anything, you are not supposed to do so by the cat- tle (standard) but by the cattle as marked on the Chinaman's steelyard. This is certainly "buying a cat in a bag" and a disgraceful state of affairs. In buying rice the sellers refuse to sell by my bucket, (being properly made and marked by some Siamese supposed to be duly authorised to do so) but insist upon using their own, not forgetting to point out a similar mark on their bucket which is much shallower than mine, now what is the good of a mark on the top of the bucket, if the bottom is allowed to be knocked up an inch or more? The cocoanut-shells too, with which they measure rice are invariably coated a- bout ½ an inch thick on the inside with a kind of paste so as to defraud the purchaser of a portion of the rice. Why does not the Government ap- point an inspector of weights and measures, and heavily fine all those found using false ones? The sum thus realized would be surprising. I've seen many things during my flying visits to Bangkok which might be im- proved with very little trouble, but I suppose you who live constantly in this atmosphere either can't see or smell, or else you have settled down quietly determined to take things as you find them. Can't you get me a berth as inspector of weights and measures and allow me the fines as a salary? I've been "taking notes" and you may expect to hear from me agaiu soon.

DEAR SIR—You will be surprised at the unintentional compliments which your correspondent D. has paid me in your issue of last week. I ascertained by accident that the portrait he alludes to, was taken by me, by order of His Majesty, and the negative plates, at the request of the king, were handed over to the Siamese noble who printed them.

Bangkok May 14th 1866.

Domestio Animals.

We propose now to write of Liz- ards. These creatures may well be said to be domesticated, for they feel perfectly at home in all the habita- tions of man in Siam, and all their families are well pleased to have them thus intimate. They seem to prefer much the best kind of human dwell- ings, and especially such as have white walls and ceiling. Very likely this preference is more in appearance than in reality, for they are more readi- ly soon in such houses than in those whose rooms are all dark and sombre. Persons coming from the western world without any experience of lizards as domestic animals, generally fancy that it would be intolerable to live with them as we do here in Bangkok. But the truth is, that is a mere nervous whim. Lizards are by no means unpleasant companions in your dining, sitting, or even sleeping room. They never bite or sting, seldom fight or have any quarrels, rarely steal and then in such small quantities and so genteelly as not to be accounted any offence. They never nibble furniture, and seldom soil books or clothing. They make very little litter and that not particularly unpleasant, and their mode of talking and singing is of the most quiet kind. The greatest troub- le they ever make is, when they get into your melodion or piano and foul it somewhat, and lay there their beau- tiful pearl white eggs not one third the size of a sparrow's egg.

They are of positive service in catching and disposing of flies, and all the smaller kinds of bugs, and they always to do this work by can- dle light. You will see them every evening all about your white ceiling and running down on the white or papered walls, charming the flies and bugs to come within the limits of their spring. We cannot tell how they spell—bind their game: all we can say is, that it is evident, enough they have much power in that way. When they have drawn their object within a foot or more, they then dart with lightening speed and catch it up in their mouth and swallow it down, usually, without doubting. But oc- casionally they catch a creature which is a little too large to swallow without some preliminaries. Hence they stop a few moments, and seem to consider what it is best to do with it. Then, if it be not an enormous mouthful, they will make quite an ado in break- ing it down by mastication, and then swallow it at once. They never carve anything into mouthfuls. If they happen to have caught a bug or crick- et almost too much for them to grap- ple, they will hold it a few seconds in their mouth, and then give it as thorough a thumping on the wall or ceiling, in their feeble capacity, as a dog shakes a snake to death by a ra- pid rotation of his head right and left. It sometimes, though rarely, happens that they catch a creature too strong for them. In that case they are oblig- ed to let it go, and seem to feel quite chagrined by the failure.

It is curious to see how sure-foot- ed they are in running and bounding on the ceiling with their backs down- ward. It does not appear that they resist the power of gravitation by any thing like hooks or claws on their toes, but that they have the power of mak- ing gravitation turn upward and press their feet up to the ceiling just as hard as their circumstances require.

They have nevertheless “to take heed to their steps” and consider well just how far to use the air pumps with which their maker has furnished their four feet. Sometimes, being as it were in a thoughtless state of mind, they loose their hold, and fall slap down on the floor, or the table, or perhaps, on your head or bare neck or bosom. We confess that such a visit is far from being agreeable to him who receives it, and we cannot blame any one, especially a lady in full dress, for bounding and screaming to the top of her voice when she so suddenly feels the cold feet of a lizard in her bosom. But such accidents are of such rare occurrence, that even the most nervous persons among us soon cease to have any fear that they shall ever be shocked in that way.

