No. 8. F. F. Low to Edward B. Drew. SIR: It is the intention of the admiral to send an expedition to-morrow to Fort du Conde to take and destroy it, if possible. The whole will be under the immediate command of Homer C. Blake, esquire, U. S. N., who will be furnished with full and explicit instructions by the admiral. I desire you to accompany Captain Blake on the "Palos" to facilitate communicating with the native officials, if opportunity offers. As the object of my visit to Corea is to open negotiations with a view to making a treaty, this fact should be kept prominently in view; and the admiral has so instructed Captain Blake. The naval forces are simply a means to an end. If, therefore, at any time during the absence of the expedition, overtures should be made by which it would appear that there is a reasonable prospect of a minister being sent to confer and con sult with me, and that further offensive operations would be likely to embarrass friendly negotiations, it is my desire that all hostile action should cease as soon as it can be done with safety and honor. The decision touching this latter point will rest with Captain Blake, guided by his instructions; but you are at liberty to make known my views to him if you deem it advisable. I am, &c., True copy: EDWARD B. DREW. FREDERICK F. LOW. No. 9. Translation of dispatch brought by a junk and intercepted by the expedition to Fort du Conde, on the 10th June. Cheng, guardian of Kang-Hoa-fu, Corea, ex-officio general and governor, makes a reply to his excellency the American minister. I beg to observe that your honorable dispatch contains many things I had not anticipated. I am still [as when writing you before] perplexed and pained. As your excellency said you were coming on a peaceful and friendly errand, our court proposing to treat you in a befitting manner, before [receiving from you information of your arrival,] sent officials of the third rank to inquire whether your voyage had been prosperous, and further to ask what the business was which you wanted to discuss and arrange. This was the course of politeness, but contrary to expectation your subordinate officials said that those persons were not of high rank, denied them an interview, [with your excellency, and sent them back. Before the officials who had been sent to inquire of the fatigues of your voyage got back to the capital, your honorable vessels suddenly entered our narrow pass [from the sea.] Although you had said that you would inflict no injury, yet, as the vessels on board which you came [up the river] were vessels of war, and were full of implements of war, our people and soldiers could not but be filled with alarm and suspicion, and knew not what to make of it. Now, I apprehend that the way of concord and the rule of propriety in entering another country do not justify this. As this place has before been the scene of battle, it is always strictly guarded. Although I deeply regret the firing affair-induced by the sudden sight of an unusual thing-and the alarming of your people, still, to defend a pass leading into your territory is what you would do were the case your own. Your blaming us recently-as is shown by the [demand for an] apology is truly incomprehensible. Your excellency's insistance upon meeting a high official with whom to consult and settle matters, I presume from your letter of last spring, had reference solely to the affairs of the two merchant vessels in the year 1866. Of these, one was destroyed, while the crew of the other was rescued; and you wished to get at the reason for this difference of treatment, and to make provision for future cases of disaster to American vessels on our coast. That one of the vessels [alluded to] was a trader of your country was not known to us; and the violent and lawless Tsuy-Lanheen, who came in her, himself brought on the destruction that occurred-it was not our people who maliciously commenced it. The dispatches that have passed first and last to clear up your suspicions [in this case] have not been few, and it is not now worth while to discuss it further. As to rescuing American vessels in distress, our country already has a regulation on this point, and there is, therefore, no necessity for going further and laying it down after consultation. Again, as our country and yours are separated several myriad li, as if our borders were under a different heaven, we do not interfere with each other's tranquillity; then without waiting to lay it down in a definitive compact* peace exists already in the very fact [of our distance and non-interference.] To go into a lengthy discussion and debate for more or less, while friendship is what is wished for, will only lead to trouble. With these considerations your excellency can clearly decide which course would be advantageous and which the reverse. Instead of taking such steps as you please, you should rather reflect and consider well what I have said. Why should you have been so narrow as to decline the trifling presents offered? I cannot sustain my regrets at this. A necessary communication, 10th year of Tung-Chih, 4th moon, 22d day, June 9, 1871. No. 10. Mr. Drew to Cheng, guardian of Kang-Hoa prefecture, ex-officio general and governor. The soldiers and officers of your honorable country who were taken prisoners by us in the fight of the 11th instant, are now held on board our ships, where they