The Bangkok Recorder.

A Weekly journal will be issued from the printing office of the American Missionary Association, at the mouth of the Canal, "Klong 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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Telegrams.

LONDON, OCTOBER 29TH (AFTERNOON): Count Beust nominated Foreign Minister. Saxon Sovereign returned to Dresden. Another battle fought in Candia—ac- count conflicting.

LONDON, OCT. 31ST (AFTERNOON):—-A banquet given to Mr. Bright at Dublin.

The Pope has delivered an Allocution stating he is prepared to leave Rome if necessary.

Russia has abandoned Naval Establish- ment at Sebastapol for Astracan factory. Running drill introduced into our In- fantry.

Obstinate fighting in Candia—insurgents defeated, and tendering submission.

Severe fighting in Paraguay—Brazilians repulsed.

Liverpool Cotton Market dull.

Increase in reserve of notes Bank of England £250,000.

LONDON, NOV. 2ND (AFTERNOON):—-Mr. Seward has written to Hon. F. Bruce urg- ing amnesty for Fenian prisoners in Ca- nada.

Alleged Alliance forged (formed?) be- tween Prussia and Russia.

LONDON, NOV. 3RD (AFTERNOON):-—Rus- sian Naval and Military Forces ordered to be raised to full strength.

Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald has accepted Governorship of Bombay.

Liverpool Cotton Market firmer and moderate demand.

LONDON, NOV. 5TH (AFTERNOON):—-Re- ported that America assumes Protectorate in Mexico.

Circular published by Herr Beust, Aus- trian Minister, stating his intention to a- bandon political antecedents and that Austrian policy is peaceful.

Excitement in Baltimore caused by il- legality of Police Commissioner.

LONDON, 6TH NOV.—-Austrian Army be- ing reorganised.

Troubles in Baltimore ended.

Mr. Davis’ trial postponed to next Spring.

Manchester market quiet and prices drooping.

LONDON, 7TH Nov.—-Prospectus of Agra Bank issued-—Elyn [? Glyn] Mills appoint- ed London agents over one-half of the preference capital subscribed.

Maximilian has abdicated the Mexican throne.

The American Congress
Elections.

Unfortunately for the success of his own policy, the President, quitting his position as a moderator, descended to that of a partisan, and, with a view to obtain a national verdict in his favour, made a tour of agitation, in the progress of which his self-will became more conspicuous than his sagacity as a statesman. He charac- terised Congress as a “revolutionary body,” and darkly hinted at overbearing its auth- ority. This was too much for the law-abid- ing people of the United States. What might have been the result of the late elections if Mr. Johnson had quietly allow- ed them to turn on the merits of his plan of reconstruction can only be conjectured, but it was readily foreseen that his want of self-restraint had so shaped the ques- tion to be decided that it was impossible he could win. And so it has turned out. Strong as the last Congress was in opposi- tion to his will, the next will be stronger. He will not have a third of the votes in either House in his favour. His power of veto will cease to be of service to him. No doubt, he will see the wisdom of accepting the adverse decision of the nation, and will conform his policy to it with as good a grace as may be.

It would savour of impertinence in us to challenge the propriety of the verdict which the people have thus solemnly given, nor are we disposed to do so. We may be permitted, however, to express our hope that the South will acquiesce in this elec- toral defeat as a final settlement of their difference with the North. They cannot reasonably indulge an expectation of re- covering in the councils of the great Re- public the ascendancy which they lost on the battle-field. Difficult as it will doub- tless be to re-fashion the structure of their social system, it is perhaps the easiest of the paths now open to them by which they may regain their former prosperity. That which is possible now may become impossible hereafter. At any rate, and whatever view they may take of their lot, they can but waste their energies in per- sisting to carry on a struggle with over- whelming odds. They are summoned to surrender nothing that is essential to their own well-being. They will still retain all the elements of true political indepen- dence. Within the limits assigned by justice and civil equality, they will still be their own masters. Their relative place and power in the Union will, after all, de- pend chiefly upon themselves. Let us trust that we have witnessed the last of sectional contests, and that the stars and stripes may hereafter float over one harm- onious, thriving, and happy republic.-—LoN. ILL. NEWS.

The Difference, in a Nut-shell

The President insists that all that is necessary for the rebel states to be entitled to representation in Congress is that they should send loyal men as Representatives. Congress insists that the District which sends the Representative shall also give proof of loyalty as well. Else it is perti- nently asked, what shall prevent the most disloyal state from 'sending loyal repre- sentatives for the sake of obtaining ad- mission and then turning about and send- ing open traitors as their successors?

We have seen no answer to that ques- tion, and it is one that reaches to the root of the issue.

John G. Whittier on Political
Affairs.

The following interesting letter from the great Quaker poet, has been received by the Secretary of the Republican State Committee of Massachusetts. Let it be set off against Mr. Beecher's purblind views:

"DEAR SIR:—I regret that the state of my health will not allow me the privilege of accepting the invitation of the Repub- lican State Committee of Massachusetts to meet and welcome the southern loyalists at Philadelphia on the third of next month.

" My heart is with those noble men, who came up from the hot furnace of rebellion without the smell of its infernal fire on their garments. I would like to say to these, and through them to the people of the States that we yield to none in the de- sire for the restoration of these States to their place in Congress, in the speediest manner consistent with the safety of the Union—in other words, whenever the rights of all their inhabitants are secured, and the monstrous inequality of represen- tation growing out of slavery has been so adjusted that a rebel in South Carolina shall not have double the power of a loyal man in one of the Northern States.—Mas- sachusetts cherishes no hatred toward the South; no representative of hers has with- held his vote from appropriations for its benefit on sectional grounds; no Mas- sachusetts citizen has hesitated to mini- ster to the necessities of Southern cities under the calamities of plague or fire; the same hands that aided the hunted loyalists of East Tennessee have been extended to feed the starving rebels of Savannah. We have no desires of revenge to gratify, and where, in the nature of things, we cannot wholly forget, we are ready to forgive as we would be forgiven.

"Trusting that it is not too late for my place to be filled in the delegation, I am very truly thy friend.

The Russo-American Tele-
graph.

Intelligence received from Nicolajewsk (Amoor) announces that three ships had arrived there from Hamburg with mat- erial for the construction of the Russo- American Telegraph. The entire material was in good condition. Another despatch, dated Otchoak, Sept. 27, says:—-"The con- struction of the Russo-American telegraph line is rapidly progressing. The line is being carried to Nicolajewsk, simultane- ously from the Russian and American sides. The erection of the telegraph poles is partly completed.

U. S. S. Ashuelot.

She is 3 years old, constructed of iron, and built in compartments or sections. Her length overall is 250 feet, breadth 40 feet, and depth of hold 20 feet. Her decks are planked with live oak, and her bow and stern are alike, very sharp. Her paddlewheels are fitted with patent floats. Her armament is as follows:-—4 Dahlgren 60 pounders, each weighing, 6240 lbs.; 2 Rifle Parrot's 60 pounders, and 4 Brass Howitzers. These latter mount on the bridge. Her rate of speed is from 16 to 17 knots per hour, and she is fitted with a hurricane deck.

The Outlook.

It is doubtful whether the pilgrim- age of the President and his Premier to the tomb of Douglas will prove successful as an electioneering meas- ure. The President's speeches are so egotistical, vapid, repeated, and nu- merous as to fall very flat. They are more sickening than impressive. He seems full of nothing but personal vanities, boastful pretensions, and low flings at radicals. His evident attempt to appropriate to himself and his poli- cy the huzzas of Grant and Farragut, and the manifest wish to force those heroes into some sort of an indorse- ment of himself and his policy, do not work in his favor, but the contrary. He can not convince the people of the North and West that he is on the Un- ion platform, or is the same Andrew Johnson that he was. He can never have a congress to do his bidding. Himself and his policy are failures. The thunder of the radical majorities will be heard at Washington, and the threatened coup d'etat will never be heard of after November. The Pres- ident, it is believed, is too shrewd to please the radicals so well as to at- tempt such a French affair, and then have to "walk Spanish."-—Lo. Co. News.

