anywhere within a distance of twenty-four hours' journey from the city of Bangkok, to be computed by the rate at which boats of the country can travel. In order to obtain possession of such lands or houses, it will be necessary that the British subject shall, in the first place, make application through the consul to the proper Siamese officer; and the Siamese officer and the consul having satisfied themselves of the honest intentions of the applicant, will assist him in settling, upon equitable terms, the amount of the purchase money, will mark out and fix the boundaries of the property, and will convey the same to the British purchaser under sealed deeds. Whereupon, he and his property shall be placed under the protection of the Governor of the district and that of the particular local authorities; he shall conform, in ordinary matters, to any just directions given him by them, and will be subject to the same taxation that is levied on Siamese subjects. But if, through negligence, the want of capital, or other cause, a British subject should fail to commence the cultivation or improvement of the lands so acquired within a term of three years from the date of receiving possession thereof, the Siamese Government shall have the power of resuming the property, upon returning to the British subject the purchase-money paid by him for the same.

ARTICLE V.-All British subjects intending to reside in Siam shall be registered at the British Consulate. They shall not go out to sea, nor proceed beyond the limits assigned by this treaty for the residence of British subjects, without a passport from the Siamese authorities, to be applied for by the British Consul; nor shall they leave Siam, if the Siamese authorities show to the British Consul that legitimate objections exist to their quitting the country. But, within the limits appointed under the preceding article, British subjects are at liberty to travel to and fro under the protection of a pass, to be furnished them by the British Consul, and counter-sealed by the proper Siamese officer, stating, in the Siamese character, their names, calling, and description. The Siamese officers at the Government stations in the interior may, at any time, call for the production of this pass, and immediately on its being exhibited, they must allow the parties to proceed; but it will be their duty to detain those persons who, by travelling without a pass from the consul, render themselves liable to the suspicion of their being deserters; and such detention shall be immediately reported to the consul.

ARTICLE VI.-All British subjects visiting or residing in Siam shall be allowed the free exercise of the Christian religion, and liberty to build churches in such localities as shall be consented to by the Siamese authorities. The Siamese Government will place no restrictions upon the employment by the English of Siamese subjects as servants, or in any other capacity. But wherever a Siamese subject belongs or owes service to some particular master, the servant who engages himself to a British subject without the consent of his master may be reclaimed by him; and the Siamese Government will not enforce an agreement between a British

subject and any Siamese in his employ, unless made with the knowledge and consent of the master, who has a right to dispose of the services of the person engaged.

ARTICLE VII.—British ships of war may enter the river, and anchor at Paknam, but they shall not proceed above Paknam, unless with the consent of the Siamese authorities, which shall be given where it is necessary that a ship shall go into dock for repairs. Any British ship of war conveying to Siam a public functionary accredited by her Majesty's Government to the Court of Bangkok, shall be allowed to come up to Bangkok, but shall not pass the forts called Pong Phrachamit and Pit-pach-nuck, unless expressly permitted to do so by the Siamese Government; but in the absence of a British ship of war, the Siamese authorities engage to furnish the consul with a force sufficient to enable him to give effect to his authority over British subjects, and to enforce discipline among British shipping.

ARTICLE VIII.-The measurement duty hitherto paid by British vessels trading to Bangkok under the treaty of 1826 shall be abolished from the date of this treaty coming into operation, and British shipping and trade will thenceforth be only subject to the payment of import and export duties on the goods landed or shipped. On all articles of import the duties shall be 3 per cent., payable at the option of the importer, either in kind or money, calculated upon the market value of the goods. Drawback of the full amount of duty shall be allowed upon goods found unsaleable and re-exported. Should the British merchant and the custom-house officers disagree as to the value to be set upon imported articles, such disputes shall be referred to the consul and proper Siamese officer, who shall each have the power to call in an equal number of merchants as assessors, not exceeding two on either side, to assist them in coming to an equitable decision.

