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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The Harvest.

("Bringing his sheaves with him."-Psalm 126.6.)

come;

The last and saddest of the harvest eve;

Worn out with labor, long and wearisome,

Drooping and faint, reapers hasten home—

Each laden with his sheaves.

Lost of the laborers, thy feet I gain,

Lord of the harvest, and my spirit

grieves

That I am burdened, not so much with

grain,

As with a heaviness of heart and brain;

Master, behold my sheaves.

Few, light and worthless, yet their trifling

weight

Through all my frame a weary aching

leaves;

For long I struggled with my hapless fate,

And stayed and toiled till it was dark and

late;

Yet these are all my sheaves.

Full well I know I have more tares than

wheat,

Brambles and flowers; dry sticks and

withered leaves,

Wherefore I blush and weep, and at thy

feet

I kneel down reverently and repeat,

"Master, behold my sheaves."

I know those blossoms, clustering heavily,

With evening dew upon their folded

leaves.

Can claim no value or utility;

Therefore shall fragrancy and beauty be

The glory of my sheaves.

So do I gather strength and hope anew:

For well I know thy patient love per-

ceives

Not what I DID, but what I STROVE TO DO

And, though the full ripe ears be sadly

few,

Thou wilt accept my sheaves.

The Montana Delegation.

The President had an interview on the 7th inst, with a delegation of citizens from Montana, in which he declared:

"Here let me say to you, in order to disabuse the public mind, as far as it is possible for an individual to do so, that my political career is well nigh done—- the sand of my political glass has well nigh run out. If I were disposed to re- fer to myself, I might trace my career back to the log cabin ; then an alderman and a mayor in a village ; then through both branches of the State Legislature ; then, for ten consecutive years, in the national House of Representatives ; then through the gubernatorial chair to the Senate of the United States ; then Pro- visional Governor, with a slight particp- ation in military affairs ; then Vice-Presi- dent, and now in the position I occupy before you. And now, in this position, if I can be instrumental in restoring the Government of the United States, in restoring to their true position in the Union those States whose relations to the national Government have for a time been interrupted by one of the most gi- gantic rebellions that ever occurred in the world, so that we can proclaim once more that we are a united people, I shall feel that the measure of my ambition has been filled, and filled to overflowing. And at that point, if there be any who are envious and jealous of honor and po- sition, I shall be prepared to make them as polite a bow as I know how, and thank them to take the place I have occupied, for my mission will have been fulfilled.

"In saying this, in the performance of my duty and in response to the encour- agement you have given me, I feel that I am in a condition not to be arrogant, nor to feel imperious or supercilious. I feel that I can afford to do right ; and, in so feeling, God being willing, I intend to do right ; and, so far as in me lies, I in- tend to administer this Government upon the principles that lie at the foundation of it. I can inform all aspirants who are trying to form their combinations for the future—-who want to make one organiz- ation for one purpose, and another for another—-that they are not in my way. I am not a candidate for any position, and hence, I repeat, I can afford to do right ; and, being in that condition, I will do right. I make this announcement for the purpose of letting all know that my work is to restore the Government, not to make combinations with reference to any fu- ture candidacy for the Presidency of the United States. I have reached the utmost round. My race is run, so far as that is concerned. My object is to perform my duty, and that I will endeavor to do.

"Let us, then, all join in this great work of restoration ; and while we are restoring and repairing the breaches that have been made, let us also unite in the work of making new States, and popu- lating them with a people who are worthy of the Government which protects them ; and let those new State Governments be founded on principles in harmony with the great machinery devised by our fath- ers. So for as regards any aid or assis- tance that can be given here in the pro- gress and in the consummation of this great work of building up new States, as well as in the restoration of all the form- er States, you will find me a willing and a cordial helper."–NEW YORK OBSERVE.

France and Mexico.

The Paris correspondent of the LoN- DON TIMES gives a minute account of the circumstances under which the Emperor Napoleon despatched M. Salliard on a special mission to Mexico. He was hur- ried to the palace, when the Emperor said he wanted him to set out without delay for Mexico, with a message from him to Maximilian. He was to tell Max- imilian that he considered that he (Napo- leon) had fulfilled all the obligations im- posed on him, and that the time had now arrived when Maximilian must depend upon his own resources, without the help of the French army. M. Salliard asked for some credentials, but the Emperor observed that there was no necessity for any documents; all he had to do was simply to represent to Maximilian the conversation he had just had, and that would suffice. He recommended M. Sal- liard, moreover, to lose no time in setting out for Mexico, but to depart by the first steamer.—NEW YORK OBSERVER.

THE KARENS. A long period had elap- sed before it was known to foreigners that any such race of people existed in Burmah as the Karens. Though living in large numbers and in considerable village communities scattered all over the an- cient empire of Burmah, they never seemed to attract the attention of Euro- peans. In the year 1828, During a visit up the Salween river, the late Rev. Dr. Judson met some of these people for the first time. In the year 1830, they were encountered up the Tavoy river by the late Rev. Mr. Boardman. Almost with his dying breath, Mr. Boardman gave over charge of his faithful Karens to his friend and successor, the author of the " Reli- gion, Mythology and Astronomy among the Karens."

The Rev. Dr. Mason of Toungoo has labored most assiduously among this in- teresting race for the last thirty six years. He is a thorough master of the Karen language, and the translator of a very large portion of the Bible into the Sgua Karen dialect. Dr. Mason appears to be one of the most industrious of living Missionaries. The more real hard intel- lectual work he accomplishes, the more he finds to do. A Committee of the British Association for the advancement of Science addressed Dr. Mason a series of "Quæries respecting the human race." Dr. Mason's name is not only very through- ly known all over the United States of America, but it is extensively known in Great Britain and among the learned Sa- vans of Germany. The London Tract Society have printed and distributed hundred of thousands of copies of a work written many years ago by Dr. Mason entitled " Ko Tha Byu, or the Karen Apostle."

In reply to the Committee of the Bri- tish Association our indefatigable Author has written two Pamphlets, which are full of information, concerning the Karens with whom Dr. Mason is intimately ac- quainted.

On the subject of the religion of this tribe, it is stated, that the Karens pray more and make more offerings than the Burmese; but their only object in these observances is to obtain benefits in the present existence, principally health and prolonged life, so they cannot be regarded as religious, while the Burmese make them to procure benefits in a future state, and are therefore a religious people, though by no means so moral as the Karens.

Relative to the traditional belief of this people, 'the Karens believe in the exis- tence of one eternal God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and have traditions of God and the creation that must have been derived from the Old Testament Scripture. The following affords a specimen of these ideas.'

'Anciently, God commanded, but Satan appeared bringing destruction.'

'Formerly, God commanded, but Satan appeared deceiving into death.'

'The woman E—u and the man Tha- nai pleased not the eye of the dragon.'

'The person of E—u and Thanai pleas- ed not the mind of the dragon.'

'The dragon looked on them—-the dragon beguiled the woman and Thanai.'

They were beguiled by means of a yellow and white kind of fruit. The dragon is of course the serpent of scripture and the fruit is the fruit of the forbid- den tree, which Adam and Eve were prohibited from using under the penalty which followed.

These ideas could only have been ob- tained from the Mosaic account of the creation and fall of man, as given in the book of Genesis.

The Sgua and P'ya Karen name of God is Ywa, but the Bghais use a prefix and say Ta-ywa, to this name Ta-ywa, they attach long fabulous legends, which appear to be of Hindu origin.'