Mr SANDFORD, United States Consul here, has received more news with regard to the "small vessel," via, that brought by a junk which arrived here last evening from the Corea, reporting that while entering harbor the master was warned by the crew of a junk which he met, not to go up the River as the natives were up in arms, having destroyed a foreign vessel with all her crew, thus apparently confirming the report brought by the French Fleet. The General Sherman left Chefoo on the 9th August. Capt. Preston, the owner of the vessel, was on board at the time, and should the melancholy news prove true, it is to be deeply regretted that his wife is en route for Shanghae. There were also on board two gentlemen from Chefoo, namely Mr Thomas, a linguist, and Mr Ho- garth, and it is feared they have all met the fate of the crew, on board the schooner. The murder of the crew of the General Sherman, is said to have been ordered by the King. This fact, taken in connection with the execution of those who held com- munication with the Emperor on the occasion of her recent visit, would go far to point to the Government as the author of the persecution of the mis- sionaries, in which they were promp- ted, probably, by the usual hatred of foreign intrusion.-—Ov. C. Mail.

Penang.

The following are extracts from the PENANG ARGUS, of October 26th:— An awful tragedy was enacted on board of the native brig FUTTER ISLAM of the burden of 145 tons, when she was lying off Trinket, one of the group of islands which form the Nicobars. The FUTTEE ISLAM left this for Rangoon in August last, but was driven by stress of weath- er to Acheen; where, after remaining for a few days, she sailed for the Nicobars and anchored off the island of Trinket about a quarter of a mile from Pulo Nang- kowri, a place notorious for the treach- ery of its inhabitants, and the many ves- sels that have from time to time been at- tacked there. The teacherous natives ap- peared friendly and brought cocoanuts and poultry, which they bartered for cloth, tobacco, knives and arrack. On the fourth day, five boats came alongside containing some thirty persons, and five or six went on board and entered into a friendly chat with the Nacodah, sitting and smoking with him. After holding par- ley for some time, one of them called out to a man in one of the boats for fire, which he brought up in a long thick bamboo. After lighting his cigar, he hit the Na- kodah on the head with the bamboo and knocked him down. On this, the men, who were quietly seated in the boats and watching what was going on board of the brig, rushed up with billets of firewood and spears, clubbing and spearing the crew who ran panic stricken in all direc- tions. In the confusion, three men named Sultan, store keeper, Shaik Doud, top- man, and Pakier, cock, ran down the hold and hid themselves behind wood and mats, where they remained till the noise on deck had subsided. When they emerged from their place of concealment and went on deck, it was getting dark and not a single soul was on board nor a boat alongside. There was much blood on deck, but the bodies of the murdered men had been thrown overboard by the murderers. The survivers got the pin out of the shackle of the chain, slipped it and put out to sea, there being a little breeze at the time, and arrived here on the 23rd instant, eight days after the shocking tragedy was enacted. The FUTTEH ISLAM had altogeth- er 24 men on board including the Nacodah, all of whom, excepting the three survivors, were either killed or carried on shore by the Nicabarians.

One of the chief events of the week has been the organization of another Mahome- dan secret society, in the quiet fishing village of Sunghy Penang, by four of the influential headmen living there. About one hundred aud twenty of the villagers have joined this Association; some from compulsion, and others from promise of assistance in time of difficulty. As might be axpected the society has a number of idlers and blustering ragamuf- fins. who are engaged in enlisting mem- bers threatening those who resist them and preventing others from associating and transacting business with persons who refuse to join the fraternity. No rows have yet occurred, but the quiet of the peac- able portion of the people has been much disturbed by the threstening attitude of the society men. There are several com- plaints by persons of being seriously threatened and their servants forced to strike work. A law to suppress these dangerous secret societies is much wanted.

The Rebellion in the Burmese Empire has determined, and two the of Rebel Princes have taken refuge at Rangoon where they arrived on the 9th October in the Burmese Steamer " Yan-kan-taykin," with about two hundred followers. The GAZETTE says:—-" We are told that a house is to be engaged at Cantonment for these Princes, where they will be kept guarded by a strong body of Police, as it is more than probable that numerous emissaries of the late War Prince would soon make short work of them, if they were left unprotected. What is to be done with them eventually, we cannot at pre- sent say."

The United States.

The Legislature of South Carolina his adopted important measures concerning the coloured population of that State. Freedmen are secured the right to make and enforce contracts, to sue, give legal evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease, hold, or sell property; to enjoy full and equal benefits of personal security, personal liberty, and all legal remedies, the same as whites. All punishments for crime are to be inflicted regardless of colour. The law declaring marriages between whites and blacks illegal, however, remains unrepealed.

Twenty thousand ounces of gold (valu- ed at 400,000 dollars) were deposited lately on a single day in the branch mint at San Francisco, being the largest amount ever received in one day..

Mr. Bigelow's retirement from the Embassy at Paris is said to be his own act.

The Radical party has carried the elec- tions in Pennsylvania, which augurs badly for President Johnson, if there be any truth in an axiom of American elec- tioneers, that "as Pennsylvania goes, so goes the Union."

Mr. Sumner has delivered an address at Boston on "The One Man in Power versus Congress." In his discourse he animadverted at length upon President Johnson's conduct of the Government, accusing him of having assumed the legislative functions, and declared that the present State Governments in the South were not of Republican form. The Congressional and Constitutional amend- ment must, he said, be adopted, and the universal suffrage demanded and secured by the North could not be left to be granted to the negroes by the Southern States themselves. He also declared that all negroes who hold to their allegiance were entitled to citizenship.

Judge Underwood is reported to have stated that Mr. Davis will be tried in November.

Assistant Secretary Seward has been appointed Secretary of State ad interim, owing to his father's illness.

Mr. John von Buren is dead.

The Government has entered a NOLLE PROSEQUI in the case of the Fenian presi- dent Roberts.

The public debt of the United States amounted on Oct. 1st to 2,700,000,000 dols., and the amount in the Treasury on the same date was 128,000,000 dols.

The steamer Evening Star, for New Orleans, has floundered at sea: 300 lives were lost.—LON. ILL. NEWS.

Scientific Traveler.

For several years an eminent German Naturalist, by the name of Dr. Bastian has been traveling in the East, after hav- ing traveled in the West. He spent some years on the West Coast of Africa in the territories of Ashantee and Dahomey and other tribes. Dr. Bastian is an enthusiastic naturalist and traveler. An account of his travels was published some years ago in Germany. In 1861 he reached Rangoon after having made a journey through the North west provinces. From this place he left for the Burmese capital where he re- mained sometime in the palace by invita- tion of the King. From Mandalay it was his intention to proceed into Western Chi- na and by that route to work his way a- long to Pekin. In this hope, however he was disappointed. The Panthees [?] residing near the Chinese frontier would not allow him to pass. Hence he had to return. From the capital, he then crossed the country and traveled down to Maulmain. From that town, he proceeded to Siam, whence he passed up the Cambodia river to inspect the ruins of the old city of Cambodia.

