A communication in reply. On the 10th April I received the honorable board’s dispatch forwarding copy of the record of its bureau of foreign relations to this effect: “This board on the 22d March memorialized the Emperor in reference to the transmission of a letter to Corea, and on the same day the great council returned a minute stating that it had reverently received the imperial will. We have taken due note. This minute being received by the board, its duty is to send copies of its original memorial, the imperial edict, the Tsury-li Yamen’s original memorial, and the American letter to the King of Corea for his cognizance in the premises,” and accordingly inclosing copies of the Tsury-li Yamen’s memorial, the board’s memorial, and the American envoy’s letter.
　Besides acknowledging receipt of the board’s dispatch, with its several inclosures, I would humbly observe that the service of forwarding the letter is indeed out of the usual course. I ascribe it to the board’s anxiety that no mistake should be made in a matter of such delicate concern. The board has performed this special act in respectful intimation of the Emperor’s fostering favor toward me; and for such perfect attentiveness I am inexpressibly grateful.
　The letter forwarded by the admiral’s envoy has reference primarily to two merchant vessels which came to this country in 1866, one of which was wrecked and her crew saved, while the crew of the other was killed, and the cargo destroyed; the American Government not knowing why such very different treatment as this was exhibited, wishes to inquire into the circumstances. Furthermore, it desires that some arrangement be devised for the relief of any American merchant vessel which may in future meet with disaster on this coast, and that friendly treatment should be accorded, &c.
　Our humble country has the sea on three sides, and whenever stranger vessels of a foreign nation come to our shores in distress, they are either assisted with food and whatever they require, and enabled to sail away again; or, if the vessel is disabled or lost, her crew are escorted through by land to the supreme capital, Peking, thence to be sent to their homes; in each case the wishes of those concerned are regarded, and no obstacle is raise. In this we do not fail reverently to give effect to the exceeding benevolence and plenteous virtue of our holy dynasty, the present dynasty of China, which desires all things without exception, under heaven and upon the earth, to follow out their original nature, and the outpost state [Corea] has held this custom as to vessels in distress as its firm rule and established policy for a long period. Moreover, there have been from first to last three occasions of American subjects particularly having been rescued in distress, and sent forward under protection, viz in the 5th year of Heen Feng, the 4th of Tung-Chih, and the 5th of Tung-Chih, [1855, 1865, and 1866]. The dispatches are all in the archives of the honorable board, and as the affairs were comparatively recent, the country in question can hardly fail to have a knowledge of them. When men have come from afar through the dangers of the sea, they are objects of sympathy; how then could any one think it right to maltreat and destory them?
　The statement about a vessel being destroyed, and her crew killed in Corea, has reference, no doubt, to the event of the autumn of 1866, in the Ping-Yang River, General Sherman. The details of that affair were all set forth in the dispatch to the board of the 22d day, 8th moon, 5th year Tung-Chih, [September 30, 1866], and need not now be reiterated. Again, on the 25th day 3d moon, 7th year of Tung-Chih, I wrote in reply to a dispatch from the board of rites still more explicitly, and inclosed copy of the answer of Poo Cheng-hwuy, intendant of Hwang-Hai province, to the American commander, of the Wachusett, which answer had been prepared and held in readiness for delivery; on this occasion the board was further prayed that the American envoy might be so admonished by the Emperor of China as to resolve his doubts ad suspicions and prevent further confusion.
　Again, in the 3d moon of the 7th year of Tung-Chih, the American Commander Febiger came, saying that he wished to inquire into this affair, and presented dispatches to the different local magistrates of Ping-An and Hwang-Hai. These magistrates answered very clearly, giving the circumstances of a strange vessel having pushed her way in the autumn of 1866, of wounds and injuries inflicted on the inhabitants, of the detention with indignity of and officer, and of the consequent exasperation of the people, resulting in self-provoked disaster and destruction; they made a complete explanation to dispel all doubts, and Captain Febiger, on receiving the reply, went away. I ventured to think that thenceforth the people of that country, knowing fully the affair, and understanding the right and wrong of it, there would be no more occasion for coming with doubts and suspicions to make inquiry. Why now does the American minister, in his letter, again express ignorance as to the rescue of one of the crews, and the destruction of the other?