The word Ta-wa-yah is also a Burmese word and literally signifies eternal. It is always used as an adjective to qualify the noun, Pya, as Lord, or God, where the supreme Ruler of the universe, or the true God is meant, in contradistinction from those gods of the Buddhist system, which were transient and passing.

He cannot save us."

In the first pamphlet Dr. Mason has brought together an immense deal of in- formation on the traditional belief of the Karens. They are not idolaters though they tolerate all sorts of absurd legends. They look with contempt upon images of their Burmese neighbours and use a coup- let with reference to them.

Of a future state, the Karen ideas are very confused indefinite and contradictory says Dr. Mason. The tradition is a melee of different systems. The American Indians and the Karens appear to corres- pond in their notions of a future world. Their belief represents the future world as a counterpart of this one located under the earth, where the inhabitants are em- ployed precisely as they are here. When the sun sets it rises in the Karen Hades, and when it sets in Hades, it rises on this world." An illustration is given in proof of this view of the case.

A beautiful woman died and her hus- band mourned her loss. He applied to a prophet, or necromancer to restore his wife to him. The dead woman was raised according to the tradition, in the evening, and she attended to her household work during the night. She would fall asleep in the morning and appear dead all day, and revive in the evening and be a live all night.

Karens believe this world to be densely populated with spirits. Each person has his guardian spirit moving about by his side by day and by night. Trees, rivers, mountains and every living moving thing has its attendant spirit. It is a sort of defender, as well as a ministering angel. The heart, the mind and the soul of man are all embodied in one word.

Some German critics, remarks Dr. Mason, say that "Psyche in Homer signi- fies only the breath and the life, never as in the language of later times, the spirit or soul, yet it goes to Hades and contin- ues to live there. 'The Karen word is La, signifying spirit or life. It existed before man was born. It remains with him until death, lives after the death of the body, and for aught that appears to the contrary, it is immortal. No moral qualities are predicated of it. It is neither good nor bad, but is merely that which gives life to mortality.'

Dr. Mason's metaphysical mind has en- abled him to go deeply into the subtleties of Karen metaphysics. He treats of de- parted spirit, of ghosts, of witches and wizards, of the rainbow and of the god- dess of fortune, a notice of which interes- ting topics, we must reserve for a future day.—-RANGOON TIMES.

Never too Old to Learn.

We are told that Socrates, at an extreme old age, learned to play on musical instru- ments.

Cato, at eighty-eight years of age, thought proper to learn the Greek language.

Plutarch, when between seventy and eighty, commenced the study of Latin.

Sir Henry Spelman neglected the sci- ences in his youth, but commenced the study of them when between fifty and six- ty years of age. After this time he became a most learned antiquarian and lawyer.

Ludovico, at the great age of one hund- red and fifteen, wrote the memoirs of his own time ; a singular exertion noticed by Voltaire, who was himself one of the most remarkable instances of the progress of age in new studies.

Accareo, a great lawyer, being asked why he began the study of law so late, replied that indeed he began it late, but should therefore master it the sooner.

Dryden, in his sixtieth year, commenced the Iliad, and his most pleasing produc- tions were written in his old age.

Franklin did not commence his philoso- phical pursuits until he had reached his fiftieth year.

Ogilvy, the translator of Homer and Virgil, was unacquainted with Latin and Greek till he was past fifty.

Colbert, the famous French Minister, at sixty years of age returned to his Latin and law studies.

Boccaecio was thirty-five when he com- menced his studies in polite literature, yet he became one of the three great masters of the Tuscan dialect—Dante and Petrarch being the other two.

Oddities of Great Men.

The greatest men are often affected by the most trivial circumstances, which have no apparent connection with the effects they produce. An old gentleman, of whom we knew something, felt secure against the cramp when he placed his shoes, on going to bed, so that the right shoe was on the left of the left shoe, and the toe of the right next to the heel of the left. If he did not bring the right shoe round the other side in that way, he was liable to the cramp. Dr. Johnson used always in going up Bolt-court to put one foot upon each stone of the pavement; if he failed, he felt certain the day would be unlucky. Buffon, the celebrated naturalist, never wrote but in full dress. Dr. Routh, of Oxford, studied in full-canonicals. A celebrated preacher of the last century could never make a sermon with his garters on. A great Ger- man scholar writes with his braces off. Reisegg, the German critic, wrote his commentaries on Sophocles with a pot of porter by his side. Schybel lectures, at the age of seventy-two, ex-tempore in Latin, with his snuff-box constantly in his hand; without it he could not get on.

Simple Honesty.

Above all things we should cultivate honesty and simplicity, truth and faith- fulness, in ourselves and all with whom we have to do. Falsehood, fraud, and subterfuge permit at no rate; be jealous of wit and humor, and all equivocal forms of representing things. I have sometimes devoutly wished that I were so stupid as not to understand a joke, that I were honest enough to perceive nothing but the falsehood of what the French call a JEU D'ESPRIT or playfulness of mind. I tell you, brethren, be honest in your dealings; take no advantage even of a child. Be conscientious in your bargains. Have a single eye and a single heart. Seek not to be shrewd. Be not ashamed to be cal- led simple. And let me tell you a secret, seeing it is written in the Scriptures, that your whole body will then be full of light; and this in every kind; you will actually see farther, and see clearer than shrewd and cunning men, and you will be less liable to be duped than they, provided you add to this another part of character which is proper to an honest man—-name- ly; a resolution to protect honesty, and to discountenance every kind of fraud. A cunning man is never a firm man; but an honest man is; a double-minded man is always unstable; a man of faith is firm as a rock. I tell you, there is a sacred connection between honesty and faith; honesty is faith applied to worldly things, and faith is honesty quickened by the Spirit to the use of heavenly things. In all that I have said upon this quality, I have not said enough of it. I have but given the clue to the proper way of dis- coursing of it.-—Meanwhile, let me press it upon you in the words of our old ballad, "Tis guid to be honest and true,"—-ED- WARD IRVING.

Facts about New York.

The following statistics in regard to our great metropolis have been prepared under the direction of the New York City Mission and approximate probably nearer the truth than any that have been previously pub- lished.

Until we have the official returns of the State census lately taken, we must rely on the United States census of 1860, to fur- nish the number of the people in New York, which was at that date 813,669.

The rate of increase for some time pre- vious to the war, was five per cent. per annum. How much this has been modified by the extraordinary circumstances of the period just passed we cannot determine, and we have no room for speculations.

Of the population of the city in 1860, 429,952 were born in the United States, and 383,717 were born in foreign countries of forty-two different nationalities.

The number of marriages in the city in a year is 8,282.

The number of births in the city during the year is 6,424.

The number of deaths in the city during a year is 25,193.

There are 54,335 dwelling-houses in the city.

There are 155,707 families living in the city.

There are nearly three families on an average to every dwelling.

There are 15,000 tenant-houses, contain- ing 486,000 persons.

The city taxes are $18,000,000 a year.

The money spent in public amusement is $7,000,000 a year.

For the support of the police $2,000,000 a year is required.

17,000 immigrants per month land at Castle Garden.

There are 380 churches, chapels, and Missions of all kinds, with accommoda- tions for 300,000 persons.

There are 276 Protestant places of wor- ship, with accommodations for 200,000 per- sons.

There are 216 regularly organized Pro- testant churches, with an average member- ship of 300, which would give a total of 64,800 communicants.

There are 350 Sabbath schools of all de- nominations, with an attendance of 87,500 pupils.

