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

84 Benjamin A. Batson
citizen, a minor case in which Boyd thought, "my predecessor, Col.
Child. made an ass of himself."l82
In the spring of 1892 Boyd became seriously ill. Boyd wrote to
Secretary of State Blaine saying that he must have home leave or resign,
and asking that permission for leave be cabled. Even so, he warned,
"I will not promise you tbat I will be alive then. Chances are nearly all
against me."l 8 3 Leave was at once granted, but Boyd thought it was
already too late. In a dispassionate despatch entitled "Minister dying"
and beginning, "Knowing that I cannot live but a few days at most,"
Boyd informed the President that he was turning the legation over to the
Rev. L.A. Eaton, an American Baptist missionary.l 8 4 Boyd left
Bangkok, "helpless in mind and body," but contrary to his expectations
be did survive to reach the United States. In October he wrote from
Springfield, Missouri, saying that his continuing illness would delay his
return to Siam, and suggesting that his son Robert M. Boyd be appointed
vice-consul in his absence. In March of 1893, still suffering from
malaria and influenced, perhaps, by the fact that a Democratic administration
was corning into office in Washington, Boyd submitted his resignation
as Minister to Siam.lss
When Boyd dted in the following year, his successor in Siam, John
Barrett, wrote eulogizing his "able predecessor" and gave an evaluation
of Boyd (,whom be bad never met) based on opinion in Siam: ·•He was a
man of rugged ch~racter and simplicity of nature, but strong in bis
conviction and earnest in his purpose." Barrett also reported that King
182) The complainant, George Dupont, was a timber dealer who had been wounded
in an affray in central Siam in 18 89. Boyd considered him "wholly unreliable,"
and when Dupont warned that if the suspect were released the suspect
might kill him, Boyd told Dupont "that r thought it would be a good deed."
(Siam Despatches, .March J 7, 1891, and March 23, 1892.)
183) Siam Despatches, il!e·gible date (May?), 1892. Boyd's handwriting was even
worse than Halderman's.
184) Siam Despatches, June 13, 1892. Nineteenth century diplomatic despatches
usually had a covering sheet giving both a brief title and a longer summary
of contents.
18 5) Siam Despatches, October 19, 1892, and March 2 7, 189 3 (two despatches),