434
BANGKOK,
institutions for foreign use, Bangkok can only boast an Episcopal Chapel and a Protestant Cemetery. There are also a Pilots' Club ar a Ladies' Library, both in a flourishing cond1 on. An American Bowling Alley and a German Hotel are the only buildings devoted to amusement and refreshment. The native palaces, temples, and public buildings are magnificent and on a large scale. The architecture is of a kind peculiar to the country and there is more of novelty and interest to be witnessed by passing travellers in Bangkok in a few hours, than can be found in China in many weeks. There are three newspapers published in the city, two in the English language and one in the native tongue. The first is a daily sheet con- taining merely the arrivals and departures of ves ls and advertisements; the second is a weekly, and both are conducted by a m.ssionary. The native journal is also a weekly, published by authority of the Government and fulfilling the functions of a Gazette. There was also a native journal of some pretence, edited by the King's Private Secretary, and published as a quarterly, intended as a sort of review, but there was not sufficient literary taste in the kingdom to support it, and with the third number it expired. The revenue of Siam is very large, and if properly collect d would be enormous, but the inertness of the nobility and the frauds practised with the utmost boldness and impunity, have very seriously impaired it. Of the Customs revenue probably not one-eighth of the legitimate amount is ever collected. The general revenue is farmed out to Chinese, and a triennial tax is also imposed upon all foreigners unrepresented by a Consul, such as Chinese, Annamese, &c. The Courts of Justice are hotbeds of corruption, and the whole system of jurisprudence is rotten to the core. In the hands of a civilized nation, Siam would ultimately develope into one of the richest and most flourishing countries in the East.
DIRECTORY.
Consulates and Government Offices.
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE General. (Established 1820.) Consul General for the Kingdom of Siam and Straits Settlements-A. F. Marques Pereira (absent)
Secretary in charye-J. V. d'Almeida Clerk and Interpreter-A. J. F. da Luz Messenger-Majudin Gaoler-Long
CONSULATE OF THE U. S. OF AMERICA.
(Established May 29th, 1856.)
Consul-Colonel D. B. Sickels Vice-consul-J. W. Torrey
Siamese Interpreter-Nai Tong-yue Chinese Interpreter-J. G. Torrey Marshal-Capt. Isaac Turner
Consular Physician-G. S. Smith, M.D.
BRITISH AGency and CONSULATE GENERAL.
(Established June 14th, 1856.) Political Agent & Con. General-T. G. Knox Vice-consul-W. H. Newman (absent)
1st Assistant-E. B. Gould 2nd Assistant-E. H. French Student Interpreter-Cording Acting Medical Attendant-G. Stevenson Constables-H. A. Gardner and natives
Smith, M.D.
FRENCH CONSULATE. (Established July, 1856.)
Commissioner and Consul—Ch. de Vienne Chancellor
Interpreter-E. Lorgeou Native Interpreter-P. Nhu Clerk-A-Chin
European Constable-Matho Native Constable-Pedro Dieu
DANISH CONSULATE. (Established 1858.)
Consul-F. C. C. Kobke
AUSTRO-HUNGarian Legation and
CONSULATE.
(Established March, 1866.) Consul-Wm. Masius (absent) Acting Consul-J. J. Riechmann