HOW TO DO PENANCE.—-A very corpu- lent farmer was ordered, for penance, to go three times round the churchyard of Knockabegowna on his bare knees. The Sunday on which the penance was to be performed, a considerable crowd collected to see “fat Halloran take to his marrow- bones;” and, true to his order, Halloran appeared at the appointed time, followed by three stout men, one of whom wheeled along an enormous wheelbarrow, in which was a soft pillow. Deliberately unbutton- ing the knees of his trousers and rolling them up a little, while he turned down the tops of his long blue stockings, Halloran was helped into the wheelbarrow on his “bare knees,” and amid the vociferous cheers of the assembled people he was wheeled the prescribed number of times round the churchyard; when stepping on the ground and re-adjusting his nether garments, he called out, “That’s my good- by to both priests and Popery;” and, get- ting into his gig, drove off, leaving his men to bring home the wheelbarrow at their leisure.-—THE BIBLE CLASS MAGAZINE.

"A KING DEAD." In the "Penang Ga- zette" of the 27th January, it mentions that intelligence had reached that island of the death of His Majesty, the second King of Siam, which melancholy event took place in the Royal Palace at Bangkok on Sunday morning the 7th January.

His majesty was a younger brother of the present reigning Sovereign of Siam and was named Somdetch Phra Pawa- raindr Mahisvara Mahisvaraisa Rang- sarga Phra Pia Klow Chao Yu Hua. It appears he intended to make a visit to Penang some twelve months ago, but was prevented by indisposition. His death resulted from consumption. He was a lit- tle over fifty seven years of age. He had thirty one wives, by whom he became the father of sixty three children, of whom thirty only survived, the royal parent, namely fifteen sons and fifteen daughters.

On receipt of the sad news, the Consul for Siam at Penang, had the Siamese flag hoisted half mast high, and on the fol- lowing day the British ensign on the Hill and Fort together with the flags of the different Consulates were similarly dis- played in respect to the memory of the deceased King.—-RANGOON TIMES.

'RESPECT OF THE DEAD' On Thursday last, the Flag of the German Consul at this port, was hoisted half mast high, from sunrise to sunset as a token of respect for the memory of the second King of Siam lately deceased.

Similarly the British Jack was hoisted, to half mast high on the Master Attend- ant's flag staff on Friday.

His Majesty the King of Siam will thus recognize the cordial sympathy felt by the treaty powers, in these ports, to manifest their respect for the loss sustained by the Siamese Government in the death of the late Royal Brother and second King.—-THE RANGOON TIMES.

THE CASE STATED.—-PUNCH thus sums up the ins and outs of the case at Wash- ington, in an unusually clear statement for an English writer on our affairs:

"Says Johnson, 'To hold that the states o' the South

Says Congress, 'Wa'al, guess if they never were out,

GEN. GRANT, having moved into his new house in Washington, is liable at any time to be next-door neighbor to a negro; the adjoining house being owned by Alfred Lee, a sagacious and highly respected black man, a flour dealer, and reported to be worth $200,000. If the negro should some day move into his own house, would not some people be dreadfully shocked? Gen. Grant, we presume, having led ne- groes to battle, and, found them loyal and brave, would still "fight it out on that line," not caring a button whether his neighbors were white or black.

Bangkok Recorder.

PRESBYTERIAN MISSION PREMISES

The thought has just struck us that perhaps we may interest and profit some of the readers of the *Bangkok* *Recorder* by giving them a sketch of our journey to this place, as we can weave into the discription important information concerning the creeks, canals and gulf we had to traverse.

We left our residence in Bangkok, near the upper Fort at 8 o'clock P.M. on the 30th ultimo, in the Mission boat “Sea Bird” belonging to Rev. S. R. House M. D.,—-taking with us three of our children. Our crew consisted of five Siamese and Laos men, and one Laos woman wife of one of the men, to serve as a cook. We would have preferred a lighter and fleeter boat for the inland course we had determined to take, if by any means we could shun the dis- mal gulf, an [?] much of which must always be crossed in going to Petchaburee. As there never is any danger in sailing across that arm in the “Sea Bird” we had provided ourselves with it, but failed of finding a man that knew any thing about sailing a boat. For various reasons we felt indisposed to serve as captain ourselves. At too late an hour we found, also, that our boat, was not sufficiently ballasted to sail safely in a squally time. We hence judged it best to give up all idea of sailing, as we could not probably sail much under the best circumstances, and we therefore lightened the boat by taking out her mast and sails and leav- ing them at home.

We waited that evening until we judged that we were within an hour and a half of the ebb tide, which would give us sufficient time to reach Bang- bawn, where the tide waters of the Meinam and the T'àcheen rivers meet. It would be of no service to get there before the change of the tide, because we would be obliged to row against the tide of the T'àcheen flowing up to that place. The waters of the two rivers which meet there, flow off to the westward into a creek common to them both. It is quite important for travelers on these creeks and canals to make nice calculations in regard to the se- veral tidal junctions which exist on this route to Petchaburee, if they desire to be particularly expeditious in ma- king the tour; for a failure to calculate well will occasion the loss of from twelve to thirty hours of time. These junctions, being always on the highest part of the route, the flood tides meet from opposite directions; when finding, generally, a tributary creek going off from the main one, they flow in it harmoniously together, until their force has been spent far out in the fields and farm canals, which daily wait for their united blessing. And when the tide be- gins to fall, that water flows back to the junction, and turning, part to the right and part to the left, runs in opposite directions seeking each its own river as water falling on the top of a rounded boat cover, will seek the two opposite caves. But there is never any percep- tible difference in the hight of the land at these junctions. The vast plains of Siam through which her four large ri- vers make each its serpentine way to the gulf is nearly a uniform level like the sea in a calm.

Our calculation were pretty well made on this occasion as regards the tidal junction at Bangbawn, having reached the place a little before the ebb tide commenced. We were, as usual, hindered a little by a crowd of rafts and boats near Bangbawn which were wait- ing for the same ebb tide to help them to the metropolis. The creek is very narrow just before you arrive at Bang- bawn, and is a great source of trouble and loss to the multitude of business men and other travelers who are ob- liged to crowd through that narrow way. It is passing strange that the Siamese government, after all the pray- ers that have been made to it within the last twelve months from high and from low, foreigners as well as natives, cannot yet raise means or spirit enough to enlarge this small place a little, and thus very much improve this great thoroughfare for all the western provin- ces. To all foreigners traveling this way we would say, that it is wise to plan so that you will always pass Bangbawn at or near the full tide when you may hope to crowd your way through with but little hinderance. But if you get there when the water is rather low, you may work, and fret, and scold never so much, and it will all be of no avail to your speed. You must then wait the chances which scores of boats and long rafts of timber may be pleas- ed and able to give you while the tide is slowly changing in your favor. This place is distant 9 or 10 miles from our residence.

