246 



ON THE GOVERNMENT 



be suspected from the nature of past events, that when deficient in talent 

 and energy he becomes a mere puppet in the hands of a yet more despotic 

 (if such be possible) aristocracy. 



From whatever source the legislative power proceeds, it appears to be 

 enforced with less regard to public opinion than was generally exhibited by 

 the ancient Dynasties and Princes of Hindoostan, even while in the pleni- 

 tude of sovereign authority ; because they felt that their subjects if they 

 did not actually rebel against oppression, could, upon a fitting occasion, 

 easily transfer their allegiance to a domestic rival or to a foreign invader. 



The succession in Siam is hereditary in the male line. Women are not 

 admissible to the throne, which is one political feature distinguishing the 

 Siamese from the natives of Hindoostan . The eldest son succeeds, although 

 it has not apparently always been thus,* next to him other sons, then 

 the brothers of the King. But any one of these may be set aside 

 from incapacity. It does not unfrequently happen that the King pre- 

 vious to his death nominates a successor, hoping thereby to prevent a 

 civil war. The motives, however, which urge him to such a measure being 

 generally unjust, partial or fanciful, and to the exclusion and prejudice of 

 the Somdet PJira CJiddu lok t,hoo — or heir apparent, they consequently 

 defeat the object. 



It rarely happens that a new reign is not begun in disorder and blood. 

 But the evils which here follow a disputed succession are little felt beyond 

 the precincts of the palace, and the spheres of the respective contending 

 parties. These last seldom embrace, or come in contact with, the mass of 

 the people, which finds its best safety to consist in neutrality. It is this 

 culpable apathy which rivets the chains of the subject, and is the surest 

 bulwark of the oppressor's throne ; for the new King rises triumphant over 

 the ashes of his slaughtered brethren, and finds equally in this case, as ne 

 should have experienced in a quiet succession, that the machinery of 



* Kemfer, vol. 1, p. 23 



