While these sad scenes were being enacted in the Provinces, the capital of Siam was attacked with vigour. But the enemy, after several futile assaults, were obliged to give up their task; and, taking advantage of the darkness to conceal the shame of their retreat, made the same signals as before; in order that the Siamese might still believe they remained near the walls. The news of the death of Burmese monarch caused them to renounce the hopes of conquest. The youngest of his sons was proclaimed King. He needed the army to strengthen his authority and to put down malcontents. The troops were ordered to evacuate Siam and never was a retreat more hurriedly beaten. The Siamese, free from the yoke of foreign oppression, reoccupied their former possessions. Having suffered by experience, they ought to have taken steps to prevent a fresh invasion. The Dutch, established in the kingdom, could have provided them with artillerymen as there were many stationed at Batavia in the island of Java. But the Siamese unmindful of danger, and arrogant though cowardly, considered that it would be derogatory to their dignity to implore the help of a foreign nation to teach them lessons. The high opinion which this nation held of itself, gave rise to the idea that the native Christians would form an impregnable barrier against foreign invasion. The examples of bravery they had shown, caused them to be regarded as so many heroes to whom the common defence might be entrusted. The French church was called the Church of Victory, and in gratitude for services rendered, presents were given of suitable garments to the Bishop, the priests and the converts. All the Christians who had assisted in the defence of their country received a gift of money and eight of them who had shown the greatest bravery in face of the dangers undergone, were promoted to the highest positions in the army. The Siamese had no less confidence in their wisdom than they had had in their bravery. They were consulted as to what measures should be taken for national defence. These men full of zeal, showed that if they knew how to fight for their country, still more did they know how to advance the cause of their God. They pointed out that, as during the war the temples had afforded shelter to the Burmese, they were of opinion it would be advantageous to destroy all the temples round the town, so much the more so, that in case of a new invasion it would be impossible to preserve them. The elder brother of the King agreed with this proposition but the other Princes and all the priests regarded it as an act of sacrilege. The King joined the latter party as his inclinations were all in the direction of his former station in life and even in the brilliancy of court functions, sighed in secret for the solitude of the temples.