With only this slight draw back we must say that lizards are very pleasant little creatures in a house. They seem essentially to aid in enliven- ing a parlor well lighted. They are beautifully formed and clothed by their maker, with a pearly white skin, charmingly dotted with sky blue and brown.

The largest of this species of lizards is about three inches in length includ- ing the tail, which is about one inch and a quarter long. Their size around the body is less than an inch. Their general form is that of a croco- dile having four feet and five toes on each. Their eyes are of the size of a small coriander seed, and brilliantly black. Their gentle chirping about your house in the stillness of night, though in no sense musical, becomes decidedly agreeable by a little acquain- tance and experience.

In books on Herpetology or Reptiles these house lizards are denominated the noiseless gecko. It is supposed by some Biblical scholars that an animal of this species, instead of the spider, is the one referred to in Proverbs 30: 28th, which Jerome rendered.

"The gecko taketh hold with her hands

And dwelleth in king's palaces."

LOCAL.

We intimated in our issue of the 8d inst. that the wet season had fully com- menced. About that time we had ma- ny smart showers of rain, resurrecting vegetable life gloriously, and so thor- oughly soaking the parched earth, that the fallow ground could be broken up and prepared to receive the seed-rice.

Those delightful showers were succeed- ed by ten days of almost entire absence of rain, yet by no means alarming. But on the 18th inst. it commenced raining again, and poured down nearly three days and three nights with but slight intermissions. A rain so powerful and continuous was quite out of the usual course of the seasons here in Bangkok, and almost unprecedented for any sea- son. On Monday the 14th the rain came down, as one might suppose it did at Noah's deluge, and was attended by vivid lightning, heavy thunder, and strong wind.

The Canal Bangkok-Yai, at the mouth of which we live, though com- ing all its course through a dead level plain, ran like a mighty river in a hil- ly country when urged onward by a flood. It was ebb tide and its usual flow is rather slow. But the vast ac- cumulation of waters inland, seeking for an outlet, had made a new stream of it, so that it was almost unnavigable. Those wishing to stem the current could not, and those floating on it felt themselves in jeopardy every mo- ment. During much of the forenoon of the 14th, we heard almost continu- ally the uproar made by the capsizing of sampans, collision of larger boats, and the cries of men, women, and chil- dren, who had been turned out into the flood, with all their goods boat-boards, hats, etc, rushing away wholly beyond their control. Happily all could swim and we heard of none that were drown- ed. Early in the afternoon there was made a far greater cry than ever—- 'paa loi ma,' 'paa loi ma'—-(drifting floating houses are coming, drifting floating houses are coming.) We ran to our landing, and beheld drifting float- ing houses were coming sure enough. There were three of them not more than a quarter of a mile off, which had just come in sight around a bend. No wonder the heathen wailed at the sight, for there seemed hardly room for the houses to pass between the two unbroken lines of sugar boats that were moored on either side of the canal. All their occupants were out, and armed with oars and poles expect- ing all to be driven from their moor- ings and smashed up in one general collision. But the result was far bet- ter than anticipated. The boats were so well defended by men, women, and children, that they kept the floating houses quite clear of them. Only one boat we think, was driven from its moor- ing, and but few any way injured. But the drifting houses looked as if they had suffered great damage—-one of them being almost an entire wreck. They rushed out into the river and suc- ceeded in hitching on to the floating hous[?] that were firmly moored, and there waited for the flood tide, when they came leisurely back to their old moorings up the canal a mile or more.

The Royal treasury was burglarious- ly entered a few days ago, and 53 catties of ticals abstracted therefrom. This shows a slack state of discipline in H. M. Army, and is quite in keeping with the watch they keep at the ap- proaches to the Palace, especially dur- ing the night. It is reported that there was a guard on duty at the treasury when it was robbed.

We learn that A. Markwald Esq. Siamese Consul at Berlin Prussia, has sent to H. E. Chow Phya Kralahom, an electro-telegraph, with wire and all the apparatus complete. It was delivered to His Excellency a few days ago, and is now in excellent working order.

J. Thomson Esq. the distinguish- ed photographer and traveler to the famous ruins of Ongcor in Cam- bodia, left this on the 14th inst. as passenger per "Chow Phya," for Singapore. We learn that it is his in- tention to proceed as soon as possible to England to complete the splendid work he has in hand of opening those magnificent ruins (perhaps one of the 7 wonders of the world) to the view of the christian world.

