election, and that the chances are that he will be elected by a large
majority.

The Boers are likely to have more trouble with such a firebrand as that
helping to direct the affairs of a neighboring state.

At the same time the news comes that Mr. Cecil Rhodes, the man who is
accused of having planned the raid, is seriously ill in his home in Cape
Town, and not expected to live.

* * * * *

The Government of Siam has looked into the matter of the assault on
Vice-Consul Kellet, and has decided to express regret to our Government
that the trouble occurred.

We told you about this affair last spring. Vice-Consul Kellet went into
the interior of Siam to settle the estate of Mr. Cheek, an American who
had died in Siam, and who had left directions that Mr. Kellet was to
arrange his affairs for him.

While in the performance of this duty, Mr. Kellet was attacked and
beaten by Siamese soldiers.

One of our gunboats, the _Raleigh_, was sent out to Bangkok to
investigate the matter, and to protect the interests of our citizens
there.

At the time the trouble occurred, the then Secretary of State, Mr.
Olney, thought that perhaps Mr. Kellet had been over-hasty, and the