Opium may be imported free of duty, but can only be sold to the opium farmer or his agents. In the event of no arrangement being effected with them for the sale of the opium, it shall be re-exported, and no impost or duty shall be levied thereon. Any infringement of this regulation shall subject the opium to seizure and confiscation.

Articles of export from the time of production to the date of shipment shall pay one impost only, whether this be levied under the name of inland tax, transit duty, or duty on exportation. The tax or duty to be paid on each article of Siamese produce previous to or upon exportation, is specified in the tariff attached to this treaty; and it is distinctly agreed that goods or produce which pay any description of tax in the interior shall be exempted from any further payment of duty on exportation.

English merchants are to be allowed to purchase directly from the producer the articles in which they trade, and in like manner to sell their goods directly to the parties wishing to purchase the same, without the interference, in either case, of any other person.

The rates of duty laid down in the tariff attached to this treaty are those that are now paid upon goods or produce shipped in Siamese or

Chinese vessels or junks; and it is agreed that British shipping shall enjoy all the privileges now exercised by, or which hereafter may be granted to, Siamese or Chinese vessels or junks.

British subjects will be allowed to build ships in Siam, on obtaining permission to do so from the Siamese authorities.

Whenever a scarcity may be apprehended, of salt, rice, and fish, the Siamese Government reserve to themselves the right of prohibiting, by public proclamation, the exportation of these articles.

Bullion, or personal effects, may be imported or exported free of charge. ARTICLE IX. The code of regulations appended to this treaty shall be enforced by the consul, with the co-operation of the Siamese authorities; and they, the said authorities and consul, shall be enabled to introduce any further regulations which may be found necessary, in order to give effect to the objects of this treaty.

All fines and penalties inflicted for infraction of the provisions and regulations of this treaty shall be paid to the Siamese Government.

Until the British Consul shall arrive at Bangkok, and enter upon his functions, the consignees of British vessels shall be at liberty to settle with the Siamese authorities all questions relating to their trade.

ARTICLE X.-The British Government and its subjects will be allowed free and equal participation in any privileges that may have been, or may hereafter be, granted by the Siamese Government to the Government or subjects of any other nation.

ARTICLE XI.-After the lapse of ten years from the date of the ratification of this Treaty, upon the desire of either the British or Siamese Government, and on twelve months' notice given by either party, the present and such portions of the treaty of 1826 as remain unrevoked by this treaty, together with the tariff and regulations hereunto annexed, or those that may hereafter be introduced, shall be subject to revision by Commissioners appointed on both sides for this purpose, who will be empowered to decide on and insert therein such amendments as experience shall prove to be desirable.

ARTICLE XII.—This treaty, executed in English and Siamese, to take effect from the sixth day of April in the year 1856 of the Christian era, corresponding to the first day of the fifth month of the 1218th year of the Siamese Civil era.

Signed by

JOHN BOWRING. (L. S.) General Regulations under which British Trade is to be conducted in Siam. REGULATION I. The master of every English ship coming to Bangkok to trade, must, either before or after entering the river, as may be found convenient, report the arrival of his vessel at the custom-house at Paknam, together with the number of his crew and guns, and the port from whence he comes. Upon anchoring his vessel at Paknam, he will deliver into the custody of the custom-house officers all his guns and ammunition; and a

custom-house officer will then be appointed to the vessel, and will proceed in her to Bangkok.

REGULATION II.-A vessel passing Paknam without discharging her guns and ammunition as directed in the foregoing regulation, will be sent back to Paknam to comply with its provisions, and will be fined 800 ticals for having so disobeyed. After delivery of her guns and ammunition she will be permitted to return to Bangkok to trade.

REGULATION III.-When a British vessel shall have cast anchor at Bangkok, the master, unless a Sunday should intervene, will, within fourand-twenty hours after arrival, proceed to the British consulate, and deposit there his ship's papers, bills of lading, &c., together with a true manifest of his import cargo; and upon the consul's reporting these particulars to the custom-house, permission to break bulk will at once be given by the latter.

