44 INDIA BEYOND THE GANGES. 



duft and his fiiccefs in the management of affairs, rofe to the 

 higheft dignities, and became prime minifter to the reigning 

 prince. 



His ambition proved his ruin, and brought him to a violent 

 death by the hands of the executioner. He became fo intox- 

 icated with power, as to entertain a defign upon the throne, to 

 depofe his royal mafter, and to place over the Siamefey Mor.pi 

 7o//^, fon-in-law to the monarch, a phantom of a king, who was 

 to be dependent on his will, and to be depofed as foon as affairs 

 came to a crifis. The king was at that time extremely ill of a 

 dropfy ; on his deceafe, the whole royal lineage was to be put 

 to death, and Fbaulkon ufurp the power. 



In order to accomplhli his defigns, it was necelTary to call in 

 foreign aid ; he perfuaded his weak mafter to fend an embaffy to 

 Louis XIV. to requeft his moft Chriftian Majelly to fend perfons 

 qualified to inftrudt in the arts his unpolillied fubjeds, fo that he 

 might fhine pre-eminent among the Eaflern nations. The firfl, 

 who fet out in 1680, were fhipwrecked ; the fecond arrived fafe 

 in 1686. The vanity of Louis made him receive with every mark 

 of refpedt thefe grotefque legates ; the memory of their recep- 

 tion is preferved in a medal *. The king is reprefented feated on 

 his throne ; the embaffadors making their obeilance; above his 

 majefty is infcribed Fama virtutis^ intimating that the fame of 

 his high qualities had induced them to come from this diftant 

 country. Louis^ in compliance with the wifli of the embalTy, 

 fent Jefuits, artifts, and military officers ; General de Fargues 

 landed with feveral hundred foldiers, and was put into pofTeffion 



• Hiftoire de Medailles, tab. ccxvi. 



of 



