Homepage > Who's Who > King Mongkut > Sir John Bowring

In April 1855 a mission headed by Sir John Bowring was sent by the British Government to negotiate for a revision of the treaty made during the previous reign. No better choice of the head of mission could have been made, for Sir John was a personal friend of the King, with whom he had been keeping correspondence for some considerable time. The King welcomed him with open arms, or in his own words, with the "most rejoyful pleasure". The visit of Sir John Bowring was full of friendly feeling and the spirit of good will, so different from the strained atmosphere of a former visit during the previous reign, of Henry Burney.Thus amidst "entertainment with your excellency in both publicy & privily as well as very intimate friend (ship) during your Excellency's staying her", to quote the King's English, a new treaty was revised and signed whereby the first British consulate was established in Bangkok and trade with Great Britain was formally opened.

Sir John Bowring published his "The Kingdom and People of Siam" in 1857 in which the following extract of the first meeting with King Mongkut is taken:

After waiting about quarter of an hour, a messenger came, bearing a letter for me, and a pass, in the King's hand, allowing me to pass the guards; and I was informed that without such credentials no individual could approach. It was a beautiful moonlight, and in an open space, on a highly-ornamental throne, sat his Majesty, clad in a crimson dress, and wearing a head-dress resplendent with diamonds and other precious stones, a gold-girdle, and a short dagger splendidly embossed and enriched with jewels. His reception of me was very gracious, and I sat opposite his Majesty, only a table between us. The King said ours was an ancient friendship, and I was most welcome. His Majesty offered me cigars with his own hand, and liqueurs, tea, and sweatmeats were brought in. an amicable conversation took place, which lasted some time....

On reaching the reception place, the King came forward. Two little children of the King were playing on a crimson and gold carpet, who screamed at my approach, and were taken away. They seemed to wear nothing except wide-brimmed hats, which covered their heads. He took me to his private apartments, ornamented with beautiful pendules and watches, statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, handsome barometers, thermometers, &c. He then led me through two or three small chambers, where were fine specimens of Chinese porcelain services, and other costly decorations. Almost everything seemed English. There were many new books on the shelves. The King spoke of the history of Siam, and said it was rather obscure and fabulous, but that the more veracious portion went back about five hundred years; that the Siamese alphabet had been introduced about that time. Inscribed on the apartments to which his Majesty had conducted me, were the words 'Royal Pleasure' in English, and in Sanscrit characters with the same meaning. He asked if I should like to hear Siamese music. On my answering yes, a number of young people (I could not distinguish the boys from the girls) played some rather pretty and plaintive airs, and interluded them with songs, which were less wild and monotonous that I should have expected. His Majesty then conducted me to the hall of audience, leading me by the hand wherever we went, amidst the prostrate nobles, crawling about, or bending their heads in the dust in his presence.

On the 16th April the King gave a public audience to Sir John Bowring in the throne hall in all pomp and ceremony. The ambassador made a speech and the King replied, and "enquired if everything had been settled to his satisfaction". After just over half an hour the ceremony was over, the golden curtain closed shutting off the throne from view, and the King retired, after which a royal messenger came to inform Sir John that the King wanted to see him alone. In his private room, the King had one of his children on his knees and he talked informally to the ambassador. He hoped the Queen of England would write to him and then he enquired how he should write to the Queen, in correct form and style, to which Sir John replied that it would be more acceptable to the Queen if he wrote the way he wanted and with his own hand, his English being entirely intelligible. (HATR p.70-1)

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"The Kingdom and People of Siam" by Sir John Bowring (1857)
"Descriptions of Old Siam" compiled and introduced by Michael Smithies and published by Oxford.
"History of Anglo-Thai Relations" by M.L. Manich Jumsai (1970)