For neglecting so to report his arrival, or for presenting a false manifest, the master will subject himself, in each instance, to a penalty of 400 ticals; but he will be allowed to correct, within twenty-four hours after delivery of it to the consul, any mistake he may discover in his manifest, without incurring the the above-mentioned penalty.

REGULATION IV.-A British vessel breaking bulk, and commencing to discharge, before due permission shall be obtained, or smuggling either when in the river or outside the bar, shall be subject to the penalty of 800 ticals, and confiscation of the goods so smuggled or discharged.

REGULATION V.-As soon as a British vessel shall have discharged her cargo, and completed her outward lading, paid all her duties, and delivered a true manifest of her outward cargo to the British Consul, a Siamese portclearance shall be granted her on application from the consul, who, in the absence of any legal impediment to her departure, will then return to the master his ship's papers, and allow the vessel to leave. A custom-house officer will accompany the vessel to Paknam; and on arriving there she will be inspected by the officers of that station and will receive from them the guns and ammunition previously delivered into their charge.

By an agreement supplementary to the treaty signed at Bangkok on the 13th May, 1856, the Articles I., II., III., VIII., XI., XII., XIII., and XIV. of the Treaty of 1826, remain in force. The following clauses are also retained:

"If a Siamese or English merchant buy or sell, without inquiring and ascertaining whether the seller or buyer be of a good or bad character, and if he meet with a bad man, who takes the property and absconds, the rulers and officers on either side must make search and endeavour to produce the property of the absconder, and investigate the matter with sincerity. If the party possess money or property, he can be made to pay; but if he does not possess any, or if he cannot be apprehended, it will be the merchant's own fault, and the authorities cannot be held responsible."

All traders, under British rule, may cross from the British territories of Mergui, Tavoy, Ye, Tenasserim, Pegu, or other places, by land or by water, to the Siamese territories, and may trade there with facility, on the condition that they shall be provided by the British authorities with proper certificates, which must be renewed for each journey.

"British merchants importing fire-arms, shot, or gunpowder, are prohibited from selling them to any party but the Government. Should the Government not require such fire-arms, shot, or gunpowder, the merchants must re-export the whole of them."

With reference to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Consul over British subjects, it was agreed

That all criminal cases in which both parties are British subjects, or in which the defendant is a British subject, shall be tried and determined by the British Consul alone. All criminal cases in which both parties are Siamese, or in which the defendant is a Siamese, shall be tried and determined by the Siamese authorities alone.

That all civil cases in which both parties are British subjects, or in which the defendant is a British subject, shall be heard and determined by the British Consul alone. All civil cases in which both parties are Siamese, or in which the defendant is a Siamese, shall be heard and determined by the Siamese authorities alone.

That whenever a British subject has to complain against a Siamese, he must make his complaint through the British Consul, who will lay it before the proper Siamese authorities.

That in all cases in which Siamese or British subjects are interested, the Siamese authorities in the one case, and the British Consul in the other, shall be at liberty to attend at, and listen to, the investigation of the case; and copies of the proceedings will be furnished from time to time, or whenever desired, to the consul or the Siamese authorities, until the case is concluded.

That although the Siamese may interfere so far with British subjects, as to call upon the Consul, in the manner stated in this article, to punish grave offences when committed by British subjects, it is agreed that-British subjects, their persons, houses, premises, lands, ships, or property of any kind, shall not be seized, injured, or in any way interfered with by the Siamese. In case of any violation of this stipulation, the Siamese authorities will take cognisance of the case, and punish the offenders. On the other hand, Siamese subjects, their persons, houses, premises, or property of any kind, shall not be seized, injured, or in any way interfered with by the English; and the British Consul shall investigate and punish any breach of this stipulation.

Power was given to British subjects to dispose of their property at will. As regards taxes, beside the land-tax and the import and export duties, no additional charge or tax of any kind may be imposed upon a British subject, unless it obtain the sanction both of the supreme Siamese authorities and the British Consul.