SIAM.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 571, 4 October 1851, Page 3

SI AM.

The following interesting letter is extracted from the Straits Times of July 15ih: — To the Editor of the Straits Times. Bangkok, April 10th, 1851. Mr. Editor— His Majeity the late king of Siam • departed this life on the morning of the 3rd instant, before break of day. His Royal Highness T. Y. • Chautat Monkat was early on the same morning . escorted, with all the honours of state, from his temple <to a place which has been specially fitted up for him ■ within the Royal Palace walls; he was then ceremoniously disrobed ofhis priestly garments, and clothed, not as a king, but as one who waits an appointed time, or a day which '.heir astrologers any is an auspicious jday, for his cornoation. Some peculiar notion hasled him and his councillors to think that it would not be so well to be crowned in their sth month as in their ,6th. Hence the day appointed for his coronation is the 15 h day of May. It is understood that he will not take possession of the Royal Palace until after his coro nation. He styles himself now the President or acting king . of Siam. The name or title fixed upon to be given ,him at his coronation is the following, Souidet Pbra.: Paramendr Maha Monjkat. His (brother is to have titles equally honourable, though. the part he will take in the government mustnecessaiily be a little lower than that of his elder brother. Thus has a perfect change taken place in the dynasty of this kingdom with so much peace and quietness that but few of the inhabitants of this city knew the day ihappened until it was all over. None of the missiont aries ever heard of it until eight or ten hours after it had transpired. It is a very remarkable circumstance, considering the state of public feeling but a few weeks since, and the fact that this is a heathen people, and this great revolution has taken place without the shedding of a drop of human blood. All parties that were once in a menacing and fearful attitude towards each other have completely submitted to him whom the High Counoil of the kingdom has elected to become the late king's successor. And there seems fo be universal satisfaction produced by the change. 13ut a few days before his Royal Highness left the priesthood, I had the pleasure in company with my colleague Professor Johu Silsby, of a very friendly and familiar interview with him at his temple. He received us in an upper room, and gave us a pleasant entertainment, and spoke encouragingly to us of his purposes when he shall come into full power as King of Siam. One of the improvements he proposes to make in to h ive his reign practically a limited monarchy. The spirit of what he said was, that he could not think that it was good either for the king or people to have only one will to rule a kingdom, as had been the case during all the late reign. Aaother encouraging thing he said was that he was pleased with the proposition we made of having a High school established at Bangkok for the purpose of teaching Siamese youths the Engliih language, and lhe sciences connected with it, and that he vwould give this subject due attention at the beginning of his reign. The prince md his brother are here universally understood to be the particular friends of the English and Americans, consequently as they come into power a great change becomes apparent in the feelingsof all classes as manifested towards the American missionaries and other " while faced ' foreigners. He who is to be vice king had excluded himself from all intercourse with the English and the missionaries for more than a year, and it could not be detei mined what were h's motives. Now he manifests a desire to cherish fiiemlly intercourse wi'Ji them. A few nights since he

