conversion of the King of Siam was the main
object of his mission; and even in his letter to
the Siamese monarch himself, urged his adoption
of Christianity. The ambassador, true to his in-
structions, importuned the Minister Phaulcon
upon the subject. The wily Greek, in reply,
communicated the following, real or pretended,
but, in either case, curious message from his
Siamese Majesty.
“ But to reply to the Ambassador of France,”
continued the King, “ you will tell him from me,
that I feel greatly obliged to his royal master,
convinced as I am, from his memorial, of the
friendship of His Most Christian Majesty. The
honour which this great Prince has conferred
upon me is already published throughout the
East, and I cannot sufficiently acknowledge such
civility. But I am truly grieved that my good
friend the King of France should propose to
me a thing so difficult, and of which I have D J
no knowledge. I refer to the wisdom of His
Most Christian Majesty, to judge of the importance
and difficulty of an affair so delicate as that
of changing a religion received and followed
throughout my kingdom for two thousand two
hundred and twenty-nine years.
“ A t the same time, I am surprised that my
good friend the King of France should so strongly
interest himself in a matter which regards
God done; in which God himself takes no interest,
and which he leaves entirely to our discretion.
For this true God, who has created
the heavens and the earth, and all the creatures
which we see, and who has given to them natures
and dispositions so different, could he not, had
he willed it, in giving men bodies and souls of
a similar description, inspire them also with an
uniformity of sentiment in regard to that religion
which they ought to follow, and that worship
which was most acceptable to him, ordaining
the same religious laws among all nations of the
world ? Might not this order amongst men, and
uniformity in the works of Divine providence,
have been introduced with as much ease as the
variety which has existed in all ages? Is it
not reasonable to believe that the true God
takes as much pleasure in being adored by different
forms of worship and different ceremonies,
as in being glorified by myriads of living
creatures who praise him each in his own way ?
Would the beauty and variety which we admire
in the natural order of the universe be less
admirable in the spiritual, or less worthy of the
wisdom of God? However this may be,” concluded
the King, “ since we know that God
is absolute master of the world, and are persuaded
that nothing is done contrary to his will,
I commit my person and my kingdom to the