plained to the Mandarins who were round him, that the
only fault he found in him, was his vast ambition. He
added, that after bringing the world into confusion by
long wars, he had finally done nothing for the good of the
French nation. He ended his conversation by praising
the British nation, but said, that they, too, were over-
ambitious.
August 28.—Nothing particular occurred since the 10th.
The Mission had frequent reports of executions for theft
and adultery. To-day we were informed o f the arrival o f
the aunt o f the King of Kamboja. This lady was the wife
o f a Siamese prince, who, after his death, and having no
children, retired to her own country. She expressed a
desire to have some conversation with our Siamese interpreter,
and he went to her accordingly. This affair was
misrepresented to the Governor ; and, in consequence, Ong-
Bo, the guardian o f the Mission, was severely reprimanded
; an old Mandarin o f inferior rank, attached to our Mission,
was punished with the wooden collar; and Antonio,
the Portuguese interpreter, received a hundred blows on
the same account.
September 1.—T his day was fixed for his Excellency’s
departure for the Court ; but the Second Governor, a man
about ninety years o f age, the only person who could be
entrusted with the government, was taken seriously ill ;
therefore his Excellency’s departure was delayed. I t was
necessary to send for a person, to relieve his Excellency,
from Hu é. On account o f the discontent o f the Kambo-
jans, and the intrigues o f the Siamese, there is no trusting
the southern provinces without a person o f energy to rule
them.
At this time two horrid circumstances came to the notice
o f the Mission, which placed the rigorous and arbitrary
character of the Governor-General in a strong point of
view. One of the retinue appointed to proceed with him
to Court, came to solicit from him, as a favour, that he
would allow him to remain a few days behind, on account
o f the illness of his wife. The Governor became enraged
at the proposal, ordered the applicant to be forthwith carried
out to the gate and beheaded, which was done accordingly.
Nearly at the same time, a native of Tonquin, employed
in superintending the canal of Athien, appeared
before his Excellency to pay his respects; the Governor
had heard something unfavourable of his conduct, and before
he had finished the four customary prostrations, he
ordered him to be led away and executed in the marketplace.
One of the French gentlemen informed the Mission that
all his countrymen were preparing to leave Cochin China
immediately, as the present King is decidedly unfriendly
to Europeans.
Sept. 9.— One hundred and seventy-two quans were sent
to the Mission for their monthly expenses.
Sept. 21.— His Excellency the Governor-General visited
Saigun to perform funeral rites at the tomb o f his father
and mother. Since the affair o f the visit pf the Siamese
interpreter to the Kambojan princess, we were very strictly
watched and spies placed over us.
October 1.— The Mission received intelligence that a
new Governor was on his way to relieve his Excellency, for
the purpose of enabling him to proceed to Court.
Oct. 6 .— Three junks arrived to-day from the capital,
bringing five hundred thousand quans o f treasure, for the
construction and repair o f forts, and the payment of the
troops.
T h e Mission received intelligence that; a few days before,
a ship belonging to the King of Siam had been driven
into the harbour of Cape St. James, having encountered