No. 282.
The Siamese Minister of
Foreign Affairs to Mr. Fish
.
Chow Phya Bhanu Wongse, Maha Kosa Dhepoti, the Phraklang, minister for foreign affairs, has the honor to address to the honorable Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, United States, Washington:
Sir: His Majesty the King of Siam has commanded me to address you as follows:
On the 23d April last, Commander Matthews, in the United States war steamer Ashuelot, came to Siam on a visit to the United States consul, and had audience of His Majesty the King of Siam, after which His Majesty took counsel with the senabodi, on the subject of the collection prepared by the Government of Siam for the Exhibition at Philadelphia, which, to the regret of the Siamese Government, still remained on hand, not having been forwarded at the appointed time, owing to causes which have been explained in my dispatch of the 28th January, 1876. His Majesty the King of Siam commanded me to ask Commander Matthews to take charge of the collection, and convey it in the Ashuelot to Rear-Admiral Reynolds on the Japan station, to be forwarded to the Government of the United States. Commander Matthews left Siam, and communicated with Rear-Admiral Reynolds, and on the 26th of May returned to Siam in the United States steamer Ashuelot, and informed me that Rear-Admiral Reynolds had instructed him to fetch the collection intended for the Exhibition.
His Majesty the King and the senabodi of Siam have been most pleased to intrust to Commander Matthews the collection which His Majesty the King and senabodi have prepared for presentation, with their best wishes, to the Government of the United States. When the exhibition is ended, please exhibit it at the Museum as a souvenir from the Kingdom of Siam. It is not a collection of articles of peculiar excellence, but of articles generally used in this country, and of samples of articles of trade of Siamese origin; a collection which the Siamese Government had much pleasure in preparing as a contribution to the Exhibition as a token of their esteem and respect for the Government of the United States.
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The collection which has been forwarded was arranged by Mr. J. H. Chandler, who understands it, and can fully explain every object in it. Mr. Chandler left Siam for Washington on May 19.
His Majesty the King of Siam and the senabodi pray that the Power which is highest in the universe may assist, foster, and protect the city of Washington and the United States of America, and may from the date of their centenary onward bless them with a prosperity still greater than that they have hitherto enjoyed. I beg to add the assurance of my high esteem.