　He says that the Government of the united States has so much regard for its sailors and countrymen that it will never permit other countries, as they please, to misuse or destroy them; this, surely, is a point in which all nations are alike. America will not allow its people to be maltreated; nor will this country allow its people to be maltreated. In this respect, if we exchange places and reflect, there is surely no difference. Such being the case, the reason for the self-provoked destruction of the vessel in the Ping-Yang River is perfectly intelligible without stopping to discuss it. We appeal to the natural public sentiment of justice among men, and to the controlling presence of God and the spirits. If the American vessel had not abused our people how could the Corean officials and people have wished to maltreat them first?
　The letter under consideration expresses the hope that friendly treatment will be accorded. If the strange sates of the extreme sea desire a relationship of good will with us, then, in reverent imitation of the virtue of the great dynasty which treats kindly men from afar, we shall prove not to be ignorant of the usages of hospitality. But as to the expression, “consult and arrange about intercourse,” I do not know what it is wanted to “consult and arrange,” and what the intercourse desired us to be about. “A minister of the Emperor must not have relations with a foreign state.
　For kindly commiserating and sending home the crews of foreign ships which have met with disaster, not only has our country a constant rule of its own, but it also imitates, in this regard, the profound benevolence of the heavenly dynasty of China; then, without waiting to “consult and arrange,” the minister may feel secure from all apprehension. But supposing he does not cherish good will, but comes to commit wanton violence, then in keeping them off or destroying them we shall also be discharging our national duty of shielding the heavenly dynasty. It is quite enough for the American Government to old in control its own people, and keep them from improper interference with others; why go so far as to discuss weather there shall be intercourse with foreign states or not?
　Heretofore foreign nations have been in ignorance of the character and productions of this country, and we have been repeatedly pestered with applications for commercial intercourse; but that is entirely out of the question with this country, and that merchants would not find it profitable was set forth in a communication to the board in the fifth year of Tung-Chih, somewhat as follow: It is universally known that our humble state is a small dependency in a corner of the seas; that the people are poor and the articles of commerce scanty; that the precious metals and precious stones are not found here, while grains and cloth fabrics are not abundantly; that the productions of the country are insufficient to meet domestic wants; and if they were permitted to flow out abroad, thus impoverishing us at home, this insignificant land would certainly be in extreme danger, and difficult to protect from ruin; furthermore, that the habits of the people are sparing and plain, the workmanship rude and poor; and that we have not a single article worthy of commerce with foreign nations. The constant wish for commercial intercourse, while the utter impossibility of this country’s entering into relations of trade, and the unprofitableness of it also to foreign merchants, are such as are above described, is no doubt to be ascribed to the want of full knowledge on the part of the people of remote countries on the subject.
　Now, although this letter of the American envoy has not spoken out fully, yet as it asks for an official to consult and arrange [business] affecting both countries, it most likely alludes to this sort of thing, [viz, commercial intercourse]. As the rescue and forwarding home of shipwrecked crews is provided for by existing laws, it is unnecessary to take further trouble to make a fixed arrangement. Besides this subject, there is nothing else to consult and settle, and it is not necessary to come and go to and fro to no purpose.
　I humbly hope that the honorable board will lay before the throne all the facts connected with this matter, and that the Emperor will send forth a special edict to exhort and instruct the envoy of the nation in question so as to overcome the doubts and dispel his anxiety, and thus each of us be left to himself without trouble. I shall then be inexpressibly happy. In my insignificance, replying on the Emperor’s love and affection, I have emptied my whole heart in extreme fear and reverence.
　The contents of the letter of the American envoy do not indicate that a reply is expected; nor should I. The ruler of a colonial state dare not commit such a breach as to trouble the honorable board to forward a reply.
　I solicit your intelligent glance and your indulgence.