At the request of the King of Siam we believe he furnished a sketch of his travels to the ruins of Cambodia, and this paper has lately been published in the columns of the "Bangkok Recorder." Many papers which he contributed to different Scienti- fic Societies both in England and Germany have been published in the journals. Dr. Bastian is now traveling in the Southern part of China, and after visiting Pekin will probably, push up the Amour river, and thence through Asiatic Russia back over- land to Germany. He is a man of iron constitution, of indomitable perseverance and of extreme simplicity of habits. He adapts himself to the tastes of every race through whose territory he passes. He car- ries no supplies along with him, but de- pends for food on the natives of the coun- try where he is traveling. He is certainly a very extraordinary man. He has been through America, through Africa and is slowly pushing along through Asia. When his travels are over, he will settle down probably at Leipsic and write a succession of works giving his observations and experience for the benefit of mankind.— RANGOON TIMES.

NEW JERSEY has ratified the Constitu- tional Amendment and elected an anti- Johnson U. S. Senater—-Hon. A. G. Cattell Alias for Camden and Amboy.' Its charm is broken.

PARIS advices assure us that the "stove pipe," alias "chimney pot," alias "plug hat, is going out of fashion. We fear the news is too good to be true. The old a- bomination, mother of headaches, and defier of good taste, will not be easily dethroned.

THE TOUR of the Southern Loyalists call' out large meetings and is doing a healthy work. Their ringing utterances in favor of equal suffrage and a plea for security for southern loyalists—-white and black—- are touching the pulse of the people. There is every reason to hope that the next, Con- gress will have a heavier radical majority than the last.

WHILE A young minister was recently preaching a written discourse in Andover, the wind, entering through an open win- dow, whisked the sermon off the desk and most of it out of an opposite window, scattering it through a field of grain. No one going to his aid, the young reverend was obliged to leave the desk and the church and hunt up his flying sermon, which, with its re-arrangement, took about a quarter of an hour. This new way of spreading the gospel was anything but a serious matter to the congregation.

THE TIMES' circulation is said to suffer severely by the late defection of Mr. Ray- mond. The New York TRIBUNE, on the other hand, was never before so popular as now. It has gained ten thousand on its daily, and thirty thousand on its weekly since the first of August.

Bangkok Recorder.

Our attention was this day called by a friend to a government notifica- tion posted on small boards and hung up in many places on the new street Charon Kroong. The purport of it is,—that the king is displeased to find so few of the building lots on that new street occupied by good and res- pectable buildings, and that after sev- eral years of waiting upon their own- ers he sees that the great majority of the lots remain an entire waste. He says that he has been at great expense in making the street for the purpose of having it open many eligible building sites that should be so occupied as to improve and beautify the city, and that seeing the owners of the waste lots are not likely to do it themselves, he has determined upon adopting the following plan to accomplish his ori- ginal purpose, viz:—

The owners of the unoccupied lots shall have but a little more than one year more of grace for improving them. If at the beginning of the year Marong (about March 1868) the lots remain unoccupied by some suitable buildings, their owners shall be oblig- ed to sell them to the king at only the established government prices, and that the government will then proceed to erect buildings upon them to rent to the people.

This appears to us a very interes- ting government document. It would seem to have been placarded twelve or fifteen days since, with the seal of H. E. Chow Phya Kaiahome the Prime Minister affixed to it. It is written simply with a black pencil on coarse Siamese paper. We wonder at H. E. having so important a business tran- saction executed so shabbily, and that no notice of it has been furnished by government for either the English or Siamese paper.

The first blush of the document might strike one as being rather op- pressive upon the owners of those va- cant building lots; but on a little thought it looses that appearance. The ground for the street was originally purchased by the government at pri- ces which no owner had any good rea- son to complain of, even though they might appear to him rather cheap, be- cause the street when made would enhance much the value of all the land on its borders. The king's ob- ject was really to benefit the land- lords on the street, while at the same time he intended to improve the city by a large increase of good houses neatly arranged on either side of the street.

But now the king discovers that the owners of the lots have raised their ideas so high as to their value, that they refuse to sell them at such pri- ces as will justify persons of but little money in purchasing them. Thus is his benevolent object being defeated, and hence he now determines to arrest the further progress of this defeat, and take a course that will accomplish his original design. He has made an out- lay of but little less than a thousand catties of silver for the object, and paid the original owners of the land which the street occupies all that it was then worth. And moreover, by making the street he has more than quadrupled the value of the building lots which remain in their possession, which if they would sell at even this enhanced value, could and would be purchased quickly by the poorer clas- ses and suitably occupied. But no— These landlords must have much greater prices paid for their lots, such as none but monied men can pay. Hence we think that it is quite right that the king should resolve upon the course he has We are glad to see that he has taken up the matter in good earnest, and will in all probabi- lity accomplish it.

Lotus Gardens.

We understand that the pic-nic given by the Prussian Consul and lady on the 11th inst. was highly gratifying to the guests, especially to the ladies and juvenals, to whom the monotony of Bangkok affords but rare opportunities for such agreeable re- creations. The morning was fine, the air bracing, and a favorable tide all conspiring, made the ride to His Majesty's palace in the Lotus garden exhilirating. The Lotus garden is becoming quite a fashionable place of resort, conducing much to the health and pleasure of our community. It is accessible from the river by four large canals, all verging into the large canal which connects the Chow Phya river with the Bangpakong.

To those residing in the lower part of the city the most direct route is through the Klawng Koot-mai, a fine large canal dug during the present reign, forming a large semi-circle around the city. It furnishes beau- tiful locations for dwellings and is now one of the great throughfares of the city. It is generally crowded with boats, often rendering the passage to and fro very difficult. The same is true of all the canals in and about Bangkok, giving some idea of the im- mense trade between the provinces and the metropolis. Nor are there wanting numerous specimens of an- cient Siamese war boats lying in docks almost lining some portions of the way, now superseded by the modern improvements of war steamers, with which they stand in striking contrast, and giving us some idea of the great advance of the present over former reigns.

In addition to those there are in the upper canals, before mentioned, palaces of princes, and residences of noblemen, and a number of large and extensive temples throughout the whole extent to the Lotus gardens. Wat Saket, popularly called the tower of Babel, situated on one of these canals com- mands one of the finest views of the city. It is an immense pile of brick designed as a tower, in connection with a temple, but was left unfinished because it was too heavy to be sup- ported entire upon its foundation. It has recently been so repaired as to be easy and safe of ascent to any who may have the curiosity to visit it, and will well repay the effort by giv- ing a bird's-eye view of the city. This whole portion of the city has a crowded population embracing, the numerous nationalities all seeking a livelihood in their various callings. In the immediate vicinity of the gar- dens, as you approach the palace, the rice fields begin to show in the dis- tance. The location of the Lotus garden on this canal was wisely chosen. The grounds are large and in pretty good order, the walks are good, and the whole place admirably adapted for a pic-nic excursion, as well as for its original design, as a place of recreation for His Majesty, in which he may spend a day or more away from the cares and business of the palace. The lot fronts on the canal. Behind the building is an artificial pond in which the Lotus plants are grown, which constitutes the garden proper. They are not in blossom at this season of the year, and boats pass over their beds with but little sign of their existence. In the midst of the pond is an artificial is- land on which there is a new temple in process of building, which when finished may rank, in workmanship, among the first class of temples in the kingdom. There is a small canal lead- ing from the main one by which the garden and the temple is reached. The paintings on the walls within are said to be of rather a fine order, reflecting credit on the artists by whom they were executed. Any one who has been at Wat Po will remember how finely the temple walls are covered with paintings, representing real and imaginary beings and scenes. The gardens, the island, and the temple are all in full view of the palace build- ings, with a broad, cheering view over the rice fields, and the whole together forms another one of the many pleasant spots around Bangkok, an occasional visit to which would contribute to the health and cheerful- ness of the citizens.