are being supplied with food and taken care of. If your excellency desires their return, they will be released on requisition by you, accompanied by a distinct undertaking that they shall not fight against us again. A necessary communication. TUNG-CHIH, 10th year, 4th moon, 26th day, (13th June.) A list of prisoners-15 in number, wounded and unwounded-accompanied the above. No. 11. Translation of a dispatch received 15th June, 1871, on Guerriere Island, by hand of two messengers from the magistrate of Fu-Ping prefecture. Li, guardian general of Fu-Ping prefecture, Corea, makes a communication in reply. I have received and read the dispatch handed upon the sea-shore, viz, that which was to be forwarded to his excellency the authority of Kang-Hoa. Your honorable ships, coming with professions of friendliness and amity, delayed our military plans and caused us consequent loss. His excellency the magistrate of Kang-Hoa, has already incurred our court's severe reprimand. He already is under punishment, but is retained at his post. He is calling out and selecting soldiers and braves, and is steadily preparing picked and keen (men and material) with the purpose of satisfying in the fullest degree his anger; I therefore do not dare to forward your communication for his perusal. The question as to whether or no our soldiers taken prisoners shall be released and returned rests alone with you for decision. At the beginning of the breach between us, the joining of battle was first from your honored part. How then do you now say "joining battle will not be allowed?" (See note.) If you shall come to join battle, then with battle will we meet you, and there's an end (of the discussion.) He therefore makes this reply. A necessary reply is above communicated to his excellency the American imperial commissioner, Tung-Chih, 10th year, 4th moon, 27th day, (June 14, 1871.) NOTE. He takes the passage of Mr. Drew's dispatch stating that a condition of the release of the prisoners would be a promise that they shall not again take up arms against us, and making the phrase apply generally to all Corean soldiers, asks "Since fighting was at first upon your own motion, with what propriety do you now say 'joining battle will not be allowed?'" No. 12. Translation of dispatch brought on board United States steamer Colorado, June 12, 1871. Li, guardian general of Foo-Ping prefecture, makes a communication.! Politeness, of course, characterized our reception of you since your honorable ships came professing friendship and amity. But the course of friendship and amity, where shall we find in your abrupt dismissal of our officials who came with inquiries as to your suffering, [on the voyage;] in your wrongly entering the territory of Kuan-Hai, *The two characters used in Chinese for "treaty" mean literally peace-compact. 38 locality of the action of 11th instant,) ignoring your ship's short-comings from the ight, and only blaming our soldiers for attempting to ward off calamity; in your tter unwillingness to listen, and your sole interest upon raising a disturbance, when he affairs had already been completely solved in correspondence? Looking at it now, one can know thus much for certain: under outward professions of friendship you cherish false and deceitful designs. To come to your landing, and thoroughly displaying your forte of committing public buildings to the flames, buruing cottages, stealing property, sweeping up everything to the veriest trifle. These are the actions of thieves and spies. In your ships you have brought many of our kingdom's outlaws, rebellious brigands who have forfeited life, to connect yourselves with and collect such a following as guides to our neighborhoods. This is to become the lair whither pirates flee. The upshot will be a wild and disorderly discharge of gun and cannon, the battering down of walled town and fort, the slaying and injuring army and people. Where your was such unsparing and implacable savagery ever exceeded? You come with professions of friendship and amity, and wish us to treat you with politeness, and actions, forsooth, are such as these. Not only will every urchin of our kingdom spit at and curse you, but more yet in the world but will indignantly sympathize with us, and debar you from intercourse, and break off such as you already hold. I had not thought that such as these would have been the actions of one intrusted with his kingdom's commission to bind in friendship another kingdom. In those sea-ports where your ships shall hereafter arrive, who will be willing again to meet you with politeness, discuss the obligations of good faith and renew friendship? I conceal the shame I feel for your honorable vessels, the shame I feel for your honorable country. A necessary dispatch is above communicated to the secretary of the American imperial commissioners. [Dated.] TUNG-CHIH, 10th year, 4th moon, 25th day, (11th June, 1871.) No. 13. On Tuesday morning, 13th June, a paper was found attached to a pole on Guerrière Island, which read thus: Messengers from the guardian general of Fu-Ping Prefecture [are in want of a reply to the letter brought by them on Monday, 12th June.] On Wednesday morning, 14th June, a paper was found attached to a pole on Guerrière Island, in which the Fu-Ping Prefect again urges for a reply to his letter of the 12th June. It reads thus: To his excellency, Mr. Drew, chief