In his book, _The Kingdom and People of Siam_, which gives a detailed account of his mission, Sir John includes several lengthy memoranda which he attributes to a “certain foreign gentleman long resident in Siam.” Many of these are to be found recorded in Dr. House’s private journal at various dates preceding the arrival of the British envoy. His narrative of the scenes attendant upon the choice of Mongkut is almost verbatim from the doctor’s account. He highly praises the progressive spirit and the keen mind of the prime minister, contrasting him with the usual Oriental diplomat, and adds: “I learned that on one occasion he sent for a foreign gentleman whose opinion he greatly valued, and in the presence of many persons entered upon a dialogue in which the foreign gentleman was to impersonate J. Bowring in a discussion of the expected proposals.” Thereupon follows the dialogue in full. The original of this unique rehearsal in diplomatic combat is found in the doctor’s journal as a record of his interview with the prime minister after it was learned that England was to send a mission. Sir John also accredits the minister with a confession of belief in one supreme Divine Being, ascribing his information to a “certain gentleman”; this confession, Dr. House says, was made to him personally and acknowledges in a letter that he had reported it to the British envoy. The number and extent of these and still other quotations shows that Sir John Bowring had gleaned much of his knowledge of the Siamese from Dr. House. * * * * * During his sojourn in Bangkok Sir John Bowring attended service at the mission one Sunday. Dr. House records the visit, noting that in alphabetical order it was his turn to preach, and confesses that he felt a little secret trembling in the presence of the august visitor. Sir John, in his account of the visit, adds that the “congregation very sweetly sang one of my hymns”—for he is the same Sir John Bowring whose name ranks high in hymnology, being the author of these hymns, among others: “_God is Love, His Mercy Brightens_,” “_Watchman, Tell Us of the Night_,” and “_In the Cross of Christ I Glory_.” As a broad and deep student of human affairs and one obviously sympathetic with missions, Sir John’s estimate of the work in Siam at that period and of the peculiarly obstinate nature of Buddhism is noteworthy. Concerning Buddhism he says: “Buddhism by habit and education is become almost a part of Siamese nature; and that nature will not bend to foreign influence. The Siamese, whether or not they have religious convictions, have habits which the teaching of strangers will not easily change.” Concerning the influence of the missionaries he says: