The serious foreboding of the natives and foreigners alike was
greatly intensified by the rumour that the king had shut himself
up in his palace and would have no communication with his nobles.
Daily the court assembled according to custom but the king took no
counsel with them concerning public affairs. So few were permitted
to enter the royal presence that it was difficult to ascertain
whether he was sick or only in a pet as on a previous occasion.
It was, however, a case of serious illness from a chronic disease
which had rapidly become critical.
About the middle of February of that notable year, 1851, the king
sent a document to the assembled nobles, briefly stating that
he despaired of recovery, and left to the council of princes and
three chief ministers the selection of a successor; and at the
same time turned over the reins of government to these three
ministers. Although the king at this time refrained from nominating
a successor, he had some months previously expressed a preference
for a favourite son, but the nobles would not confirm his wish.
Besides this son there were two other aggressive aspirants for the
throne; all three candidates being conservatives. While both Chao
Fah Yai and Chao Fah Noi had legitimate claims to the throne there
was no apparent prospect that either would be chosen, for the other
three claimants were strongly united in their opposition especially
to the former because of his known friendliness towards the English.
As the situation grew ominous of civil strife, the Pra Klang, the
strongest of the nobles and the leader of the situation, proposed
the name of Chao Fah Yai, having already taken precautions to win
to his support the commander of the army; and let it be known that
any of the pretenders who did not acquiesce would have to contest
their claim with him. By such bold measures he carried the day,
even the rivals reluctantly giving in their adherence; and on the
following day the decision of the council was communicated to the
Prince-Priest, who gave his acceptance on the 18th of March. The
king-elect remained in his watt till the death of the king on April
3; he then was brought to the palace grounds in state and lodged in
a house especially built for a temporary sojourn, and changed his
yellow priestly robes for the ceremonial dress suitable to be worn
until the coronation.
Before being brought to the royal premises, the king-elect
graciously received three of the missionaries who called upon him,
Dr. Bradley, Mr. Jones and Professor Silsby. No doubt it was to
this occasion that Mrs. Leonowens refers in her book _An English
Governess_ (p. 242):
“Nor did the newly-crowned sovereign forget his friends
and teachers the American missionaries. He sent for them
and thanked them cordially for all they had taught him,
assuring them that it was his earnest desire to administer
the government after the model of the limited monarchy
of England and to introduce schools where the Siamese
youth might be well taught in the English language and
literature and sciences of Europe.... In this connection
Rev. Messrs. Bradley, Caswell, House, Mattoon and Dean are
entitled to special mention. To their united influence Siam
unquestionably owes much if not all her present advancement
and prosperity.”
He authorised Mr. Jones to state that “should the English or
American government send an embassy to Siam now he thought they
would be kindly and favourably received.” He also received the
Roman Catholic bishop, requested him to have prayers offered in
his church for the peace of the country and consented to have the
priests, banished by his predecessor, recalled.
No believer in Providence can fail to recognise the hand of God
directing the course of affairs in Siam at this crisis. Had the old
king continued to live, war with Great Britain was inevitable. Had
either of the reactionary candidates been chosen civil strife would
have been precipitated. In either case the foundation stones of
the mission would have been widely scattered.