Shan Land-Sketches
HISTORY, LITERATURE RELIGION &c.
CHAPTER 11.

Two o'clock in the morning, at the full moon of February, we came to anchor outside the bar, at the entrance of the river, leading to the capital of Shanland. The captain immediately manned the cutter, and we set out for the city, as it was smooth water in the Gulf, early in the morning. If we had waited for daylight, before we could reach the river, the great waves might make our little boat uncomfort- able.

We reached the river just at break of day, and a more gladsome scene I never witnessed. The full moon set upon the western horizon. The Sun had just stepped forth from his bed chamber, and Venus just above never looked brighter. It seemed gala day with the glad bowers. Cock-a- doodle-doo sang in most joyous rounds, the lords of the heneries along the coast. All the feathered tribes were awake and full of song. The myriads of insects of every variety of tone and character chimed in their little melody, and even the fishes, seemed tuneful as well, for some little shoals of them, were giving us a merry tune, as they seemed to cling to our boat and move with us, as on the perfectly glassy surface of the water we glided quietly along. And the foliage too, how luxurious! up and down and around, as far as the eye could reach, not a tall towering growth, but a thick young growth of wood land, each tree seem- ing to press on its neighbor, and per- fectly loaded down with leaves—a rich deep green without variety.

How full of life, was my spontane- ous exclamation, as we came into the river. I do not know that I can ex- press more of Shaunland, in a few words, than I did then. It is full of life. The soil and the waters seem so delight to bring forth, and indepen- dent of man, is a land abounding in varied gifts. The soil enriches itself, with the flood tides with come every year with the closing rains, and then sends forth, in the forests even, palatable fruits and vegetables. The wild deer courses free in the woodlands, and varied birds fine for food, and many of them sweet-singers, are every-where on the wing, seeking their food from God. You can hardly turn up a spade of mother earth without disturbing myriads of her children. And fish, sea fish, shell fish, have all seasons for their own, and afford an inexhaustable store for those who love what is healthy and simple.

The longer I live in Shaunland, the more I am impressed with its suscep- tabilities for a great population. It is a constant producer, and unlike most countries, and most created things, asks no day of rest or year of jubilee. All seasons are adorned with fruits and flowers and delicate buds and some- times the same tree has them all at once, and the great variety cannot but afford some for every taste.

No languor winter even comes here enveloping the earth in a shroud, and saying as plain as looks can speak—- death-—death—-death, bears univer- sal sway. No nipping frosts ever steals stealthily, in autumn nights, and blast the hopes of long labors and careful watch care. Life seems to be the watchword of prolific nature. Live and revel in natures bounties, heedless of future wants You need no bee-like industry, to hoard for gloomy winter; each season has enough.

And here the philosopher would naturally stop to trace the effects of so luxurious and lenient a climate. The hardy Scotchman on rugged hills, first battles with dame nature, fighting hard to keep a foothold on his mother earth, and wrenching from her by dint of greatest energy and care and forethought, enough to well supply his passing wants. Up with the sun he toils with thoughts all wide awake to gain his bread, and as he seeks his bread he gets his education too. For education is but well to learn to think, and plan, and meet the tasks of life. It matters little how the work is done or where, 'tis well done. And so the Scotch are brave and enterprising and if a little "near" 'tis wonderful they hold so loosely what has given anxious care to get.

The men of Yankeeland are taught in a harder school, than those that train young men for war and seamen's life or patriotic toil. The soil has been the best of teachers. Sit down and smoke your pipe and play at cards or dare frequent a public house and drink the fiery beverage which turns the brain awry, and want and beggary, even death is sure to press upon your path at once. No! no! says rocky, hilly Yankee land, if you would live a busy, earnest, eager life, all full of plans, and turns, and projects rare, must be your part. And so in Yankeeland they never miss a means to gain an honest end. And so her sons where'er the hand of Providence may lead the way, will find a means to thrive.

What then—-Is a luxurious land a curse? I said not that. But man is moved by circumstances, and if his wants give him no blows to urge him on, he loves to lag behind and rest in cooling shade and sleep away his hours, or seek some haunt of mirth, and away his listless, dreamless time in play, or lulled in lap of luxury and self indulgence, thinks of naught but what will gratify wild passions unres- trained by fear of God or man.

Wants we must have, to make us think, and plan, and act. Wants for ourselves, our fellow men, our country, or a stimulus to glorify the Being we were made to serve. The great chief want is lust. We need a God to serve whose days are filled with making worlds and peopling them with living men and things. Who makes it his great end, to train those godlike made for bliss in heaven. With a God like this to serve, and imitate, and purpose full awake to serve the human race, the swift winged thought of man would always soar and seek some wished for good, to glorify the God o'er all, or benefit some brother man in need that has a life less easy than his own.

LOCAL.

His Royal Highness Somdeteh Chowfa Chulalongkorn left the city this morning, as we are informed, for a trip to P'KA PATOM CRADEE. His Majesty the king returned from thence on the 8th inst.

His Excellency Chow Phya Kala- home the Prime Minister is making preparations for celebrating the 59th anniversary of his birth on the 22nd 23rd and 24th inst.

We have just received a paper from the king's chief scribe touching our review of the royal criticisms in our last issue, and are happy to report that it is written in a good spirit, and nar- rows rather than widens the difference of views between us. Its author is of the opinion that the colloquial of the laity and that of the Buddhist clergy should not be at all mixed together in our publications. Our own view is, that the mixture has so long been made in the standard works of the country, that it would be difficult to effect a very great change at this late day, and that the change would not be of any great utility if made. But we do think some Siamese writers are quite too free in the use of the pecu- liar language of the priests, and it may be that our own writers have erred in this regard.

We have occasion to be thankful for many valuable criticisms which His Majesty has from time to time made on our Siamese writings and the wri- tings of the missionaries generally.

BIRTH.

At her temporary residence in this city, on the 1st inst. Mrs. McFarland wife of Rev. S. G. McFarland of the Presbyterian Mission in Petchaburee, gave birth to a son.

We learn that the Karens who ap- plied to the British Consul in this city a few weeks since for redress for the stealing of an elephant by a Siamese party on the borders of Burmah and Siam, have obtained all the papers they need from the Siamese authori- ties here to accomplish their object, and are about leaving.

The Rice Mill of Messrs. R. S. Scott & Co., at Khawk-khwai, was sold on Monday the 10th inst. to P'hya Buroot for the sum of sixty thousands ticals.

NOTICE.

The 9th number of the Bangkok Calendar will be issued about the first of January next. It will not contain the usual amount of suppli- mentary matter of the preceding No's. since much of that kind of reading has already been furnished this year in the columns of the Bangkok Recorder, thus superceding the desirability of the like in the Calendar, and be- cause it increases the cost of the work quite too much for the small pay that it brings the proprietor.

All who wish to have their business relations or simply their names publish- ed in the Calendar will please take the necessary steps to have them cor- rectly inserted. A printed sheet of the usual business relations and names will be sent about town early next week to receive the corrections that will need to be made for the year 1867.

IRON BRIDGES.-—Two Iron Bridges have already been set up in this city, and we are glad to observe that two others are going up. One of them is to cross the new canal near the lower Fort on the left bank of the Menam, and the other to cross the old canal near the city walls at the northern end of the great Bazar. They are both to be draw-bridges some 70 to 80 feet in length by 12 or 15 in breadth. We scarcely need say that the one near the city wall will be a great improvement upon the old bridge of but two nar- row planks which none but men, goats and dogs could walk, and which we have seen full thirty one years with an unbroken and perpetual line of hu- man beings passing both ways upon it.

