Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1877

No. 284.
Mr. Evarts to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Siam.

Department of State,
Washington, November 2, 1877.

To His Excellency Chow Phya Bhanu Wongse,
Maha Kosa Dhepoti, the Phraklang, Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Government of Siam:

The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has the honor to address his excellency the minister of foreign affairs of Siam, in relation to the valuable collection of articles prepared by the Government of Siam for presentation to the Government of the United States. This collection having been intrusted by the King of Siam to a vessel of the United States Navy for conveyance to this country, it was on its arrival received by the Secretary of the Navy, who has been directed by the President to express, through the undersigned, to His Majesty the King of Siam the high appreciation which the Government of the United States entertains of the liberality and good feeling that prompted the presentation of this interesting and instructive collection, which will be to our government and people evidence of the progress Siam has made, and is making, in the arts of civilization.

In compliance with the direction of the President, the undersigned has the honor of transmitting the letter addressed to him by the Secretary of the Navy, which the President requests may be communicated to the King. From its perusal the King will be convinced of the care with which his generous gift will be cherished by the government in the highest of the scientific institutions of the United States.

The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to offer to his excellency a renewed assurance of his high consideration.

WM. M. EVARTS.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Thompson to Mr. Evarts.

Navy Department,
Washington, October 25, 1877. (Received October 26.)

Sir: The valuable collections of articles prepared by the Government of Siam, and presented by His Majesty the King to the Government of the United States, through Rear-Admiral Reynolds, of the United States Navy, for exhibition at Philadelphia, have been placed under the care of the Smithsonian Institution, properly catalogued and labeled. They remain in an excellent state of preservation, and will be kept, at all times subject to public inspection, as evidence of the generosity of the. Siamese King and Government.

The Navy Department, in whose charge these articles were placed, in obedience to the instructions of the President, desires to express, through the Department of State, to the King and Government of Siam, the high appreciation in which the Government of the United States holds the liberality which has prompted this magnificent donation. While it will add greatly to the interest and value of its national cabinet, it will serve to show that the King and Government of Siam entertain the highest respect for the people and Government of the United States, and that in all our intercourse with the people and Government of Siam we may expect that just, courteous, and dignified treatment which characterizes the most advanced and progressive nations.

The President has directed me to request that you will communicate a copy of this letter to the King of Siam.

I have, &c.,

R. W. THOMPSON,
Secretary of the Navy.