The confidences were not all from the Siamese side. Sir John
Bowring told Dr. House privately that he had “come with an
olive branch in my hand, but behind me—!” and that he had been
reluctant to undertake the mission but had received letters from
the king urging him to come. The Siamese officials were so ready
for negotiations that they readily acquiesced in the English
proposals; and, apart from the preliminary ceremonies, the complete
negotiations were accomplished within a week.
In his book, _The Kingdom and People of Siam_, which gives a
detailed account of his mission, Sir John includes several lengthy
memoranda which he attributes to a “certain foreign gentleman long
resident in Siam.” Many of these are to be found recorded in Dr.
House’s private journal at various dates preceding the arrival of
the British envoy. His narrative of the scenes attendant upon the
choice of Mongkut is almost verbatim from the doctor’s account.
He highly praises the progressive spirit and the keen mind of the
prime minister, contrasting him with the usual Oriental diplomat,
and adds:
“I learned that on one occasion he sent for a foreign
gentleman whose opinion he greatly valued, and in the
presence of many persons entered upon a dialogue in which
the foreign gentleman was to impersonate J. Bowring in a
discussion of the expected proposals.”
Thereupon follows the dialogue in full. The original of this
unique rehearsal in diplomatic combat is found in the doctor’s
journal as a record of his interview with the prime minister after
it was learned that England was to send a mission. Sir John also
accredits the minister with a confession of belief in one supreme
Divine Being, ascribing his information to a “certain gentleman”;
this confession, Dr. House says, was made to him personally and
acknowledges in a letter that he had reported it to the British
envoy. The number and extent of these and still other quotations
shows that Sir John Bowring had gleaned much of his knowledge of
the Siamese from Dr. House.
* * * * *
During his sojourn in Bangkok Sir John Bowring attended service at
the mission one Sunday. Dr. House records the visit, noting that in
alphabetical order it was his turn to preach, and confesses that
he felt a little secret trembling in the presence of the august
visitor. Sir John, in his account of the visit, adds that the
“congregation very sweetly sang one of my hymns”—for he is the
same Sir John Bowring whose name ranks high in hymnology, being
the author of these hymns, among others: “_God is Love, His Mercy
Brightens_,” “_Watchman, Tell Us of the Night_,” and “_In the Cross
of Christ I Glory_.”
As a broad and deep student of human affairs and one obviously
sympathetic with missions, Sir John’s estimate of the work in Siam
at that period and of the peculiarly obstinate nature of Buddhism
is noteworthy. Concerning Buddhism he says:
“Buddhism by habit and education is become almost a part
of Siamese nature; and that nature will not bend to foreign
influence. The Siamese, whether or not they have religious
convictions, have habits which the teaching of strangers will
not easily change.”
Concerning the influence of the missionaries he says:
“Much influence is really possessed by the missionaries. They
have rendered eminent services in the medical and chirurgical
fields; they have lent great assistance to the spirit of
philosophical inquiry; many of them have been councillors
and favourites of king and nobles, admitted to intimate
intercourse and treated with a deference which could not but
elevate them in the eyes of a prostrate, reverential and
despotically governed people.”
But concerning the prospects of success for the Gospel the diplomat
is not so optimistic:
“I know not what is to impede religious teachings in Siam,
but at the same time I fear there is little ground to
expect a change in the national faith. Neither Catholic nor
Protestant speaks hopefully on the subject.”
The significance of that statement, written for the year 1855, lies
chiefly in its contrast with the fact of the certain if slow growth
of Christianity in Siam and the record of attainment to date.
Even the keenest human observer cannot forecast the fruits of the
Spirit’s work.