We beg leave to suggest to govern- ment that if they would have their bridges endure long the corroding in- fluences of this clime, they should keep them well painted.

STARTLING.—-It is rumored that M. Aubaret, the French consul, has be- come displeased at the refusal of the Siamese government to modify the 4th Article of the Treaty of April 1856 relating to Cambodia, and has demanded the removal of H. E. the Prime Minister. If true, this is cer- tainly a most extraordinary proceed- ing for a consul. Would any minister plenipotentiary in Europe dare to make such a demand of any European gov- ernment ? With all their high rank and position we believe they would not dare to venture to take such a step, and if they did, their passports would be handed over to them im- mediately. We trust the Siamese government will not yield to any such demand, and, if the report is true, will stand firm to their true dignity and duty. We do not believe any gov- ernment in Europe or America would tolerate such proceedings in a consul.

H. B. M. S. “Pearl” is a Steam Screw Corvette of 17 large guns. Her ton- nage is 1750, with steam power of 400 horse, including officers and crew, there are nearly 300 persons on board. She arrived at the Bar on Monday last, and a Siamese Steamer brought up the captain and some of the officers on Wednesday. She will probably leave the Bar for Singapore Monday night (the 17th inst). She was seven days coming up from Sing- apore with the mail. We shall pro- bably see His Majesty to day.

THE GUNBOAT IMPREGNABLE.-—We learn that the commander of H. B. M’s War Steamer, the “PEARL,” has been on board H. S. M’s Gunboat Impregnable, and examined her con- dition, and inspected the drill of the native marines. He speaks in much praise of all he saw, and appeared to be quite surprised at the cleanliness, discipline, and good order manifested to also of the smartness of the men working their guns.

FIRE.—-An attempt appears to have been made on the 10th inst. to burn down the Chinese-land rice mills on the Canal a little in the rear of the Harbor Master’s residence. In the dead of that night a Peon connected with the Police force, standing on the bridge a little way from the mills, saw a small blaze of fire on the attap roof of one of the mills, and instantly raised an alarm, which called out a sufficient number of persons to extinguish it in time to save all damage. In doing so they found that a lot of lucifer matches, had been rolled up in many folds of Chinese wrapping paper, and the paper ignit- ed and thrown up on the roof, doubt- less by some incendiary, expecting the paper would burn slowly until he could have time to escape notice and then ignite the matches. He did in- deed escape, but the matches had not been reached by the burning paper be- fore the plot was arrested. Had the police man been a few minutes later, the two or three rice mills, the most combustible things possible, would have been wrapped in flames, and the whole neighborhood would doubtless have been involved in the catastrophe. This is another proof among very many of the utility of a Police force. There have been several such narrow escapes from conflagration by the intervention of police men, who were on the watch.

Fires—It is reported that there was a fire of considerable extent on the same night of the 10th inst on the Chaoron Kroong in the rear of the house of the Borneo Company "Limited."

To the readers of the
BANGKOK RECORDS

I am commissioned by the ladies of the Bangkok Bazar Association, and instructed specially with many pleas- ant Christmas greetings, to inform you, that they intend, d. v. to hold a Bazar on the 24th instant, at the Protestant church, kindly placed at their disposal, by our much esteemed B. Consul T. G. Knox Esq. for the purpose of disposing of a few fancy articles, worked conjointly by the la- dies here, for the aid and benefit of the new Mission about to be opened at Cheangmai. The hours will be from 2 to 6 p. m.

With a view the more fully to in- terest my readers in the proposed baz- ar, I cannot, I think, do better than to give a slight sketch of the spirit and motives which induced the Ladies to meet together for an object, from notes made by one of themselves at a meeting.

“The Ladies of the Bangkok Bazar Association have decided upon devot- ing the 1st and 4th Thursday in every month, to working together conjointly, each paying in a small gratuity at the same time, that they may thus be en- abled to have in reserve a small Fund, to be appropriated to any worthy or charitable end that may be deemed fit.”

But as the Cheangmai mission is to take from us two of our beloved sis- ters in Christ, one of whom will, with her husband and little ones, leave al- most immediately after Christmas, the other following with her husband at the beginning of the next dry season, both wholly resigning the comforts and pleas- ures of social intercourse which Bang- kok affords, thus subjecting themselves and children to a very trying position, on- ly that they may help, comfort, and en- courage with their presence their hus- bands while engaged in the higher work of teaching the far off Louians the blessed truths of the Gospel, their tired efforts shall be, half hopeful, half regretful, with many natural fears and so many misgivings, but all together, as with one hand and one heart, lovingly devoted, to expressing our warm and united sympathy with the dear brave ones now about to bid us a long adieu. This therefore must be the object of our first Bazar, the products of which we intend as a material Souvenir to the Cheangmai Mission Fund.

Sandwich Islands No. 8.

HONOLULU is the capital of the Hawaiian nation, and is situated on the South western side of OAHU. The harbor has the reputation of being one of the best in the Pacific Ocean, and is formed by a coral reef. The city contains a population of about 12,000 souls, and has assumed quite the ap- pearance of a European city in the style of its houses, streets sidewalks, etc. The palace of the king is in the city, surrounded by a stone wall. The building is a story and a half, but it would seem not very imposing.

There are two native Protestant churches and one Roman Catholic. Besides these, there are also the Fort street church, a seaman's chapel, and an Episcopalian or “Reformed Cath- olic church. Outside of the city, within the Honolulu district, there are a dozen or more houses for Protestant worship and built by the natives, at a cost, on an average, of six hundred dol- lars each. Three of them are of stone and the others generally of wood. The first church in Honolulu is built of coral blocks, with extensive galleries, seats a large congregation, and has a town clock in its tower.

The members of the second church, numbering 2516, made out a regular call to Rev. Mr. Parker at the time of Dr. Anderson’s visit in 1863, promis- ing him a salary of a thousand dol- lars to be raised by themselves. His ordination took place at that time, and the services, as described by Dr. A. must have been most interesting. “The vast audience, its becoming appearance, the interest, the attention, the singing, every thing indicated an established christianity.”

Two miles from the city is Oahu COLLEGE, a charming situation com- manding a grand view of the sea. "It is a beautiful place, and the college seems to be a gem of the Islands. Here the children of the missionaries, male and female, and other foreign youths, and natives, speaking the English language, and paying their expenses may receive almost as effective an education as was given by American colleges in my early years." The school was commenced in 1841 and the char- ter obtained in 1853. The number of pupils in 1863 was seventy nine. Dr. A. was present at the annual examination in 1863, and says of it. "The hall was filled with students, teachers, and an intelligent audience. The examination was admirably con- ducted, and completely successful. The President (Mills) examined in geometry, meteorology, algebra, elem- ents of criticism, and intellectual phil- osophy; Prof. Alexander, in the Latin Reader, Sophocles, Virgil, and ana- lytical geometry; Mrs. Mills, in Chem- istry, geology, botany, natural the- ology, and English grammar; Miss Coan, in history and rhetoric, while the paintings and drawings executed by her pupils were seen upon the walls; and Mr. Bailey, in arithmetic and geography, including the exhibi- tion of neatly executed maps. The commencement performances were on Thursday evening, June 18th (1863) in the great Stone Church of Honolu- lu. The speakers acquitted themselves well, and the singing by the pupils, under a German professor, was of a high order. Altogether the institution appeared to be in a prosperous con- dition, and I cannot help regarding it as one of the most important elements of safety and prosperity for the Hawaiian nation."

In a chapter towards the latter part of his book Dr. A. writes more par- ticularly on Schools and Literature from which the following extracts are made.

