His tour to Siam, from Oporto, Is publish'd in three volumes quarto ; From these you'll learn, if you will buy 'em, Almost entirely to opinion; + * * Mr. Finlayson, in his account of the mission to Siam, complains of the "offensive coarseness," the "manifest disregard to the feelings of others," and the " arrogance unbounded" of the highest ranks in Siam. How grateful we Europeans ought to be that these faults are so peculiar to the Aristocracy of Siam! "The people are governed by opinion absurd and unjust-not by reason-by sense-or by kindness."—Finlayson's Mission to Siam. -Speaking afterwards of the Theism of the Chinese, this gentleman observes, "that it appears to have no effect whatsoever on their conduct."-O things rare and strange !-How odd must be that people who are governed by absurd opinion! How solitary in the world must be that religion which does not influence conduct !-The excellent Buchanan, in those articles in the "Asiatic Researches," so really valuable, entitled On the Literature and Religion of the Burmese," hath preceded Mr. Finlayson in the merit of one of his observations." It must be, however, confessed," saith he, "that the practice of morality among the Burmas And rarely-save by paltry fractions Unlike us-who, what e'er you say for it, is by no means so correct as might be perhaps expected among a people whose religious opinions have such an apparent tendency to virtue !”Alas! the day is yet to come, all over the world, when our conduct shall obey our religious opinions! * From beggary-a sort of polite theft practised among the nobility, clergy, and gentry of Siam, something like subscriptions here. Plain theft, and professional beggary, thanks to a population not regulated by the desires of Mr. Sadler, are little known in the Siamese dominions. + With the above rare discoveries in the Siamese character, and curious anomalies in the human mind, the acute Mr. Finlayson hath in especial (not that I would diminish our obligations to Captain Craufurd's larger, and in many respects, really excellent work,) been pleased to perplex the moral observer, and supersede the labours of Monsieur de la Loubère, hitherto perhaps the very best traveller who ever explored the East. And in an idle vegetation, Produced not sixpence to the nation. * But search we from St. Paul's to Siam, The Bancok Lords at first were civil, There, you must know that folks endure not So some resolved that he should vanish-meant *" It is lamentable to observe how large a proportion of men in this country (Cochin China,) are employed in occupations that are totally unproductive to the state, as well as subversive to national industry. Every petty Mandarin is attended by a multitude of persons !"-Finlayson's Mission.-Happy, Europe, where there are no Mandarins! Kochai Sahac, a Malay, or Moorman, useful to his employer But Hodges, though so much he prized Accordingly our saint one day, Their heads he might declaim at ease, In wretched Siamese. "Brethren! (for every one's my fellow, “Is slavery, pray, so soft, and glib a tie, "Just see to what good laws can bring lands, (Captain Crauford) but a rascal in general-the sort of creature in short -that in England we should call an Agent! "For ills by battery, or detraction, 66 Say, can you bring at once your action? "To gain a verdict, than the poor? "Such nonsense really seems to shame laws! "And all things wild, we shoot at-solely 66 Subject to little hints, call'd Game Laws.' "Your parsons dun you into giving"Ours take their own-a paltry living. "Each selfish wish they nobly stifle, "And save our souls-for quite a trifle. "Our lords are neither mean nor arrogant, "Nor war against broad truths by narrow cant; "Ne'er wish for perquisites, nor sinecures, "Nor prop great ills, by proffering tiny cures ; "Our goods before their own they rate 'em, "And as for younger sons-they hate 'em! "Thus all our patriots are invincible, "And, bless you!-as to change of principle!— |