secretary of the minister: On the 25th day of this moon (June 12) I sent your excellency a letter. I cannot sustain my anxiety that it has not yet been answered, and again send this to trouble you for a reply. Sin Wei year, 4th moon, 27th day. (14th June, 1871.) From Li, guardian general of Fu-Ping Prefecture. No. 14. Edw. B. Drew to Guardian of Foo-Ping Prefecture. I had the honor to receive your note, dated the 12th instant, in which you complained in unbecoming language of the results which necessarily followed the wanton attack upon our vessels. Correspondence between officials, of whatever rank, should contain none other than respectful and polite language; and as you choose to disregard the rule in this respect, it did not occur to me, until your communication came this morning, that a reply was expected. The occurrences of the last few days, and the necessary consequences of the evil acts of your officials, of which neither you nor your government have just grounds of complaint. The minister and admiral regret the necessity which compelled this action. They hoped your government would make such reparation as would render forcible redress unnecessary. Ample time was allowed for this to be done; but instead of responding to our overtures for peace the government remained silent, and the officials from whom we heard, yourself among the number, apparently justified the attack upon our vessels. Under these circumstances how could you expect immunity? The operations of the naval forces have been confined to destroying the places from which we were assaulted and routing the soldiers that defended them; although you cannot fail to be aware that a large district of country, which contains many villages, lies within the reach of the guns of our ships, and which remains unmolested. This ought to afford convincing proof that we have no disposition to make indiscriminate warfare upon your country or your people. The minister and admiral, as was announced to your government in advance, desire peace. They are ready to treat all friendly overtures in a reciprocal spirit, and it is to be hoped that your government will adopt a wise and prudent course, so that in the future all trouble may be avoided. It is desired that you will forward the inclosed dispatch to His Majesty, the King of Corea. TUNG CHIн, 10th year, 4th moon, 2th day, (June 15, 1871.) No. 15. The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to China, charged with a special mission to Corea, had the honor to announce by letter, written and sent from Peking in March last, that the Government of the United States desired to come to some definite understanding with that of His Majesty with reference to the protection and rescue of seamen who might be wrecked upon the islands and coasts of Corea, and thus remove in advance all cause of a rupture of friendly relations between the two countries. To carry out this intention and allow an opportunity for all matters to be discussed and settled in a spirit of amity and good will. His Majesty was informed that the undersigned would leave his post in China temporarily and go to Corea; that he would go in ships of war, accompanied by an admiral, in order to add dignity to his mission, and not with any design of harming the people as long as the vessels and the men on board were treated with consideration and kindness. His Majesty was also informed that as we were animated by friendly motives we should expect to be received and treated in a friendly way, and the undersigned expressed the hope that a minister of suitable rank would be deputed to meet him, upon the arrival of the ships on the coast, to whom full particulars of the business could be made known, and with whom it could be discussed with a view to amicable settlement. Upon his arrival at this point no persons of suitable rank presented themselves, nor were those who came furnished with any evidence of their having been sent by the government. These men were received with politeness by the person next in rank to the envoy. They were informed that the undersigned would remain at this place some days, in order that His Majesty might send a suitable person to meet him; in the mean time some of the smaller vessels of the fleet would be engaged in exploring the channels and islands. They were requested to inform the local magistrates and the people of the admiral's intention, so that no cause of difticulty might arise between the surveying vessels and the people. The views and intentions of the undersigned were frankly explained to the persons who came, in the full expectation that as soon as His Majesty became aware of them no delay would occur in taking steps to comply with the reasonable requests made. After a delay of one day to allow the admiral's intentions to be made known, the surveying vessels started on their errand of humanity, and after proceeding a few miles from the anchorage, they were, without notice, wantonly fired upon by forts and masked batteries, to which the vessels replied. No gun was fired from the vessels, or menace made, until after the batteries on shore commenced the attack. After silencing the batteries the vessels returned and reported the outrageous conduct of the military authorities. Even after all this had occurred, so great was the desire of the admiral and the undersigned for peace that it was concluded to allow ten days to elapse