"The Hawaiian language was so far reduced to writing by the mis- sionaries in 1822, that they com- menced printing in January of that year. Every syllable of the language ends with a vowel; and all the sounds of the language are expressed by five vowels and seven consonants. To give a proper expression to the names of persons, places, and things in oth- er countries, with which the Hawai- ians need to become acquainted, especially to Scripture names, nine consonants have been added—b, d, f, g, r, s, t, v, and z. The twelve let- ters of the proper Hawaiian alphabet are a, e, i, o, u, h, k, l, m, n, p, w. It was this simple alphabet that so soon made the ability to read almost universal."

"There have been published in the native language besides the Old and New Testaments, more than two hun- dred different works, and more than two hundred million pages."

The classes of books, published have been 1st Religions 21 kinds; 2nd School books 38 kinds; 3d General Science 7 kinds, generally large works embracing Political economy, Com- pend of general history, ancient His- tory &c.; 4th Government, 4 kinds, as statute laws, civil code, penal code &c. and 5th Newspapers, 10.

"The question will arise, How far the Hawaiian people are able and disposed to be profited by a litera- ture in their native language. This will be best answered by an extract from a well considered article, which was read by Judge Andrews before the Hawaiian Evangelical Association in June, 1863. His competence to testify on the subject is seen in the fact, that he is the author of the Hawaiian Grammar mentioned above, and also of a Dictionary of the Hawai- ian Language, containing ten or twelve thousand words . . . and was the first principal of what is now the Lahainaluna College."

"It will be remembered that at that time (1828) and for several years after- wards, no children were in the schools. The schools were composed of adults, chiefs and people, men and women. Many who had passed the middle age of life were proud to stand up in clas- ses and read their palapalas. The masses read, and continued to learn to read, as fast as the missionaries could get out books for them. The first book was a Spelling-book; then followed Thoughts of the chiefs. The chiefs had not only learned to read, but to write out their own thoughts. The Sermon on the mount followed; then the History of Joseph; then a sequel to the Spelling-book, a small Arithmetic etc. * * * * *

"Again, simultaneously with read- ing, the people learned to write, just as far as they could get the apparatus, i. e. pon, or pencil, and paper, or slates and pencils. * * * *It was often said, -—and I never heard it disputed, that every Hawaiian who could procure a slate knew how to write. "In February, 1832, a Hawaiian weekly periodical (Lamer Hawaii), of four quarto pages, was commenced at Lahainaluna, one condition of which was, that one full page of each number was reserved for the original thoughts of Hawaiians; and they filled it with respectable newspaper matter. And a Hawaiian periodical has been kept up from that time to the present, no in- considerable portion of which has been furnished by Hawaiians themselves. Hero then are readers and writers to no small extent.

"Another thing taught and learned, and in a good degree understood in native schools, is Arithmetic; and it is of just the same value to Hawaiians, so far as mental improvement is con- cerned as arithmetic is in any other language. * * * And the treatises that have been prepared and printed and studied, are not mere first books for children, but such are studied in com- mon and higher schools in the United States and England.

"Again in the higher schools of La- hainaluna, Hilo and Waioh, neither teachers nor scholars have stopped at arithmetic, but have gone a step further —-into algebra. And any one by ex- amination, may be assured, not only that the Hawaiian language is capable of expressing the terms of that science, but that Hawaiian minds are capable of understanding its principles, and solving its problems.

"Again, Surveying has not only been theoretically taught through the medium of the Hawaiian language, but carried out in practice for several years past. No small part of the surveying of the Islands, is now in the hands of the Hawaiians who have learned it entirely in their own language.

"Geography next to Arithmetic, has been a favorite study calculated to enlarge their minds, excite their curiosity, and probably has led some to ship as seamen that they might see foreign countries. And this has been done in their own language.

"Hitherto I have spoken only of the intellectual improvement, or simply the gain of knowledge. But the moral and religious instruction which Hawai- ians have gained through the medium of their own language is, in my opin- ion, of vastly greater importance. They have received it in schools, from peri- odicals, from tracts, from reading the Bible, and from hearing the gospel preached from Sabbath to Sabbath. * * * * They have learned from the Bible their relationship to God and to one another, and the duties growing out of that relationship. They have, learned, —moreover, the plan of salva- tion through the obedience, sufferings, and death of the Son of God.

"Besides the Bible they have read many other moral and religious books, as they have been prepared or trans- lated for them; such as Wayland's moral Philosophy, Gallaudet's treatise in the soul, Baxter's Saint's Rest etc. etc. Besides the moral and religious lessons in the weekly publications. The value of this kind of instruction cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. We may see some of its effects in the morals of the people; the quiet- ing of the war spirit for almost forty years; the general adherence to a writ- ten code of laws; the almost entire cessation of the murderous spirit; the adoption of the Sabbath instead of the arbitrary tabas; the general safety of foreign residents; the peaceful pos- session of property; the liberty and form of religious worship, etc, etc. All this state of things is not easy to be accounted for, except by means of the moral and religious instruction con- veyed to the masses, through their own language, and primarily in native schools".

Excerpts from Ruskin.

In his last volume Ruskin has, as usual, many trenchant passages. Of the mo- ney worshippers, he says:

"However, in every nation there are, and must be a certain number of these Fiend's servants, who have it principally for the object of their lives to make money. They are always, as I said, more or less stupid, and cannot conceive of anything else so nice as money. Stupidity is always the basis of the Judas bargain. "We do great injustice to Iscariot, in thinking him wicked above all common wickedness. He was only a common money-lover, and, like all money-lovers, didn't understand Christ; couldn't make out the worth of him, or the meaning of him. He didn't want Him to be killed. He was horror struck when he found that Christ would be killed; threw his money away instantly, and hang- ed himself. How many of our present money-seekers, think you, would have the grace to hang themselves, whoever was killed? But Judas was a common, selfish, muddle-headed, pilfering fellow; his hand always in the bag of the poor. not caring for them. He didn't under- stand Christ; yet believed in him, much more than most of us do; had seen Him do miracles, thought He was quite strong enough to shift for himself, and he, Ju- das, might as well make his own little by- perquisites out of the affair. Christ would come out of it well enough, and he have his thirty pieces. Now, that is the money- seeker's idea, all over the world. He doesn't hate Christ, but can't understand Him—doesn't care for Him—sees no good in that benevolent business; makes his own little job out of it at all events, come what will. And thus, out of every mass of men, you have a certain number of bagmen—your 'fee-first' men, whose main object is to make money. And they do make it in all sorts of unfair ways, chiefly by the weight and force of money itself, or what is called the power of capital; that is to say, the power which money, once obtained, has over the labor of the poor, so that the capitalist can take all its produce to himself, except the labor- er's food. That is the modern Judas' way of 'carrying the bag,' and 'bearing what is put therein.'—-Lo. Co. News.

Almost Swearing.

As I was walking down street the oth- er day, I met three little boys on the side- walk playing marbles. I watched them with some interest as I passed slowly by them, they seemed so happy and interest- ed in their game; when one of them ex- claimed, "by George, that was a lucky hit, wasn't it."

The second boy looked up in much sur- prise at the words he used. "Why Char- lie," said he, "you are a swearer." "No, I a'n't," said Charlie; "that isn't swear- ing."

"Well, it's almost swearing, at any rate, mother says so; and she tells me not to use such words, for if I do, I shall say bad words before I think of it."

That mother was right in telling her son not to use such words. There are many similar words and expressions which boys are much in the habit of using; but as that boy said, it is very easy to go from these to something worse, and finally to profane swearing. No Christian gentle- man, and certainly no lady of refinement ever says, "By George," or uses any other similar expression. It adds no force to what is said. It not only borders on profanity, but shows a lack of true re- finement. The best of all books says, "Let your communications be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." —CHILD'S PAPER.