Mr. Thomson, by means of the many perfect pictures he has taken of those ruins by great dint of affort and perseverence has enjoyed great priv- ileges for immortalizing his name in this work, and we fervently hope he will do it.

Mr. Wade. of Ohio ("Rare Old Ben" of the Western Reserve, God bless him!), made a noble speech in the Senate on Thursday last, upon the question of Reconstruction, in reply to Mr. Doolittle, of Wisconsin. From the telegraphic report, which rarely does justice to any speaker, we glean a few sentences, which will show the high ground of principle on which Mr. Wade fearlessly takes his stand:

"I have never had but one polar star to my action, and that I adhere to, wheth-

or I am in a majority or in a minority. I never intend to be stamped from in one single inch. I have fixed my eye upon the great principles of eternal justice and right, and it has borne me triumphantly through all difficulties in my legislative career since I had a seat in this body. I can triumphantly say that I have stood upon this floor when I had not ten men to support me against the entire Senate, and when the principle I advocated was unfortunately more unpopular than these I announce to-day. How was the whole Senate startled by the idea of universal emancipation ten, or fifteen, or even five years ago? Talk about unpopular doc- trines and attempts to intimidate me by the intimations that I shall be found in the a minority among the people. I know the people better, I think. I know that I read the great pathway of rectitude and right, and I don't care who opposes me, God Almightv is my guide. He goes before me and strengthens me. He has never failed me yet, and I don't fear He will on this occasion. Now, Mr. President, I will not boast; but, I, with many others on this floor, can look back to our pre- ceding course; and, on this subject, with great satisfaction, I think, sir, that I can say, with Paul, that 'we have fought a good fight.' We are not entirely through with it, I admit. We may have a little further to go in the same direction, but our path is fortunately easier than it has been. I, sir, I keep the faith, and I have no doubt in it: I never shrink, I never fear; I never feared it, and I never had the least doubt how this whole thing would be sett- tled, and it will all come right: if we are true to our convictions. I give the Pre- sident full credit for all he has done, and honor him for the manner in which he has insisted on the great questions I have already alluded to. He has com- menced, as a were, to complete this great arch of Freedom right. He has laid the foundation deep upon the rock of justice and right. He has demanded that BEFORE THE LAW ALL MEN SHALL BE EQUAL. He has demanded that slavery shall be aboli- shed. I agree with him so far, and honor him that he stands firmly where he does. But, sir, he has failed to put the keystone up- on the arch that he had built; and, if you leave it where it is, it will go to ruin. I want, when this question is once settled, to be entirely done with it. I don't want eternally to be fighting over the question of slavery, and distinctions among the races and privileges of the American people. Now, sir, I say to President Johnson, to the Democratic party, and to the people of the United States, that I will never yield the controversy until all men in America shall stand upon an equal footing—EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW IN EVERY RESPECT. When they will fix it so that that can be done, I will give up the con- troversy in which I have been engaged for so many years, and no man will re- joice more than I that I have been reliev- ed from it. I was one of those who was an early advocate of bringing those col- ored people into your army, invoking their aid to put down the rebellion. Over and over did I urge it upon the Executive two years before it took effect. Their employment is a necessity of enforcing up- on me a duty. Would I lend my voice and my vote to induce that people to be jeopardy their lives in defense of their country, and then turn them over to the mercy of their enemies? Sir, the man that would do it deliberately and know- ingly is the meanest of God's creatures. Tempt them into the service, let them fight through the war, and then desert them to their enemies to be destroyed! The senator from Wisconsin did not al- lude to this at all. His whole sympathy was with the rebels—the men who en- dured treason to the Constitution— the men who have buried three or four hundred thousand of our breasted sons. They were the men who had his sym- pathy; but the brave colored men, weak and uninfluential, yet who gave you the strongest aid, without which you could never have got through the war—they have no part of his sympathy."—N. Y.

Strong Characters.

Strength of character consists of two things-—power of will and power of self restraint. It requires two things, therefore, for its existence-—strong feel- ings and strong command over them. Now it is here we make a great mis- take; we mistake strong feelings for strong character. A man who bears all before him, before whose frown domestics tremble, and whose bursts of fury make the children of the house- hold quake-—because he has his will obeyed, and his own way in all things, we call him a strong man. The truth is he is the weak man; it is his pas- sions that are strong; he, mastered by them, is weak. You must measure the strength of a man by the power of the feeling he subdues, not by the power of those which subdue him. And hence composure is very often the highest result of strength. Did we ever see a man receive a flagrant insult, and only grow a little pale, and then reply quietly? That is a man spiritually strong. Or did we ever see a man in anguish, stand as if carv- ed of solid rock, mastering himself?