hud all the lew remaining While 'aced meicliantii of Bangkok iti his piesence, and uccived three hearty congratulations Some two orthieeevenuu'safier thai he reques'ed all the mission ->ries to visit h in ; nearly all did so and held n friendly con vei nation with him on the inteu'Msj of the country. He intimated that it was the in ention ofhis brother aud himself lo have quite a number of new ships bu It. and also to procure two sieamboats. Our old Siamese teachers who hud been fiightt-i/ed from our employ by the o pressive measures of the lute kmg. have returned to us feeling themselves to be now free to labour for us and to have it appear that they are indeed our friends, because the powers th.it be are to all human appearance the friends of the English and Americans. Now, in my opinion, is the time, the very time, appointed by him who is the k»ng of kings and Lord of Lords, for the governments of England and America to send their ambassadors to Siatn to negotiate a new treaty. I have no doubt that almost every leasonahle de&ire on their part would be promptly granted Thanks to the good sense of the English government, but more especially to Him who rules in the councils of nations, that war has not been determined by them against Siam, but contrawise pacific measures. This is godlike. Yours, &c, D. B. BRADLT.Y. Egypt. Wf {Bombay Times, May 27) annex the communication of our Cairo conespondent, which is full of interest: — " The position of Egypt at present is rather critical — so much so as may require her to call for the assistance of former European friends to protect those rights which, only a few years ago, were conceded under a solemn guaiantee. The four great Christian Powers of Europe, who laboured so hard in fixing the political boundary of the East, between the ' sublime' imbecile and the redoubtable iMehemot Ah, will be soon invited to maintain the terms of their mediation, as the mighty Pashas of Constantinople are preparing to shake their tails over the legitimate successor of Mehemet Ali, — no doubt perceiving that he prefers the arts of peace and good order to the perils of war and devastation — nay, rather disposed to yield a portion of his just rights than plunge his people and the country into misery and distress, for the sake of mere rank and distinction. He, who shook the very minarets of St. Sophia by the sound of his name, are his ashes to be insulted 1 It is clear that the Sultan wants to reduce Egypt to what she was in the time of the Mamelukes, and to extinguish all recollection of the name of Mehemet Ali, who proved that Egypt deserved rank as a nation ; and it is to be hoped that Europe will defend her rights under the administration of the present dynasty. His Imperial Highness of Constantinople should set his own territories in order before he begins to arrange those of his neighbours. His Tanzimat is despised in Syria and Asia Minor, where a Christian can scarcely walk out of doors without risking his life. Why did be not send his Tanzimat into Egypt even during Mehemet All's imbecility, or during the short reign of his son Ibrahim ? Just because his dastardly Viziers well knew it would be lejected with derision and contempt. But now, when they find that the country is really recovering herself in peace and tranquillity under a Prince evidently unambitious and averse to war or conquest, he is to be marked out for insult and degradation. The word, Tanzimat, means much more than a reform in the Customs regulations — it implies a general reform, and might be extended to a reform of the constitution itself, according to the desire of the Supreme Divans of Constantinople. This is a fresh specimen of Turkish interference. If this Tanzimat is to be enforced in Egypt, the treaty of 1841 may be pronounced a dead letter. The Grand Turk should be made to confine himself to the collection of his tribute, and if the revenues of Egypt should not be as economically expended as they might be, it is evident that transferring them to the Seraglio of the Sultan would not be an improvement. That the Pasha of Egypt stands well with our Consul-General, proves that all is right, and what ought to be, as Mr. Murray is certainly one of the most popular men ever sent to Egypt m the capacity of Consul j and I beg to assure your readers with all the confidence that truth inspires, that there was no authority for the statement in a letter from Suez, published in the Times some time ago, that the Pasha of Egypt had offered himself to the English Government, and, for the protection of his right in case of refusal, that he determined throwing himself at once into the arms of the French. England has a deeper interest in the independence of Egypt than any other European power, neither is any stimulus rpquired for defending her allies, and I believe it will be allowed that Egypt has a higher claim upon England than on any other power, nor was any menace wanting to induce the English Government to act justly in the case. There is no railroad in contemplation as yet between Cairo and Suez, but the Alexandrian will in all probability commence when the interference of the Porte with the liberties and independence of the Pasha ceases. I must also observe that there was no such thing as an insurrection or revolt in the Sennaar Country, or a Pasha slaughtered with his troops. Latiff Pasha governs that part of Egypt; but mole-hills are converted into mountains by the news retailers of Egypt. Not one soldier was injured. It was a slight emeute between the native soldiers and a few abandoned women, who are sent out to this spquestered spot to atone for a bad life at home. The iow subsided in a few inmates, without any loss of life or limbs. The public works progress with considerable energy. A magnificent Quay, made with punched stone is to be constructed at Bench, at a cost of about £9000. The Pasha seems to have become a new man altogether, taking a considerable interest in the affairs of the country. He attends the Supreme Divan ILilmia every morning, at nine o'clock, and sits there for several hours, issuing his orders and regulations in ereiy department of state business.