We made but little stop at this junc- tion, and bid our men push ahead during the ebb tide for Màhàch'ie on the T'àcheen river, which is distant from that place some twenty miles. Being uncommonly wearied by our efforts all day in getting ready to start, we soon retired, hoping the boatmen who had done but little would row us turough by a favoring tide in good time to take the early morning flood tide to Màháwn. But on awaking early on the morning of the 31st ult.,—behold, we had made only 10 or 12 miles of the twenty, and had now a tide to stem besides. If our men had been faithful they would have carried us through without any extraordinary rowing. We had before learned by much experience, that a native crew without the continual presence and urging of their employer, can rarely be trusted to keep the boat agoing in the dead of night, even with a favoring tide. But having no particular motive for making a quick passage, and feeling powerfully inclined to throw off all care and drop into a state of utter forget- fulness, we let the men take their own way. On having obtained refreshing sleep, and taken our post again as chief, we felt it right to insist upon the men rowing us to Màhàch'ie before break- fast, and accordingly we reached the place about 8 o'clock. We stopped at the landing of a small temple on the left bank of the canal, and breakfasted. It was a delightful morning, the sun being much of the time hidden by fleecy clouds, and a brisk S. W. wind blow- ing fresh and bracing over the salt marsh two miles or more from the sea. Marshy as it was, it gave us a grand view of a wide expanse of the heavens, and of God's pure ministers flying through the midst thereof, and of the wings of the wind on which Jehovah rideth. We sat for a long while under a charming p'e-tree all of whose leaves, pure as those of the tree of life in the garden of Eden, were chanting the praises of their maker by their rustling in the breeze. All we saw and heard, even there, was inspiring to our spirits, and most sweetly drew out our hearts unto God.

As the tide had turned down before breakfast, and as our course lay up the T'àcheen river three miles to the town of that name, and thence by a large creek westward to Màháwn, it would be hard if not impossible for our men to row against the strong ebb tide. We therefore determined to wait quietly there 6 or 7 hours for it to change in our favor. Hence we said to our men go up into the sala and nawn tem to (sleep to the filling of your eyes) pre- paratory for the work you will have to perform in the evening and night time. It was at this place we discovered that it would have been better for us to have started from home a little before that morning ebb tide than leave as we did on the last evening, because it would have brought us just in time to take ad- vantage of the evening tide for whose aid we were then waiting

The distance from Bangkok to the T'àcheen river via the Bangkok-yai; the Bangloong creek, and the Màhá- ch'ie canal is probably, not far from 30 miles. From 10 to 15 miles of this course nearest the Màhàch'ie is clearly a human made canal, evidenced by its remarkable straightness and uniform appearance. It is now from 30 to 50 yards wide, and was made, if we recollect rightly, in the reign of His present Majesty's grand father. Much of the creek with which it con- nects is exceedingly serpentine.

The course of the whole 30 miles to Màhàch'ie is for the first half, S. S. W. and the second half, W. S. W. It is a dreary way in consequence of the great monotony of the banks of the creeks and canal, and the uncul- tivated prairie land through which they pass, and the few poverty stricken houses of the natives that here and there come into view. It is a region under the undisputed sway of musquetoes which can be almost literal- ly scooped up by hat-fulls. We once spent a night on the route, when by a little carelessness we got our musqueto bars full of them, and we found it ut- terly impossible to expel the blood thirsty pirates. Indeed the more effort we made to do so, the worse it be- came, as the creatures would pitch upon us in the act of getting under the bars so that it was impossible to accomplish it without a swarm of them adhering to our persons and getting a berth with us. We had to abandon the idea of sleeping that night, and go out upon the roof of our boat and fight our tormentors till morning. But the most beautiful display of fireflies on the trees was a kind of compensation for our loss of sleep. We cannot now stop to give a description of the fortified town of Māhāch'ie and of the custom office there. We hope to do this at some future time.

As the water in the canal in which we were moored was getting low and the air close, we moved, a little after noon, into the T'àcheen river, and anchored near the usual mooring place for boats that are waiting for the tide to favor their going up the river. Here we remained until 3 P. M., when we followed the lead of a great company of boats pushing up the stream. In half an hour, or little more, we reached the town of T'àcheen situated on the right bank of the river and on the up- per bank of the creek leading west- ward to Māhāwn. Some of the boats going before us passed up the river, but the most of them went the way we wished to go, viz. into the creek. We all glided merrily along with a strong favoring tide. This creek at its mouth is from 80 to 100 yards wide, and like all the natural creeks, as well as rivers of Siam's vast level plains, is exceedingly serpentine. A wind squall arose after we had passed a few miles in the creek, which imped- ed our progress a good deal. It was so strong for half an hour that we were forced to let our boat drive into the bushes and wait until it slackened. The distance from T'àcheen to Mā- hāwn is probably not far from 25 miles, a course mainly W.S.W. The common saying of the natives is, that there are 32 bends of the creek before you come to the straight canal which connects it with a creek from the Māākīawng river. This, also, is, in some states of mind, a tedious way, but not as much so as the one to Māhāch'ie. The country is nearly all uncultivated, and the in- habitants living on the creek get their livelihood chiefly by cutting the small wood abounding there, for Bangkok market, and by growing the attap palms on the banks of the creek and making thatching sheets of their leaves for sale in the chief towns.

We reached Māhāwn about 9 P. M. half an hour before the tide began to ebb. This is another remarkable place of tidal junction. The tide waters of the T'àcheen and Māākīawng meet here, and all travelers by this route should be well acquainted with this fact. The two original creeks failing of meeting each other by a dis- tance of 5 or 6 miles, a canal was made (we think in the last reign) for the pur- pose of uniting them. The place call- ed Mā'āwn (dog howling) on this canal is not far from midway of the canal and midway of the whole course to P'etchaburee. Here we counted 75 river boats of various sizes, mostly large, wait- ing for the ebbing tide to favor their journey to Bangkok. There were also several rafts of timber from 100 to 200 yards long and from 12 to 16 wide waiting to pass the same way. On the west side of the junction there were many boats, but a less number than on the east side, waiting for the tide to aid them in going the opposite direction to Māākīawng, which company we joined. There are only a few inhabi- tants in the place, but several sub- stantial and commodious salas for the comfort of travelers, built by govern- ment. The distance thence to the town of Māākīawng is probably about 12 miles, mainly S. W. and thence to the inner mouth of the river S. S. W. 3 miles.

Having stopped long enough for our men to take their supper, the tide began to run down, and we then pass- ed very pleasantly onward by a glori- ous moon light, purposing to reach the mouth of Māākīawng river before 3 o'clock the next morning. We had from 15 to 20 other boats before and behind us having the same destination. And thinking that the most of them, if not all, were better acquainted with the way across the gulf than ourselves, we determined to take them as guides to show us when we should start for crossing the gulf, and which of the two principal courses to take-—that by Banláám at the mouth of P'etchaburee river, or that by Bangkaboon at the mouth of a large creek some 6 or 8 miles nearer Māākīawng than the former place. The morning watch is always accounted the best time to cross that arm of the gulf. But some- times the wind is too fresh, or the weather too squally to allow of cross- ing with ordinary boats that trade be- tween Bangkok and Petchaburee. But seeing our guides did not stop at the usual mooring place for waiting boats, but went directly on, we hesitated not to follow suite, though there was a little westerly wind that might lead some smaller boats to halt. Some of our companions, we observed, went on to- ward Banláam and some turned in at Bangkaboon. As the wind was blowing rather fresh, and might oppose our rowing to the former place, we preferred to steer for the latter creek which we reached about 7 A. M. The distance from the inner mouth of the Mááklawng to this place may be about 10 miles nearly S.