How the Fox was Fooled.

A cock had just crowed upon his dung- hill. A fox was watching him but dared not approach very near for fear of frigh- tening him, He therefore employed this ruse:

”My dear sir,” he said, “I can no long- er resist my desire to tell you how much pleasure you have given me. It is a long time that I have been looking at you, and you are, I must confess, the most per- fect creature I ever beheld. But what pleases me, above everything else, is your voice. In my whole life, I never heard one like it, except, perhaps, that of your father. And it was remarkable in him that he sang with his eyes shut.”

”I can do the same,” replied the cock, and immediately he shut his eyes, spread his wings, and was going to crow, when the fox seized him and carried him off.

Happily for him, some shepherds who were at a little distance, saw the robber carrying off his prey, and let loose their dogs upon him.

The cock then used a little art in his turn, and said to the robber, “Tell them that I am one of your friends, and they will let you go.”

The fox, believing this, opened his mouth to speak, and so let go his bird, which immediately flew into a tree and mocked him.

”Woe unto him who speaks when he ought to be silent,” said the cock.

”Woe unto him who shuts his eyes when he ought to have them open!” ob- served the fox.—-Lo. Co. News.

Napoleon Happy.

The news by the Atlantic Cable contains a most comforting assurance of the su- preme satisfaction with which the Emperor, of France regards the upshot of things in Europe. "The French circular says that the recent changes in Europe are favorable to France, Prussia and Italy are drawn nearer in ideas and interest.

Austria has now no hostile intent. The convention of Rome will be loyally carried out. Navies of second-class powers as- sure the liberty of the Baltic and the Mediterranean." "Everything is lovely." and not even Mr. Seward could be more ecstatic in his assured optimism.

Happy man! Why should he not be de- lighted? After brooding over his "Napo- leonic ideas" for thirty years, until the time has arrived for their biggest realiza- tion, and after having invested his literary reputation in support of the [.....] Caesarism, which was to put his anticipal- ed glory high on the pages of history, he undertook the actual performance of his destined part as the master of the situation in Europe. He offered himself as the in- fallible counsellor, the final arbiter, the rightful divider of nationalities, to advise how Germany ought to be rearranged, be rearranged, to determine on what terms Italy should obtain Venetia, and to recon- struct the map of Europe; and to his sur- prise he found that nobody listened to him or heeded his counsels, or cared for his expressed wishes.

Parties with one consent minded their own business, managed their own affairs, and settled their own difficulties, precisely as they would have done if there had been no such ruler as Napoleon III., and no such country in Europe as the empire of France. Even the anxiety which ruled the Congress of Vienna, to arrange Europe in such a man- ner as to prevent the revival of Napoleon- ism, is no longer apparent. Nobody fears him, nobody cares for him. He may re- main the monarch of France as long as the French people deem it for their interest to retain him, or he might be driven from pow- er to-morrow; and Europe, in its march toward international independence and harmony, neither feel his presence nor would regard his exit with anything ap- proaching to a convulsive sensation.

Let him be pleased with all this, if he will; it is all he can do. Let him be dis- pleased, if that suits his humor, he cannot help himself. The great bugbear which seemed to darken the whole hemisphere has dissolved into thin air. Europe breathes freely. Nations will now govern themselves, and strive to promote their own, and the advancement of each other, by cultivating the arts of peace. The Dragon of Wantley has turned to a shepherd's dog, and wags his tail with delight over the bone which Europe leaves at his disposal.

The Casket of Gems.

What is gratitude ?

Gratitude is the memory of the heart,

What is hope ?

Hope is the blossom of happiness.

What is the difference between hope and desire ?

Desire is a tree in leaf; hope is a tree in flower, and enjoyment is a tree in fruit.

What is eternity ?

A day without yesterday or tomorrow; a line that has no ends.

What is time ?

A line that has two ends ; a path which begins in the cradle and ends in the tomb.

What is God ?

The necessary being; the sun of eter- nity; the machinist of nature; the eye of justice; the watchmaker of the universe; the soul of the world.

Does God reason ?

Man reasons because he doubts ; he de- liberates; he decides. God is omniscient; he knows all things; he never doubts; he therefore never reasons.

The foundation of domestic happiness is faith in the virtue of woman: the foundation of political happiness is con- fidence in the integrity of man: and the foundation of all happiness, whether tem- poral or eternal, is reliance on the good- ness of God.

We become familiar with the outsides of men as with the outsides of houses, and think that we know them, while we are ig- norant of all that is passing within them.

Local No. 2.

LAKAWN—-On a ramble to day in the street Charon Kroong we noticed that the king's convicts, who are daily call- ed out to work on one of the iron bridg- es, had all turned out to planeing betel wood for posts. We inquired of a friend what that had to do with the bridge. His reply was-—that the posts were not at all for the bridge, but for a lakawn (theatrical) shed at the Brit- ish Consulate. But, said we, how is it that the British Consul can com- mand the king's conviet's for his own work? Why, said he, it is not the Con- sul that does it, but the Siamese gov- ernment who have ordered to have a lakawn play at the British Consulate next Sunday in honor of the officers of the British man of war lately arri- ved. Is it possible, thought we, that such a desecration of the Lord's day will be allowed “within the gates” of that Consulate—of a Christian kingdom —-and that too of the Protestant type! May heaven forbid it. We hope there has been a mistake in the day

Rev. Wm. Dean D. D. and his wife left the city on the 10th inst, in a sea boat, partly for an itinerant excursion, and partly for recruiting health at Bangs plasoi and Anghin

H. B. M's War Steamer, “Pearl” brought us files of papers from the U. S. to Oct. 5th; from London to 27th Oct.; from India to Nov. 8th; from Rangoon to Nov. 19th; from Manil- main to Nov. 17th; from Penaug to Nov. 29th; and from Singapore to the 24th of November.

Wreck Register
and Chart for 1865.

A FOREIGNER, looking at the wreck chart of the British Isles, might not un- naturally conceive that a very large pro- portion of the ships that pass to and from our ports every year were wrecked on our shores. When, however, he came to be informed that the number of vessels that cleared outwards and entered inwards last year alone, from the different ports in the United Kingdom (without counting vessels employed solely as pas- senger-ships), was 409,255; that they represented a tonnage of 65,231,034; and that the value of their cargoes must be estimated at not less than £500,000,000; the said foreigner would probably be much surprised after all to learn that not one per cent. of this great multitude of vessels was wrecked either in our narrow seas or on our coasts. Such, neverthe- less, was the case.

From the carefully-compiled wreck register of the Board of Trade we find that the total number of wrecks and casualties from all causes on the coasts of the United Kingdom and the surround- ing seas, reported in 1865, is 1656. The number reported in 1864 was 1390. The corrected annual average of the eleven years from 1855 to 1865 inclusive was 1372. It should, however, be men- tioned that the wrecks in 1864 were be- low the average of the preceding five years, although they were above the cor- rected average of the last ten years. The number of ships lost or damaged in the 1656 casualties reported in 1865 was 2012, representing a registered tonnage of upwards of 377,000 tons.

Of these 2012 ships 1690 are known to have been ships belonging to Great Britain and its dependencies, with Brit- ish certificates of registry, and 238 to have been foreign ships. Of the remain- ing 84 ships the country and employ- ment are unknown. Of the British ships 1198 were employed in the British coas- ting trade, and 492 were employed in the (over sea) foreign and home trade; and of the foreign ships 11 were employ- ed in the British coasting trade.