Or bearing a hopeless daily trial re- main silent, and never tell the world what cankered his home peace? That is strength. He who, with strong passions remains chaste; he who, keenly sensitive, with many powers of indig- nation in him, can be provoked, and yet restrain himself, and forgive-—these are the strong men the spiritual heroes.—-Rev. F. W. Robertson.

France.

The most important incident of the week in France has been the debate and division in the French Chamber on the amendment of the tiers-parti, affirming that the time had arrived for more liberty. The amendment was couched in moderate language. It merely went to the extent of saying that "the Legislative Body believes that it is expressing the public senti- ment in bringing to the foot of the throne the wish that your Majesty may give to the great Act of 1860 the de- velopment of which it is capable. An experience of five years appears to us to have demonstrated the propriety and opportuneness of such a step." The debate was opened on the 17th inst. by a very powerful and at the same time very moderate speech from M. Buffet, one of the leaders of the party. M. Buffet has had considera- ble parliamentary experience, both as a deputy and a minister, having begun his political career as a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1848, and afterwards served in the Cabinet with M. Rouber; and his high character as a consistent and thoughtful politician always ensures him a respectful and at- tentive hearing in the House. The debate extended over two days. Va- rious clever speakers among the Opposi- tion and several of the habitual sup- porters of the Government spoke in energetic terms in favour of the amend- ment; but not only did the Govern- ment oppose it with equal energy, but M. Rouber, on whom, as usual, devolv- ed the task of defending the course resolved to be pursued, threw out none of those words of hope and encour- agement with which it was confidently stated he would be inspired on this occasion. M. Rouber assured the Chamber that a free press was fraught with danger to the country; that, anx- ious as the Government was to cour- onner l'édifice, it could not consent to separate itself from the great army of the nation and rush forward into the enemy's camp, and thus, by im- prudent precipitation, endanger the cause of order and tranquillity. M. Emile Ollivier, although at a very late hour, made one of his brilliant replies to the Minister of State, stating that the future fate of the Imperial dynasty depended on the result of this debate. M. Ollivier concluded by the bold as- sertion that if the opinions of those who consider that the Emperor can grant liberty prevail, then would the empire be founded and established on a rock; but if, on the contrary, those who maintain such a line of policy to be impossible carry the day, then the existence of the present Government rests on chance. A division was then taken, when the number voting against the adoption of the amendment were 188, and those voting in its favour 65, by far the largest number of votes re- corded against the Government since the Corps Legislatif was first called in- to existence. On the following day, the 20th inst. a proposal that the sys- tem at present in force with regard to the press should be altered, and that offences against the laws should be made amenable to the ordinary tribu- nals, instead of to the arbitrary Govern- ment censor, also received the adhesion of 65 members. The Address was finally adopted by 251 votes to 17, and was presented to the Emperor on the 22nd by a deputation from the Corps Legislatif. His Majesty replied as follows :—

"The great majority of the Corps Législatif have confirmed once more, by voting this address, the policy which has given you fifteen years of tranquillity and prosperity. I thank you. Without allowing yourselves to be carried away by vain theories pre- sented in a seductive garb as alone capable of aiding the emancipation of thought and the progress of humanity. You said to yourselves, 'We also de- sire to attain those ends, while regula- ting our march by the appeasement of passions and the wants of society.' Is not our motive the common welfare, and what attraction would your mis- sion have for you, or my power for me, if separated from the love of justice? Would you go through such long and arduous labours if you were not inspir-

ed by true patriotism! Could I have borne the weight of Government for the last eighteen years, with its inces- sant pre-occupations and heavy respon- sibility before God and before the na- tion, if I had not felt within me that strength which is afforded by the sense of duty and by the consciousness of having a useful mission to carry out! France, equally with ourselves, desires progress, stability, and liberty; but a liberty which shall develop intelligence, generous instincts, and the noble ex- ertions of labour—-not a liberty bor- dering upon licence, which would excite evil passions, destroy all belief, rekindle hatred, and give rise to disorder. We require a liberty which shall enlighten, control, and discuss the actions of the Government, but not become an arm to undermine and overthrow it. Fif- teen years ago, when nominal chief of the State, without effective power and without support in the Chamber, but strong in my conscience and in the suffrages which had elected me, I ven- tured to declare that France would not perish in my hands. I have kept my word. For fifteen years France has developed and increased, and her high destiny will be accomplished. Af- ter us our sons will continue our work. My guarantee for this is the assistance of the great bodies of the State, the devotion of the army, the patriotism of all good citizens, and, lastly, that Divine protection which has never failed our country."-—Over. C. Mail.

