"ENGLISH ERA, 1862, 26th February. GRAND ROYAL PALACE, BANGKOK.
"To MRS. A. H. LEONOWENS:— "MADAM: We are in good pleasure, and satisfaction in heart, that you are in willingness to undertake the education of our beloved royal children. And we hope that in doing your education on us and on our children (whom English, call inhabitants of benighted land) you will do your best endeavor for knowledge of English language, science, and literature, and not for conversion to Christianity; as the followers of Buddha are mostly aware of the powerfulness of truth and virtue, as well as the followers of Christ, and are desirous to have facility of English language and literature, more than new religions. "We beg to invite you to our royal palace to do your best endeavorment upon us and our children. We shall expect to see you here on return of Siamese steamer Chow Phya. "We have written to Mr. William Adamson, and to our consul at Singapore, to authorize to do best arrangement for you and ourselves. "Believe me "Your faithfully, (Signed) "S. S. P. P. MAHA MONGKUT."Do we not write such a letter to our children's teachers? You think us a benighted race and we want your knowledges bestowed upon us, but not your Jesus. We hope you find comfort and help to ignite our minds and not our spirits.
I know that I have thought myself the King of Siam in the rearing days of my children. Most unnegotiable about their behaviors, at least by them. I am in awe at how our written and oral language has deteriorated so much in the 155 years that we are observing. A commander and a man with the hearts of his children in his own heart. He wanted to see their minds and stations improved, but not their souls.
Is this not so of our generation?
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