Of the total number of casualties (1656) reported in 1865, 554 were col- lisions and 1102 were casualties other than collisions. Of these 1656 casualties 540 resulted in total losses and 1116 in partial damage more or less serious. We find that 470 total losses took place from causes other than collisions; 245 only were caused by stress of weather; 99 were caused by inattention, carelessness, or neglect; 38 arose from defects in the ship or in her equipments (and of these 38 no less than 30 appear to have found- ered from unseaworthiness), and the remainder from various other causes.

It is a remarkable fact that, taking the past seven years as our guide, we find that casualties to comparatively new ships continue to bear a very high pro- portion to the whole number of disasters, thus—908 casualties happened to nearly new ships, and 1701 to ships from three to seven years of age. Then there are casualties to 1087 ships from seven to fourteen years old, and 3477 from fifteen to thirty years old. Then follow 1267 ships from thirty to fifteen years old. Having passed the service of half a cen- tury, we come to the really old ships —-viz., 230 between fifty and sixty years old, 102 from sixty to seventy, 48 from seventy to eighty, 14 from eighty to ninety to a hundred, and 4 one hundred and one years and upwards.

As regards the loss of life, the returns show that the number lost from ship- wreck on or near the coast of the United Kingdom in 1865 was 698. These lives were lost in 164 ships: 124 of them were laden vessels, 33 were vessels in ballast, and in seven cases it is not known whether the vessels were laden or light: 131 of those ships were entirely lost, and 33 sustained partial on board vessels in collisions, and 335 in vessels that were stranded or cast ashore. The remaining number, 35, were lost from various causes, such as being washed overboard in heavy seas, by explosions, &c. The loss of life in 1864 was 516, which was less than the number in any year since 1855. In that year (1855) the National Lifeboat Institution began to take most active steps to provide our coasts with life-boats, having, during the previous thirty years, struggled hard for support to carry on its great and national work on our shores: but in that year the late Captain Hamilton Fitzgerald, R. N., left the society the magnificent legacy of £10,000. Its committee most wisely and promptly decided to spend the whole of the money in placing new life-boats on the coast. Since that period the insti- tution has contributed to the saving of 5758 lives from shipwrecks. How many of these persons, in addition to their wives, children, and other relations, have reason this day to bless the name of this and many other benefactors who have given the cost of life-boats, and who have thus aided to accomplish such a large amount of solid, palpable good work!

The greatest loss of life during the seven years ending in 1865 occurred in the Irish Sea, which is one of our prin- cipal highways to and from America.

Amidst this desolation and havoc it is very satisfactory to find that the means of saving life from shipwreck on our coast have made, and are making, the most encouraging progress. There are now nearly 200 life-boat stations on our shores, and nearly the whole of them be- long to the National Life-boat Insti- tution, whose activity and usefulness have commanded, not only the admira- tion of the British people and Parliament, but also that of nearly every maritime Power throughout the world. Indeed, it is a remarkable fact that during the past few years kindred institutions have been established on the coasts of many of these nations, while at one of our thriving colonies in the antipodes, it is reported to the institution, they have built self-righting life-boats equal to those of the mother country.

Again, the board of Trade support 249 life-saving rocket-apparatus stations, which are worked by that valuable body of men the coastguard.—LON. ILL. NEWS.

President Lincoln's Policy.

So much is recklessly said about Pres- ident Lincoln's policy, that it is profita- ble to examine its nature, once in a while, to see how utterly at variance with it is the so-called "policy" of President Johnson. We publish an extract from a letter of President Lincoln to the la- mented GENERAL Wadsworth, just before the latter was killed at Spottsylvania,Pres- ident Lincoln said.

You desire to know, in the event of our success in the field, the same being followed by a loyal, cheerful submission on the part of the South, if universal amnesty should be accompanied with universal suffrage. If our success shall be realized, followed by such desired result, I cannot see, if universal amnesty is granted, under the circumstances, I can avoid exacting in return universal suffrage on the basis of intelligence and military service. How to better the condition of the colored race has been a study which has attracted my serious and careful attention. Hence, I think I am clear and decided as to what course I shall pursue in the premises—regarding it a religious duty, as the Nation's guar- dian of those people, who have so heroi- cally vindicated their manhood on the bat- tle-field where, in assisting to save the life of the Republic they have demonstrated in their blood their right to the ballot, which is the humane protection of the flag they have so fearlessly defended.—L.C.N.

Mr. Beecher's Letter.

I am not discouraged at the failure to do the good I meant, at the misapprehen- sion of my church, nor the severity of former friends. Just now those angry voices come to me as rude winds roar through the trees. As soon as my health is again restored, I shall go right on in the very course I have hitherto pursued.

Who will follow or accompany it is for others to decide. I shall labor for the education of the whole people; for the enfranchisement of men without regard to class, caste, or color; for full develop- ment among all nations or the liberty wherewith Christ makes men free. In doing this I will cheerfully work with par- ties, any and all men that seek the same glorious ends. But I will not become a partisan. I will reserve my right to differ and dissent, and respect the same right in others. Seeking others, full manhood and true personal liberty, I do not mean to forfeit my own.

Better days are coming. These throes of our day are labor-pains. God will bring forth ere long great blessings. In some moments which it pleases God to give me, I think I discern arising beyond the pre- sent troubles, and over the other side of this abyss in which the nation wallows, that fair form of Liberty—God's dear child—whose whole beauty was never yet disclosed. I know her solemn face. That she is divine, I know by her girdle of pur- ity, by her sceptre of justice, and by that atmosphere of love that, issuing from her as light from a star, moves with her, more royal than a king's apparel. In this, too, I know her divinity, that she shall bless both friends and enemies, and yield the fullest fruition of liberty to those who would have slain her; as, one, her Mas- ter gave His life for the salvation of those who slew him.

I am your true friend and pastor,

The "Lubra" Piracy.

The public will be glad to learn that Mrs Howes, the widow of Capt. Howes, who was so foully murdered on board the LUBRA, on Monday afternoon identified one of the scoundrels who was most ac- tive in that dreadful act of piracy and mur- der.

Mrs Howes picked him out from a number of prisoners who were paraded in the Gaol for the purpose of inspection by her. We understand that her iden- tification of the fellow is complete, and that it justifies the suspicions that had previously fallen upon him. It will be re- membered that when Captain Howes was deliberately shot, his wife was by his side with her two children; one was an infant, nearly four months old—-it died Monday morning. Much sympathy is felt for Mrs Howes in her very painful position.—-O. CHINA MAIL.

Butler's Speech.

We cannot report the speech and do it any justice.-—It was as he promised in beginning, didactic, but the Butlerian blade would flash out now and then in some keen turn so characteristic of the man; the same cutting wit that make the General's field orders as spicy reading as Punch. Briefly reviewing the history of events that led to the war and defending the consistency of his own record by a clever absurdity in distinguishing be- tween the duties of a man and a citizen, he gave a clear review of the policy of Con- gress and a most convincing defense of its position. We do not question that most of the audience went away with a clearer reason for the faith that was in them than they had before. Mr. Johnson was treated to sundry sharp thrusts, and the speech was not without passages of high elo- quence. The story of the charge of the colored troops on New Market Heights, just two years before to a day-of which the Fifth Regiment, led by Gen. Shurt- leff, was one—stilled the audience to a quiet only equalled by the outbursts of applause that followed it.

With his drooping eye-lid, twisting of the mouth, short neck, shambling gait and hesitancy of speech, the General is the impersonation of awkwardness, but his earnestness and pithiness of expres- sion cover all these shortcomings and tell wonderfully on an audience. We are not admirers of his military or commercial record but we should expect to go far to find any one with a sounder position or manlier arguments on the great issues of the hour.-—Lo. Co. News.