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

86 Benjamin A. Batson
juncture.ts9 They claimed that the news of Boyd's appointment bad
been received "with surprise by the general public in this country and
with profound regret and dismay by the American section of the
Community," and called it "a disgrace to our country and an insult to
ourselves." 1 90
Boyd had arrived in Bangkok in February, but for three months
the Thai Government withheld recognition of his official status and
continued to deal with Eaton. The reason given was uncertainty as to
whether or not Boyd's commission as vice consul-general, given by the
Secretary of State, superseded Eaton's appointment by the elder Boyd,
which had the implicit authority of the President.t9t Boyd thought that
neither this question nor Siam's troubled relations with France justified
189) Both Pavie himself and later commentators have written on his exploits at
length. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that Pavie virtually single-handedly
took Laos for France, and his political activities were supplemented by
pioneering achievements as an explorer, a naturalist, and a historian.
190) Siam Despatches, February 24, 18 9 3. There were I 7 signatures on the petition.
In a separate intro4uction, three of the 17 also charged that Boyd bad been
appointed to the salaried interpreter's post by his father although he had no
linguistic qualifications. Boyd's age has been taken from a Jetter of his father
(Siam Despatches, October 19, 1892); the petitioners thought he was 22 or 23.
A Department of State note attached to the petition and dated April 27, I 893,
said, "We believe him to be a competent officer."
Upon hearing of the charges, Sempronius Boyd wrote to the Department
of State on behalf of his son and even offered to return to Siam, despite his
illness. He denounced Eaton, whom he had originally appointed, and claimed
that Cheek wanted to keep his brother-in-law Eaton in charge of the legation
in order to get a favorable hearing in his dispute with the Thai Government
(both Boyds, he said, felt that Cheek was in the wrong.) He defended his
son's character and ability, and even his questionable degree from a "Physio
Medical College." (SiamDespatches, Apri120, 1893.)
191) Siam Despatches, May 17, 1893. The Department of State apparently thought
that Eaton was not sufficiently zealous in pressing the Thai Government for
recognition of Boyd's status. At the end of April a cable was sent to Eaton
demanding immediate action, to which Eaton complied-this time with success-while
denying that he had been lax in his earlier efforts.