Revered monarch of Siam (1804-1868) best known as the king in the musical The King and I. ALS signed “Mongkut the King of Siam,” nine pages three sets of adjoining sheets, 8 x 10, August 9, 1854. Remarkable handwritten letter to "Reverend Samuel William Bonney, the American Missionary of Canton or Whampoo," concerning the cultural development of Siam. He comments on his own use of English and religion in his nation. In part: "I have duly received your…two very fine maps of whole China made in America with Chinese characters & English characters…the beautiful map of the United States & State of New York…I have wished to write you answer immediately when your letters reached my hand." He explains that he cannot find a secretary to write his English letters: "It is here my difficulty there no many Siamese who would please to acquire the English language as our countrymen generally please but with their vernacular language only. You would think why I do not introduce them thereto? It is…as like with the Christian missionaries are most eagerly or earnest desirous of convert our countrymen to their Christianity but they could not introduce now thereto. Many of Christians are thinking that when I am or would be converted to Christianity all me countrymen or whole people of Siam would be converted at once. It is indeed uncorrect…you might think perhaps for I very please with English language and knowledges, sciences & so I might be nearest of their religion would be easily capable of being converted to Ch[ristiani]ty it is O! sir very wrong. I am very far from the system of old Jew's superstition."
He makes some pointed commentary on the different sects of Christians: "Of whom should I believe or follow, every one of them are saying that I shall believe them or only their section no others, all me to say freely it is better to you perhaps that you shall endeavour to do your countrymen or all different sections of Christians in one or a single orthodoxy of Christianity firstly that to let me believe it." Diverting his attention from religion, he continues: "I believe all scientific systems of European as in astronomy, geology, chemistry &c as all Europeans believe them…I have no English secretary I have but grammar & Webster’s Dictionary which you have alluded that very best, newest & great treasure of knowledge of language. It is true I agree with you. None says that other dictionaries better than Webster’s."
Responding to Bonney's suggestions of introducing the railroad and telegraph to Siam, the king writes: "We do not think Railroad to be constructed in our country because our country’s surface generally ma[r]shy & full of water for many months of the years, and the people of our country are very rare & poor has no necessity of use or employ the railway of which greatest expense will be done for, and useless in land of which the people were rare, or scarce. In like manner the magnetic telegraph is not needed or wished to be constructed here…our people very poor. Think of those who are thieves. If the telegraph be constructed long for many miles, the wires thereof would be stolen at many wheres through a night…We have ordered to bring us from England & America but some steam engines for we intend to build some small steamers to be employed in our river & sea shore, but articles were not yet received here." Finally, he defends the policy to "pay tributation to His Emperial Majesty the Emperor of China…we do so according to ancient customs of our predecessors." In fine condition, with scattered discoloration along the intersecting folds.
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