The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

AMEHICAN DIPLOMATS IN SO!JTHEAST ASIA 69
numerous abuses of his predecessor."ll7 Sickels spent his first months
in Bangkok exposing the "abuses of his predecessor." Long despatches
were sent to Washington on Partridge's "outrageous transactions,"
"infamous preceedings," "ignorance and despotism," and his "hasty flight
from Bangkok," leaving "this degraded Consulate." Sickels charged
that Partridge had falsified expenses, sold protection papers to Chinese
and liquor agents, swindled Americans, and stolen consular property;
that the consular seal had been "hawked all around Bangkok and throughout
the Country;" and that Partridge bad produced a fake body in order
to claim a reward and had even tried, unsuccessfully, to bribe "women
of bad character" to give testimony discrediting the missionary Dr.
House. ItS
Within a few months Sickels reported that the reputation of the
American Consulate had been restored, and that diplomatic intercourse
between the United States and Siam was "now more friendly than it has
been at any former period since the ratification of the present treaty."
His only regret was that there w~s so little trade between the two
countries. "Deeming it to be my duty to use my official influence to
extend American commerce," Sickels wrote, he would turn his considerable
energies to this end.ll9
Sickels blamed the low level of American commerce in Siam on
certain unscrupulous American merchants of the past who had sold the
Thai over-priced, poor quality machinery which could still be seen
abandoned and scattered for miles along the banks of the river at Bang~
kok.12o Sickels sent a long list of "Articles that May Be Profitably
sent From America to Siam," and soon after reported the gratifying news
that whereas only four American merchant ships bad come to Siam in
1876, in 1877 there had been nine.t2t He then asked for six months'
leave
117) Siam Weekly Advel'tiser, January 9, 1879, enclosed in Bangkok Despatches,
January 20, 1879.
118) Bangkok Despatches, various dates from December 6, 187 6, through February
15, 1877. See also.Martin, "A History," p. 145.
119} Bangkok Despatches, March 12, 18 77.
120) Bangkok Despatches, August 25, 1879.
121) Bangkok Despatches, Apri115, 1878, and June 10, 1878.