before taking any further action, in the hope that it would be found that the attack was unauthorized, and that His Majesty would cause a suitable apology to be sent, and also a minister, as had been suggested. The local magistrate here and the magistrate at Kang-Hoa were informed of our lenient disposition in order that future hostilities might be avoided. These peaceful overtures being declined, or neglected, left no other course open to the admiral than to seek redress by arms, as is usual among all civilized nations, for the wrongs and insults which our vessels had suffered. This has been fully done. The forts have been destroyed, and the armies defending them routed and scattered. Many hundreds of the soldiers were killed and wounded, and others are prisoners on board our ships. The latter will be treated with humanity and kindness, and, upon a proper engagement being entered into that they shall not again take up arms against us, will be released and sent to their homes. It is the custom of my country to treat all prisoners that fall into our hands with humanity, and the undersigned begs to assure His Majesty that those now held captive on board our ships will suffer neither insult nor injury. 140 The events of the past few days afford convincing proofs of our power whenever we choose to exert it. In the present instance the admiral concluded to go no further than destroying the fortifications that had assaulted his vessels, although wellestablished precedent would sanction the moving of our forces against any and all your territory; nor places of the kingdom. Although possessed of the power, my Government does not seek war or conquest. It does not wish to acquire a single inch of does it seek control over your people. It has no desire to disturb the institutions of the country, or interfere in any matters of local concern. On the contrary, it desires to cultivate friendly relations with His Majesty as the sovereign of an independent nation. My Government wishes to be at peace with all countries, neither giving just grounds for offense, nor allowing unprovoked assaults or insults to its vessels or people to go unredressed. When its citizens offend against the laws and customs of other countries they are duly apprehended and punished. This cannot be done unless some arrangement is made by which they can be arrested and given up for trial and punishment. Arrangements now exist for doing this in China and Japan. Why should not Corea enter into similar engagements? Will not a definite understanding on this point prevent irritation and ill-feeling? To discuss and arrange this question, as well as to provide for the protection and rescue of those who may, by misfortune, be cast upon the shores of your kingdom, are the chief objects which the undersigned had in view in coming here. These objects he is still anxious to accomplish, and is prepared to exercise patience and forbearance in order that further hostilities may be avoided. It remains for His Majesty to decide whether the ends aimed at shall be attained peaceably, in accordance with the earnest desire of the undersigned and his Government, or whether our peaceful overtures will be met in the future, as they have been in the past, by force of arms. The undersigned trusts that His Majesty will, upon a careful review of the whole question, conclude to meet these advances in a just and friendly spirit, and that a person of suitable rank will soon be sent to cousult, with a view of arranging the questions which are likely to disturb amicable relations. The undersigned hopes for a speedy and frank reply to this note. The undersigned has the honor to wish His Majesty health and happiness. FREDERICK F. LOW. NOTE. This dispatch was returned by the prefect with a note, saying that he dare not forward it. No. 16. Translation of dispatch from the magistrate of Foo-Ping-Foo, received from Guerrière Island at 10 a. m. on Saturday, June 17. Li, guardian general of Foo-Ping Prefecture, Corea, makes the following communication in reply to Mr. Drew, acting secretary of legation: Your dispatch has been attentively read. Its only purport is to place the blame upon the local, civil, and military authorities. It is now unnecessary to multiply elaborate discussions as to who has been in the right, and who the reverse, in what has taken place; the duty of us, the local authorities, is that we all (according to the commands of His Majesty) should confine ourselves to defending [the districts committed to our care] or to giving battle, and to these things alone. I dare not send up to the court the dispatch now to hand from his excellency, and beg respectfully to return it herewith. As you must have seen that we have not fired on the men of your honorable ships landing for water, but have let them come on shore, you must, I presume, be aware that we, too, do not pride ourselves on our power to kill and injure people. A necessary communication in reply. TUNG-CHIH, 10th year, 4th moon, 30th day, (June 17.) No. 17. Mr. Drew, acting secretary of legation, makes the following communication to Li, guardian general of Fu Ping prefecture. I had the honor to receive, by the hand of a messenger yesterday morning, your note of that day, returning a dispatch from his excellency the minister to His Majesty the King. In your note you say that it is not within your province to forward the dis |