with an earnest desire to promote the friendship and intercourse
which has o f late so happily recommenced between
the English and Siamese nations.
The nations of Europe, after many years of war, are at
peace with each other; and Hindostan, which for ages had
been the prey o f war, o f anarchy, and of disorder, is now
in a state o f universal peace and tranquillity.
The influence and authority of the British nation extends
from Ceylon to the mountains which border upon China,
and from the confines o f Ava to those o f Persia, over ninety
millions of subjects, and we desire not to increase it.
While tranquillity reigns within, we are at peace and
friendship with all the neighbouring nations; with the
Kings o f Eastern and Western Persia, with the Princes of
Arabia, with the Turkish Sultan, and with the Emperor of
China. With their subjects our merchants conduct an extensive
commerce. With mutual advantage to both sides,
and with freedom and security, their traders frequent our
ports, and ours resort to theirs. Commerce, while it enriches
the subjects o f a state, tends to make them better
known to each other, and becomes, at the same time, a
bond o f friendship between their rulers.
The great King of England, separated from his Indian
dominions by the distance of half the globe, is too far away
to govern them directly himself, and has delegated to me
his authority. I anxiously desire the happiness and prosperity
o f the people thus entrusted to my care, and solicit
for them the advantage of an intercourse and friendship
with so great a monarch as your Majesty. I therefore
invite the resort of your Majesty’s subjects to our ports
and harbours for the purposes o f trade; and I entreat your
Majesty’s protection for all the subjects o f Great Britain,
European or Indian, who, in like manner, may visit your
Majesty’s dominions for the purposes of commerce.
I desire from your Majesty neither port, settlement, fort,
nor factories ; neither do I claim that our merchants resorting
to your Majesty’s country should be exempted from
the authority o f its laws. But if any regulation of your
Majesty’s Government touching foreign commerce should
be found to bear hard upon our merchants, and thereby
prove an obstacle to the extension of their trade with your
Majesty’s dominions, I shall trust to your Majesty’s wisdom
and friendly disposition to have them modified or removed.
Mr. Crawfutd, the Envoy whom I have chosen to represent
me in your Majesty’s presence, is well acquainted with
my wishes, and in conference with your Majesty’s Council
will be able to make such an arrangement as will conduce
to the wealth and prosperity o f the Siamese and English
nations. Mr. Crawfurd was my representative for several
years at the Court of the Sultan of Java, and I have selected
him on the present occasion to repair to your Maje
sty ’s presence, because he is well acquainted with the
manners and customs of the nations to the Eastward, from
his long intercourse with them. He enjoys my confidence,
and whatever arrangements ■ he may conclude with your
Majesty’s Government will receive my sanction and approbation.
Mr. Crawfurd will offer your Majesty certain gifts in my
name.
APPENDIX D.
His Excellency the Most Noble the Marquis o f Hastings,
Earl of Rawdon, Sec. Sec. Sec. Knight of the Most Noble
Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Most
Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Knight Grand