There is another small creek called Esán 4 or 5 miles nearer Mááklawng, into which any boat not larger than the Sea Bird, may pass at high tide and go by a small canal into the Bangkaboon creek less than a mile from its mouth. But it is a peculiarly desolate passage, and boats are in much danger of get- ting aground in a musqueto swamp where you will, in that event, be bound to wait 6 hours at least, for the next tide. But there is here, as in all other circumstances of trial of patience, some compensative consideration with which one may cheer himself. One of these is found in the monkey tribes that inhabit the banks of that canal. An amateur in this branch of the animal creation may find any amount of sport with their princes and lords and fami- lies as they come out to seek presents in plantains or other fruit tossed to them from the boat. But you will find it exceedingly difficult to noose them, as they observe carefully where the trap is laid for them, and they seem to have a wonderful instinct to keep their feet out of, while tread- ing all about and on the very verge of it

Finding the tide ebbing strongly when we arrived at Bangkaboon, and our boatmen being fagged out, we made up our minds to wait quietly for the tide to turn in the P. M. The place is a small fishing village with no temple or sala for the accomodation of travelers. Consequently our men were compelled to take a “Hobson's choice” and sleep as well as a hot sun would allow them to do under a kachaang awning on the boat. The creek at this place is a little less than 100 yards wide and has all the appear- ance of a fine river.

We weighed our little anchor about 3 P. M. and passed up the Bangka- boon creek with a favoring tide, deter- mining to reach our destination at Petchaburee before midnight. The distance by the creek and river, with which it is connected by a short canal, is not far from 15 miles, but by a direct course over the sea level plains south- ward it would not probably, be more than 9 miles. The Bangkaboon creek, it seems to us, is the crookedest way we have ever passed, and yet it is quite pleasant in a pleasant day or a moon- light evening to any one who has no special desire to make a speedy trip. About midway between Baugkaboon and the river there is a small isolated mount between 80 and 100 feet high called Kow Tákrow. You may at first see it directly in front of the boat, and then on the right side,—-now on the left side and now at the stern—al- ways apparently very near by—like the deceitful mirage of the desert, elu- ding your approach a long time.

The short canal which connects this creek with Petchaburee river is called Bang Krok. In consequence of this canal there is formed another junction of tidal waters on the Bangkaboon creek two or three miles from the river.

Coming out into the river about 8 P. M., we found the naturally strong downward current favorably affected by the tide still rising, which enabled us to make good progress where we had feared we would have the hardest pushing. But it was only 3 or 4 miles that we were thus favored. Beyond that point, no flood tide ever produces a current upward. And there we found sand banks and a strong natural cur- rent to resist, when our men, dropping their oars, took to their bamboo poles, as they could do much better execution with them under those circumstances than with oars.

It being rather dark, they would, every now and then, run the boat on a sand bank, and then have to back out of it and grope for the channel. We reached the landing of the Presby- terian Mission about 11½ P. M. It

being the dead of night, we had deter- mined not to report ourselves till the next morning. But Rev. D. Mc Gilvary was up looking out for us, and came down and saluted us, begging that we would go up to his house as he had made all things ready for our accommo- dation. But as our children were all sound asleep, and his own family also, we declined making any stir that night; and giving him his mail and a bag of treasure, sent over from the Mission treasury in Bangkok, we bid him good night, being glad to learn that he and his family and col- leagues were now again in the enjoyment of comfortable health.

This heavy array of columns, it will be seen, describes a very singular route of about 103 miles. Having sketched many things concerning Petchaburee, our readers may expect us to give them a series of more interesting articles on that charming place.

Wats.

When a person visits a foreign coun- try, his first object ought to be, to obtain as much information as possi- ble in regard to those things which give character, and stability to the nation; such as its religion, its pro- gress in the arts, and sciences, and its institutions of learning. The latter more than anything else give bent to the minds of the nation, and in all civi- lized, and enlightened nations, they are looked upon with peculiar interest, and are given a most prominent place. In Siam, religion and education are most intimately connected. The religious cloisters are also the institutions which train the minds of the male portion of the rising generation. Here they are not only taught the literature of the country, but the precepts of the reli- gion of the country, are also most studiously instilled into their tender minds. Of what then do these insti- tutions of learning consist, and what are the principal branches taught in them? As they are the most promi- nent buildings of the country, occupy- ing almost every eligible, and beauti- ful site around the city, and consti- tute the most imposing architecture, every stranger wishes to visit them. But as the architecture, and general appearance of all is about the same, a person who has seen one has seen in substance all. Under the general name of wat, is included the temple grounds, temple buildings, priests' houses, in short, every thing pertaining to the temple. One of the most imposing of those wats, and perhaps the most ex- pensive, is that generally known as Wat P'o, but in higher language as Prachètoopon. It is situated on the left bank of the river, a little below the palace of His Majesty. The writer had occasion not long since to, visit in company with a stranger, this magnificent wat. Landing at the Court House of the International Judge, we passed up a narrow street leading from the river to one of the cross streets. We had proceeded but a short distance when our ears were attracted by loud explosive sounds, issuing from a bamboo building near by, and upon walking up to the door, found it to be a gambling house, and China- men were disputing over the game. A few more steps brought us to the heavy gate in the old city wall, and having passed through this, we emerg- ed into the cross street running pa- rallel with the river. The scenes up- on this street, are about the same as those met with everywhere through- out the city. Seated cross-legged up- on some open stands, were some elder- ly women, and some young ones, too, selling fruit, vegetables &c., to get an honest living. Near by were some in a still more humble position, doling out sugar cane by the penny's worth, to the passing boys. Flat upon the pavement, were a number of boys seat- ed, and some men too, with boards upon which were painted, some red marks. They were also surrounded by lead pennies, and were throwing dice from small bowls, thus running their chances on a small scale for pen- nies. They also nearly blocked up the way, so that we were well nigh obliged to tread on some of them in order to pass. Passing straight across the street, we entered at once the grounds of wat P'o, and found our- selves immediately in a kind of laby- rinth, which perfectly defies descrip- tion. The inclosure itself as a rough guess contains about ten acres of land. The grounds are paved with flags of fine granite. Near the entrance is a small pool, which has underground communication with the river, and is thus supplied every rising tide with fresh water. It is surrounded with a brick wall some six feet high, which is covered with stucco work. In the centre of the pond, is a small artificial island, well designed and well execut- ed. Upon it is also some green shrub- bery. Around, upon the banks, are a number of different kinds of animals, carved out of stone and standing looking into the water, or apparently enjoying a sleep. There used to be two living alligators in it, but the na- tives say they are both gone. There are two temples in this wat. One is an imposing structure of indescribable architecture, which contains an image about twice as large as life, and in a sitting posture. This image is heavily covered with gold. There are also a vast number of smaller idols, and oth- er things too numerous to mention. The floor of the temple, and also that of the verandah without, is of gray marble highly polished. The heavy teak doors, are also richly, and beauti- fully inlaid with mother of pearl.

The principle, attraction however of this wat, is the large reclining idol. This idol is what an excited Yankee might call a "whopper." On ap- proaching the building which contains this fellow, we found it locked, and were obliged to send for the keeper. He however soon gave evidence, that he had seen foreigners before, and had drawn some money from them, for he at once demanded a tical for opening the door. We assumed an air of dig- nity, and displayed some authority, and demanded that he at once open the door, as it was contrary to Siam- ese custom, to ask anything for such services. He immediately complied with our demand, but upon leaving, we gave him the coveted tical, which we had intended to do the while.

