DEATH OF THE OLD KING
The serious foreboding of the natives and foreigners alike was greatly intensified by the rumour that the king had shut himself up in his palace and would have no communication with his nobles. Daily the court assembled according to custom but the king took no counsel with them concerning public affairs. So few were permitted to enter the royal presence that it was difficult to ascertain whether he was sick or only in a pet as on a previous occasion. It was, however, a case of serious illness from a chronic disease which had rapidly become critical.
About the middle of February of that notable year, 1851, the king sent a document to the assembled nobles, briefly stating that he despaired of recovery, and left to the council of princes and three chief ministers the selection of a successor; and at the same time turned over the reins of government to these three ministers. Although the king at this time refrained from nominating a successor, he had some months previously expressed a preference for a favourite son, but the nobles would not confirm his wish. Besides this son there were two other aggressive aspirants for the throne; all three candidates being conservatives. While both Chao Fah Yai and Chao Fah Noi had legitimate claims to the throne there was no apparent prospect that either would be chosen, for the other three claimants were strongly united in their opposition especially to the former because of his known friendliness towards the English.
As the situation grew ominous of civil strife, the Pra Klang, the strongest of the nobles and the leader of the situation, proposed the name of Chao Fah Yai, having already taken precautions to win to his support the commander of the army; and let it be known that any of the pretenders who did not acquiesce would have to contest their claim with him. By such bold measures he carried the day, even the rivals reluctantly giving in their adherence; and on the following day the decision of the council was communicated to the Prince-Priest, who gave his acceptance on the 18th of March. The king-elect remained in his watt till the death of the king on April 3; he then was brought to the palace grounds in state and lodged in a house especially built for a temporary sojourn, and changed his yellow priestly robes for the ceremonial dress suitable to be worn until the coronation.
Before being brought to the royal premises, the king-elect graciously received three of the missionaries who called upon him, Dr. Bradley, Mr. Jones and Professor Silsby. No doubt it was to this occasion that Mrs. Leonowens refers in her book An English Governess (p. 242):
“Nor did the newly-crowned sovereign forget his friends and teachers the American missionaries. He sent for them and thanked them cordially for all they had taught him, assuring them that it was his earnest desire to administer the government after the model of the limited monarchy of England and to introduce schools where the Siamese youth might be well taught in the English language and literature and sciences of Europe.... In this connection Rev. Messrs. Bradley, Caswell, House, Mattoon and Dean are entitled to special mention. To their united influence Siam unquestionably owes much if not all her present advancement and prosperity.”
He authorised Mr. Jones to state that “should the English or American government send an embassy to Siam now he thought they would be kindly and favourably received.” He also received the Roman Catholic bishop, requested him to have prayers offered in his church for the peace of the country and consented to have the priests, banished by his predecessor, recalled.
No believer in Providence can fail to recognise the hand of God directing the course of affairs in Siam at this crisis. Had the old king continued to live, war with Great Britain was inevitable. Had either of the reactionary candidates been chosen civil strife would have been precipitated. In either case the foundation stones of the mission would have been widely scattered.