Prices Current.

EXCHANGE—On Singapore par 10 d. s. Hongkong 2 P cent discount 30 d. s. Lon- don 4s. 9½d. P 86. m. s.

Odds and Ends.

—-Modesty in woman is like color on her cheeks-—decidedly becoming if not put on.

—-The London Punch says that a Yankee baby will crawl out of his cra- dle, take a survey of it, invent an im- provement, and apply for a patent be- fore he is six months old.

—-A sailor who had served the king so long at sea that he almost forgot the usages of civilized society on shore, went one day into the church at his na- tive town at Kirkaldy, in Fife, where it happened that the minister chose for his text the well known passage, “Who will go up with us to Ramoth Gilead?” His emphatic appeal being read a sec- ond time, and in a still more impressive tone of voice, the thoughtless tar crammed a quid of tobacco into his cheek, rose up, put on his hat, then looking around him, and seeing nobody moving, he exclaimed, “You cowardly lubbers! will none go with the old gentleman? I’ll go for one!” So out he went, giving three cheers at the door, to the amazement of all pres- ent.

—-Beer fills many a bottle, and tho bottle fills many a bier.

Mortality of troops in China.

Colonel North moved for a select com- mittee to inquire into the mortality in the troops in China, the causes which led to it, and into the conduct of those de- partments of the Government whose duty it has been to administer to the wants of these troops. The Hon. member stated that the Government having consented to the appointment of the committee, it was unnecessary for him to detain the House by entering into details on the subject. It was only common justice to the Govern- ment to say that it had shown itself an- xious to give every information on the subject. It was the duty of the House to protect the non-commissioned officers and privates of our army, who were des- patched on the most dangerous service. He called attention to the fact that Gen- eral Grey had warned the Government that it was impossible to accommodate the troops of the 2nd battalion, which it was proposed to send to China. The consequence was that the 2nd battalion 5th Regiment landed in the month of February, 1865, with 32 officers, 839 men, 47 women, and 79 children; and eight months after 1 officer, 35 men, 5 women, and 23 children died, and a large number were invalided. The 11th Regiment land- ed on the 18th May, 1865, and four months and a half afterwards 2 officers, 42 men, 3 women, and 48 children died, and 157 were invalided. He also gave an account of the great mortality on board the GRESHAM and AGINCOURT, and read the correspondence which had taken place, stating that the total cost of the transport of the men who had died was no less than £1827. He gave the high- est credit to the medical officers for the manner in which they had acted, and stated that the whole case was one deserving the fullest investigation.—-O. C. MAIL.

Ecclesiastical Intelligence.

The Rev. Charles Kingsley preached on Sunday afternoon, the 13th inst., at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, before an immense congregation, the Bishop of London, as well as a great many peers and members of the House of Commons, being present. The preacher, taking his text from the words in the Epistle to the Hebrews, "Yet once more, and I will shake not the earth only, but the heaven," declared that the prophecy was being ful- filled once again now, as it was in the first, the fifth, the eleventh, and the sixteenth centuries. All systems of ethics, theology, and science seemed changing, he said. Some talked of this as the glorious nine- teenth century, the age of progress, the eve of a new reformation, of all sorts of blessings to humanity; others spoke of it as the unhappy nineteenth century, the age of scepticism and atheism. Both parties were right and both wrong. God was shaking not the physical world only, but our conceptions of the spiritual world. With increased knowledge had [grown?] not increased doubt ("that," said Mr. Kings- ley, "I deny"), but increased reverence, and the truly irreverent time was the middle ages, with their system-making and their system-mongering, and their cosmogonies framed in the cloister, when the earth was supposed to be a flat plane (the notion of antipodes being unscrip- tural), heaven above it with the good people in it, and hell below it with the wicked—-what could be clearer, since Vir- gil [......]—when Tartarus, Styx, and Phlegethon were recognized Christian entities, and Tartarology was as firmly believed in as astronomy now. Astro- nomy had shaken the theories of the size of the earth, geology those of the age of it. Again, in an age which hated torture, reformed criminals, and hesitated, right- ly or wrongly, about continuing capital punishment, people asked whether Scrip- ture really [..........] the middle-age notions of future punishment-—whether such phrases as "outer darkness," the "undying worm," "a Gehenna of fire," were to be taken as implying torment hereafter, or as the sure punishment of sin in this life-—whether heaven might not be the moral world full of goodness, beneficence, and purity, in which God reigned, and hell a condition of hatred, malice, impurity. If men were to be on in the same theories of religion as men in the [.....] times believed, when crim- inals were racked, heretics burnt alive; and every Musulman slain by the Crus- ader was consigned to eternal torture, fearful times were coming for the church and the people. What then remained for us? Surely not an unchangeable cosmo- gony or ethical system, or dogmatic the- ology, but an unchangeable King, an un- changeable kingdom. If we believed in that kingdom, in Christ, the King, who governed it, knew how to govern it better than we did. He it was who was shaking the earth and heaven, changing opinions, burning the chaff and sifting from about the true foundation of Truth. The Reformation was a change back to apostolic doctrine—-might not the new Reformation be still more so?-—This out- spoken sermon has attracted much atten- tion. Fifteen years ago, the Rev. F. D. Maurice was deprived of his professor-ship at King's College, London, for propoun- ding similar views. Even were there any intimation at present to institute a pro- secution or persecution against Mr. Kingsley, it would have to take a differ- ent direction, as he holds his professor- ship at Cambridge University under the Crown, and the Broad Church party is all powerful at Court.