When the door and windows were opened up, we saw the huge fellow re- clining in all his dignity. In compar- ison with him, the Colossus of Rhodes, which anciently constituted one of the seven wonders of the world, would be a mere liliputian. He is reclining on the right side, with his head resting on the right hand. He is one hundred and thirty five feet long, about twenty eight feet around the belt, and the length of the little toe on the right foot, is three feet four inches. The natives also say, that his bowels are full of large water jars. The labor of constructing, and gild- ing this image, must have been im- mense, and according to the native mode of operations must have taken years to accomplish it. There are al- so a number of salas, or sheds with a wall at the back, and open in front, for lounging places for the priests and others. Upon the back walls, are paintings representing the good going into happiness, and the bad to misery. A number of similar salas placed in, a kind of semi-circle, are full of idols in sitting posture half the size of life. Three small spire-like pagodas, are said to be the work of three for- mer kings; and a similar one still un- finished, is said to be the work of the present king. The whole design of the wat, is a kind of labyrinth, and a person might almost lose his reckon- ing in it. I once saw a ground flat of the whole wat, but did not under- stand it, and have some doubts if the person who got it up understood it himself. In some future article, I may say something of these wats as reli- gious institutions, and institutions of learning.

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the "Bangkok Recorder."

Mr. EDITOR,-—I see in your last number that you again allude to the great use that a work on International Law accessible to the Siamese would be to this people.

Does it never occur to you that two of the most civilized and enlightened na- tions viz., Great Britain and the Uni- ted States differ entirely in opinion as to the duties encumbent on them with regard to these Laws, as the corres- pondence on the Alabama and other similar claims plainly show.

The fact is, as long as there, is no Court to decide such disputes it is folly to talk of the Laws by which they should be ruled.

Your's trul::y,

Bangkok, 18th June, 1866.

Will our correspondent inform us what is the cause of this difference of opinion between the United States and Great Britain? Is it not that there is no Law whereby the case of th Alabama, can be adjudicated? Is not this the first case of the kind which has occurred? When this case is final- ly settled will it not be a precedent whereby future cases of the same kind, should any occur, may be settled!

Does our correspondent take the ground that all International Law is to be thrown aside as worthless be- cause of the dispute in the case of the Alabama? QUEROR.

LOCAL.

Our local readers will doubtless all be much interested in learning that P'raPǎlǎt, whom they have long known as deputy governor of Petchaburee, and their most gentlemanly friend, has been promoted to the station occupied by the late P'raya Montree Sooriwongs with the title of P'raya Têp. He is to reside in the mansion built and occu- pied by his father the late Sómdetch Ong-Yai. We most heartily welcome him as a resident of the capital. But his American friends at Petchaburee cannot but feel sad at the thought of having him no more for their near and obliging neighbor.

We understand that a younger brother of the same illustrious family known hitherto by the title K'óón-Sán is to be promoted to the station vacat- ed by P'raya Têp.

The governor of K'oràt, we learn, has at length accepted of his appoint- ment as Lord Mayor of Bangkok, and will soon enter upon the discharge of his duties as such. This noble Lord has the reputation of being endowed with much power of accomplishment, and with good administrative abilities. If so, and he be just likewise, we shall expect him to be a great blessing to Bangkok. The Lord Mayor, it will be remembered, is one of the most impor- tant members of the International court.

We learn that an express of several Burmans arrived from Maulmain on the 11th inst., and that they were sent by the attorney of the late Capt. Burn's estate for the purpose of getting an authentication of the seal of P'raya Poot'ara-p'ie the Prime Minister of Northern Siam. The report is, that the papers sent to the Court at Maul- main by this minister concerning the great My-long-kree case in which the estate of Captain Burn is concerned, were discredited because they came under the seal of an officer of the Siamese government not known to the court.

This appears to us to be a strange proceeding, and to look like a disre- spect of the Siamese government. How is it that the genuiness of one of the two chief seals of the government should be questioned by the English court at Maulmain which has for scores of years been a near neighbor to the capital of Siam and in constant business communication with her?

We understand that the Burman express is to return speedily, with His Majesty's own signet.

Death.

At Bangkok on the 11th June at 1 A. M. His Excellency P'râya Montree Suriwongs, younger and only full brother of His Excellency Chow P'rãya Sri-Suriwongs, Prime Minister of the kingdom of Siam. His Excellency the deceased was Prime Minister of military affairs in northern Siam and President of the Southern Provinces of northern Siam, Chief ambassador from the Court of Siam to the Court of St. James, and was selected H. S. M's Representative at the Coronation of the Cambodian King.

His Excellency was the son of the late Somdetch. Ong-Yai born 23rd March, 1821.

The body of his Excellency P'hraya Montree Suriwoongs is lying in state at the residence of the late Somdetch Ong-Yai his father, awaiting the time of its cremation in the month of September next.

We sincerely mourn the death of our amiable friend, with whom we have been intimately acquainted more than 30 years. When we first knew him, he was a sprightly lad of only 15 years. As he grew in stature he grew in knowledge and favor with the people and government until he attain- ed to the high honor of second Prime Minister of Siam.

The Siamese barque "Luna" was sold to Pra Kit-da-cha for 330 catties. With her change of owners she has also changed her name, and is now called the "Happy."

The French Corvette C. Mange, departed on the 14th inst. We un- derstand that the object of her visit here has been fully obtained, and that the pass requested of the Siamese government have been granted. We may expect much from the French ex- ploring expedition from Saigon north- ward as far as Yang-se-kan to Hang- kow. A thorough work will, we doubt not, be made of it, and a grand thorough-fare soon be opened from those northern territories to Saigon, which will be a most valuable acquisi- tion both to geographical and com- mercial interests.

The American Trading Com-
pany of Borneo.

We learn that advices have been re- ceived per French mail by the American Trading Company of Borneo, from the officer administering the government of the colony, founded by them in Decem- ber last on the territories leased from the Sultan of Borneo, of the most satisfactory description. The native chiefs from all parts of the concession on the mainland, even as far north as Maloodu, and as far east as Sandakan, had paid visits to the settlement, voluntarily taken the oath of allegiance to the Rajah, as administered by his locum tenens, the Lieut. Governor of the Colony, and expressed their great satisfaction at being placed under a Gov- ernment able and willing to protect pri- vate property, put down misrule, and the law of might, put a stop to “ head hunt- ing ” and generally to encourage civili- zation, morality and industry, and pro- mised their faithful support to it. The success of the experiment of good gov- ernment at Sarawak encourages them to hope that Northern Borneo may in full- ness of time enjoy the same prosperity that now blesses that very successful Col- ony. Gold had been discovered in work- ing quantities at Kimanis, a large amount of land had been put under cultivation, valuable timber was being felled, and quantities of mountain produce were ar- riving daily to be exchanged at the fac- tory for the Cottons, Beads, &c. sent down by the Company. The Chinese coolies and artizans had behaved admir- ably, working steadily, and quietly, and no punishment had been required either on their part or that of the European Colonists. Gold and Coal had also been discovered at Annanam in Sapanga Bay, (to the Southward of the Companies ter- ritories) and Senor Cuarteron, a Spanish priest, well known in the East, both at Hongkong and Manila, backed by two Spanish steamers was endeavouring to get a grant of the coast (some fifty miles) from the Sultan. In the absence of any remonstrance of support from the repre- sentatives of the United States or Great Britain, the only two countries interested, the Sultan is represented as yielding to the pressure brought to bear, though un- willingly. It is to be regretted that Spaniards as colonists, sometimes, do not make pleasant neighbors, and both La- buan and Ellena will be exposed to the chance of coming under their political and religious influence.