A Church paper states that the English prelates have followed up their "excom- munication" of Bishop Colenso with the appointment of his successor, and that all the bishops in England have agreed to acknowledge the newly-appointed dignit- ary.—OVERLAND CHINA MAIL.

Austria and Prussia.

There still seems to be great doubt as to the precise relations between Austria and Prussia.—It is now said that various military movements have been made, and that Prussian troops have been pushed forward to the Silesian frontier. The fortifications of Cracow are also being armed with the utmost expedition, the work being carried on night and day. With matters in such a state, it is rather curious to read that the Emperor Francis Joseph has written to the King of Prussia congratulating him on his birthday. It is significantly added that the letter contained no political allusions. Meantime the rumour is renewed that Prussia is seeking to buy Austria off, and it is said that Prussia has offered fifty million thalers if Austria will cede her rights over the Duchies.—-O. C. Mail.

DEATH OF THE EX-QUEEN OF THE FRENCH.—-The ex-Queen of the French, Marie Amelie, died rather suddenly on Saturday morning, at Claremont, near Esher, where her Majesty had resided during the greater part of her long exile. The illustrious lady was born 20th April, 1782, consequently was within a few weeks of completing her 84th year. Her Majesty was the daughter of Ferdinand IV., King of the Two Sicilies, and married, Nov. 25th, 1809, Louis Philippe, Duc d'Or- leans, afterwards King of the French, by whom her Majesty had a family of five sons and two daughters, namely, Ferdinand, Duc d'Orleans, who died in July, 1842; the Duc de Nemours, born in Oct., 1814; Francois, Prince de Joinville, born in Aug., 1818; An- thony, Duc de Montpensier: and Duc d'Aumale, born Jan., 1822; Louisa, the late Queen of the Belgians; and Princess Clementine, born in June, 1817, and married in 1843, Prince Saxe Coburg Gotha. Her Majesty shared all the anxieties of 1830, which preceded her husband's elevation to the throne on the deposition of his kinsman, Charles X. The Queen came to England on the abdication of her husband in 1848. During her residence at Claremont the virtuous and pious queen had endeared herself to the inhabitants by numerous acts of charity. On Saturday afternoon Queen Victoria visited the bereaved family.

THE MYLOONGYCE CASE.—Colonel Sykes,—On April 12, moved an ad- dress for a Copy of the correspondence of Mr. Knox, the Consul at Bangkok, with the Foreign Office, and replies in reference to the claim made by Mr. Burn, a British subject, and known as the Myloongyce case.—-O. C. Mail.

Cure for Scandal.

The following cure for a terrible dis- order of the mouth, commonly called "scandal," occurs in a Colonial paper:-— "Take of 'good nature' one ounce, of an herb called by the Indians 'mind your business' one ounce; mix these with a lit- tle 'charity for others' and two or three sprigs of 'keep your tongue between your teeth.' Application:-— "The symp- toms are a violent itching in the roof of the mouth, which invariably takes place when you are in company with a species of animals called gossips; when you feel a fit of it coming on take a spoonful of the mixture, hold it in your mouth which you will keep closely shut till you get home when you will find a complete cure. Should you apprehend a relapse, keep a small bottleful about you, and on the slightest symptoms repeat the dose."