But although the results thus far have been so favorable, and grand as the scheme may be, it is greatly to be doubt- ed whether as a mercantile speculation the enterprise is likely to prove a lucra- tive one. The extent of territory is so enormous, the amount of the capital re- quired to place the matter on a proper basis so large, and the time that must ne- cessarily elapse before any returns can be looked for so uncertain, that we do not believe it possible for the Company to be successfully operated, except from a cen- tre situated either in the United States or Great Britain, unless the country be thrown open to the world, and the Com- pany by making moderate grants of land to emigrants, so far encourage emigration that they eventually create a demand for the magnificent and fertile plains now ly- ing fallow on the margins of the splendid rivers flowing from the mountains to the sea.

That Borneo possesses in itself the seeds of immense wealth there can be no doubts, but it will require time, capital, labor, and above all careful and shrewd management to induce the germ of vege- tation to quicken and finally to bloom into the full developed and ripened plant. In our opinion it will be for this genera- tion to plant the “pagoda tree” in Bor- neo, for the next to shake it.

Though the crown rent to be paid is but a pepper-corn, though the company is vested with the fullest powers, both civil, military, and judicial, and though the head of the Company for the time being possesses in his own person power excelled by no monarch on the face of the earth, and only equalled by his pro- totype an Eastern Satrap ; still the bet- ter and more powerful the weapon the greater the strength required to wield it. The world produces not oftener than

* About 8000 square miles.

once in a century a man gifted with the rare powers of Sir James Brooke, and probably no nation in the world will ever support so powerfully and ably one of its citizens as Great Britain did, when she placed an English Admiral and an Eng- lish fleet at his disposal to enable him to establish his authority in Borneo, and force the reigning monarch to accede to the terms he saw fit to impose.

Although we doubt not the manage- ment of this enterprise will be placed in very good hands, yet we doubt whether Hongkong, taking into consideration the stamp and style of men who now com- pose its community generally, can pro- duce the man for the occasion. If it does, it must be some one who has been kept in the closest obscurity, and has never appeared before the public.

The progress of the enterprise will be watched with much interest by the world for two reasons; first, as having been ini- tiated in the little village of Hongkong; for the three persons to whom the leases were granted in Borneo, having despatcli- ed one of their number here, to dispose of them, and this having been accomplish- ed (the present Company being the pur- chasers) the affair may justly be said to have really commenced here; second, as being the first attempt of Americans to colonize, away from their own continent. The brilliant success of our Trans-Atlan- tic cousins in colonizing California, trans- forming it from a wilderness into one of the powerful states of the world, in the short space of ten years, a feat unequal- led in speed and brilliance of execution in ancient or modern history, leads us to hope for the happiest results from this their second attempt; hampered as they are by the various difficulties which sur- round them, with which they have as yet been unaccustomed to deal. If their na- tural elasticity of disposition, unwearied industry, and that remarkable persever- ance and carelessness of obstacles, which induced the Emperor Christopher to say, that "if there were a bag of coffee in h—l there would be a Yankee found to go and fetch it," will not enable them to sur- mount these obstacles, it will be useless for any other nation to attempt it. We wish them every success, but we must say it, we doubt it.

Telegraph communication.

It appears there has been some grand improvement effected of late, in the working of our Indian telegraphs. The public will learn with much satisfaction, that we are only now some three or four days distant from England, as messages have lately been received in that time from London, and intelligence has been received within a few hours from Cal- cutta.

Generally there is a marked difference between the state of the lines in the dry season and during the rains. When the rain is pouring down in torrents and the country is flooded with water in every direction, it is quite natural to suppose that human beings cannot move about with much alacrity.

For the thorough working of the elec- trical currents along the wires, a dry at- mosphere is essentially necessary. We have ourselves seen a venerable Professor shake his head most significantly in trying to excite the electrical currents in various machines, when the condition of the at- mosphere outside was damp and humid. You may obtain a slight excitation of electricity by stroking down the back of a cat, but if the animal be damp or wet, it would be very nearly impossible. Eu- rope possesses an atmosphere, which is generally favorable to the working of the electrical currents, as it is mostly dry and cold, and in India, though there is a great increase in the temperature, the dryness of the atmosphere is very nearly perfect during the dry season, when the telegraph ought to work to a high pitch of sensibility and excellence. In the rains the case is altered, for the weather is entirely against the efficient working of all electrical machines.—-RANGOON TIMES.

Monsieur de Tocqueville's Fourth of July
Speech in Paris.

A number of years ago, says a writer in the DEMOCRATIC AGE, happening to be in Paris on the 4th of July, with many other Americans, we agreed to celebrate "the day" by a dinner at the Hotel Meu- rice. There were seventy-two of us in all. We had but one guest. This was M. de Tocqueville, who had then rep- dered himself famous by his great work upon Democracy in America. During the festivities in the evening, after the cloth had been removed, and speechify- ing had commenced, some gentleman al- luded EN PASSANT to the fact that he was born in Connecticut.

"Connect-de-coot," exclaimed Mon- sieur de Tocqueville, as he suddenly rose with the enthusiasm of a Frenchman. "Vy messieurs, I will tell you, vid the permission of de Presidente of this festi- val, vou very leetal story, and then I will give you vou grand sentiment, to dat little State vou call Connect-de-coot. Von day ven I was in de gallery of the House of Representative, I held one map of the Confederation in my hand. Dere was von leetle yellow spot dat'dey cal Connect-de-coot. I found by the Con- stitution, he was entitled to six of his boys to represent him on dat floor. But ven I make de acquaintance personnelle with de member, I find dat more than tirty of the Representatif on dat floor was born in Connect-de-coot. And then ven I was in the gallery of the House of the Senat, I find de Constitution permit Connect-de-coot to send two of his boys to represent him in dat Legislature. But once more ven I make de acquaintance personnelle of the Senator, I find nine of de Senator was born in Connect-de-coot. So den, gentlemen, I have made my lee- tle speech : now I will give you my grand sentiment :

Connect-de-coot, the leetle yellow spot dat make de clock-peddler, de school- master, and de senator. De first give you time ; the second tell you what you do with him ; and de sir make your law and your civilization,—and then as he was resuming his seat amidst roars of laughter, he rose again, and with that peculiar gesticulation which characterizes all Frenchmen in moments of excitement, he shook his finger tremulously over the assembled congress, and exclaimed to the top of his voice, "Ah ! gentlemen, dat leetle yellow State you call Connect- de-coot is one very great miracle to me.

Missionary Statistics.

1. AMERICAN.-—The whole number of American Foreign Missionary Societies is sixteen,—having under their care 2,388 agents as missionaries, native preachers, etc., 54,000 church members, 22,000 pu- pils, and an annual income of $1,100,000 to sustain their operation.

2. BRITISH.—-In Great Britain there are twenty missionary societies, employ- ing 6,216 agents as missionaries, etc. and having 185,000 church members, 201,000 scholars, and an annual income of $3,- 094,000.

3. CONTINENTAL.-—On the Continent of Europe there are twelve of these so- cieties, of which six are in Germany. They have 811 agents as missionaries, teachers, etc., 79,000 church members, 12,000 scholars, and an income of $267,- 000.

4. TOTAL.—-The whole number of British and continental missionaries is thirty two societies, 7,027 agents or mis- sionaries teachers, etc., 264,000 church members, 213,000 pupils in schools, and an annual income of $3,361,000.

The whole number of Protestant mis- sionary operations in the world, as thus carried on by American, British, and Continental Christians, is 48 societies, 9,418 agents, or missionaries, etc., 518,- 000 church members, 235,000 pupils in the different schools, and an annual in- come of $4,481,000.—-PACIFIC.

Evil Company.

The following beautiful allegory is translated from the German:

"Sophronius, a wise teacher, would not suffer even his own grown-up sons and daughters to associate with those whose conduct was not pure and upright.

'Dear father,' said the gentle Eulalie to him one day, when he forbade her in company with her brother to visit the volatile Lucinda, 'you must think us very childish if you imagine that we should be exposed to danger by it.'

The father took a dead coal from the hearth and reached it to his daughter, saying:

'It will not burn you my child; take it.'

Eulalie did so, and behold her delicate white hand was soiled and blackened, and, as it chanced, her white dress also.

'We cannot be too careful in handling coals,' said Eulalie, in vexation.

'Yes truly,' said her father, 'you see my child, that coals, even if they do not burn, blacken. So it is with the com- pany of the vicious.'—Pacific.

WHAT YOU CAN NEVER CATCH—Boys and girls, what is it that you can never catch, though you chase after it as on the wings of the wind?

You can never catch the word that has once gone out of your lips. Once spoken, it is out of your reach; do your best, you can never recall it.

Therefore, take care what you say. Never speak an unkind word, an impure word, a lying word, a profane word.

THE PRESIDENT, in his address to the Kentucky delegation, said: "We shall take no step backward." The country would have been better pleased if he had pledged himself to take no step zig-zag!

Cotton.

The following curious but interesting calculation respecting cotton, its produc- tion and use, we extract VERBATIM:—

In 1746 an American merchant in Liverpool received a consignment from Charleston of eight bales of cotton. They were seized at the Custom House, under an allegation that cotton could not be grown in the American colonies. In 1860 the cotton crop of the United States amounted to 2,078,777,600 pounds. In the East Indies the annual crop is 2,400,- 000,000 pounds. Of the 1,285,000,000 people now in the world, 700,000,000 wear cotton exclusively, and all but 79,- 000,000 use it more or less.

A Libel Law Decision.

A decision which affects the interests of religious papers, clerks of ecclesiastical courts, &c., has been made in this city. A newspaper had published a statement that certain grave charges had been laid before the Grand Jury against a citizen. The publishers were prosecuted for libel.

The Court held that an editor or reporter is not legally liable to prove the absolute truth of any charge or accusation which may be embodied in a fair report of pro- ceedings before a legal tribunal, and that it is sufficient justification to show that the facts reported have transpired as they were narrated. If the decision were other- wise, every conductor of a newspaper could be forced at the will or caprice of a litigant to become the plaintiff or defendant al- luded to in any report which might appear in his journal, the accuracy of which might be questioned. The ruling thus de- cides that an editor is a mere publisher of actual occurrences, and cannot possibly assume in law the position of a litigant in cases which he reports, and of the merits of which he must necessarily be wholly ignorant.

The same rule will apply to the proceed- ings of ecclesiastical courts. It has some- times occurred that when religious papers have published the fact that a man has been convicted of a criminal offence and excommunicated, or deposed from the min- istry, he has brought an action for damages against the newspaper so publishing the facts in the case. We believe that in no case has such a plaintiff recovered damages. But the religious press has sometimes been subjected to great annoyance by such suits, and to avoid the annoyance we have often declined such publications. But the de- cision just rendered is conclusive, that the statement of fact, without malice, and for the public good, cannot be regarded as a libel.—NEW YORK OBSERVER.

Planets Destroyed.

The belief that this world is ultimately to be destroyed by fire, is supported by the discovery that such a fate has befal- len larger planets than ours. French astronomers assert that no fewer than fifteen hundred fixed stars have vanished from the firmament within the last three hundred years. Tycho Brahe gives an interesting account of a brilliant star of the largest size, which, on account of its singular radiance, had become the special object of his daily observation for several months, during which the star gradually became paler until its final disappearance. La Place says that one of the vanished fixed stars of the Northern hemisphere afforded indubitable evidence of having been consumed by fire. At first the star was of a dazzling white, next of a glow- ing red and yellow lustre, and finally it became pale and ash-colored. The burn- ing of the star lasted sixteen months, when this sunny visitor, to which perhaps a whole series of planets may have owed allegiance, finally departed and became invisible forever.—-N. Y. OBSERVER.

The Shortest Sermon.

Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg’s sermon at the funeral of the late Robert B. Minturn, Esq., is the shortest on record, though several are recorded with as few words. He read the words of the Prophet Micah: “He hath shown thee, O man, what is good : and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” And then added: “So DID HE.”

One sermon having the same number of words, but more letters, was one preached by the Irish Dean Kirwan. He was pressed while suffering from a severe cold, to preach a charity sermon in St. Peter’s church, Dublin, for the benefit of the orphan children of the parish school. The church was crowded to suffocation, and the good Dean, on mounting the pul- pit, and announcing his text, pointed with his hand to the children in the aisle, and simply said: “There they are!” The collection on the occasion exceeded all belief.

It was Dean Swift who was to preach a charity sermon ; and giving out as his text, “He that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord,” then added : “If you like the security, down with the dust.”—-NEW YORK OBSERVER.

The unchangeable Land.

Things do not change in the East. As Abraham pitched his tent in Bethel, so does an Arab sheikh now set up his camp; as David built his palace on Mount Zion, so would a Turkish pasha now arrange his house; in every street may be seen the hairy children of Esau, squatting on the ground, devouring a mess of lentils like that for which the rough hunter sold his birthright; along every road plod the sons of Rechab, whose fathers, one thousand years ago, bound themselves and theirs to drink no wine, plant no trees, enter within no door, and their children have kept the oath; at every khan young men sit around the pan of parched corn, dipping the morsel into the dish; Job's plow is still used, and the seed is still trodden into the ground by asses and kine; olives are shaken from the bough as directed by Isaiah; and the grafting of trees is unchanged since the days of Saul. The Syrian house is still, as formerly, only a stone tent, as a temple was but a marble tent. What is seen now in Bethany may be taken as the exact likeness of the house of Lazarus, where Mary listened and Martha toiled, or as the house of Simon, the leper, where the precious box of ointment was broken, and whence Judas set out to betray his Master.—-ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

Fate of Fast Men.

The vicious die early. They fall like shadows, or tumble wrecks and ruins into the grave o'er while quite young, almost before forty.

"The wicked liveth not half his days." The world at once raises the truth and magnifies the reason by describing the di- abolical life of fast men; that is they live fast. They spend twelve hours in six; getting through the whole before the meridian, and dropping into darkness while others are in the glory of light. Their sun goeth down while it is day. And they might have helped it. Many a one dies before he need. Young men of genius, like Burns and Byron, the whom, when dissipated and profligate, thirty-seven is so fatal, and your obscure and meaner wandering stars, who waste their time in libertine indulgence—-they cannot live; they must die early. They put on steam till they blow up the boiler. They run at such a rate that the fire goes out for want of fuel. The machinery is destroyed by rapid speed and reckless wear. Nothing can save them. Their physical system cannot stand the strain they put to it; while the state of their mind is often such that the soul would tend[?] the substance of the most robust body, and cannot go on in the race, or escape from the incessant hell of its own thoughts.—-Lo. No. News.

NOTICE.

THE undersigned have been instructed to Sell by public auction, for the benefit of whom it may concern on Monday next the 18th current at 10 A. M. pre- cisely.

A lot of Yellow metal sheathing and nails stripped off the Schooner "FAIRY" of London.

Two Europe made hawsers. The Sale will take place on board of the Schooner "Fairy" now in the Bangkok Dock Company's Dock.

Terms:—CASH.VIRGIN & Co.

BANGKOK RECORDER