U.S. Flag Ship Hartford (2nd Rate)
Hong Kong China
December 14, 1866

Hon. Gideon Welles
Secretary of the Navy
Washington D. C.

Sir:
　The barbarous murder of the people on board of the Schooner General Sherman, suggests the terrible fate that awaits such of our countrymen as are lawfully navigating the Japanese Sea, and the Whang Hai of Yellow Sea, which wash the shores of the Corea, and may be as unfortunate as to fall into the hands of that savage people. I trust therefore that the Government of our Country will take this affair in hand without delay, and in anticipation of the French, next spring. It will need as preparations; fortunately the Government is ready with all the material in their hands.
　This squadron can be immediately reinforced from the Pacific Coast with light draft vessels; and fifteen hundred or two thousand soldiers can, in the same time, be transported in the Vanderbilt, or, in the Pacific Mail Steam-Ship Company’s Steamer running from California to this port, landing them in Hamilton Harbor Latitude 34° 08¢ N Long 127° 20¢ E. Corean Archipelago, with their necessary equipment &c., and I doubt not we could possess ourselves of Seoul the Capital of the Corea, twenty-six miles from the coast; by next June, and humble the King of that Country to our demands.
　Only twelve thousand British and French troops marched to Peking.
　A blow to [_________], promptly and efficiently, followed by a quiet withdrawal of our forces to California, as soon as our demands are satisfied, would awe not only Japan and the Court of Peking into profound respect for American views and interests, but would disclose to the world who are the Master of the Pacific; and make American Diplomacy easy in the East, as well as on the Northern boundary from Vancouver to Newfoundland.
　Very little is known of the Coreans, of their government, of their power or of their industrial pursuits, though it is apparent that they desire no intercourse with Christians. While the Japanese carry on some little trade with them on the East, the Chinese traffic with them on the West coast.
　Fine harbors abound, particularly in the Archipelago to the South of that promontory. The most attractive of these is Port Hamilton, Lat 34° 03¢ N Long 127° 20¢ E, inhabited by about four hundred fishermen, being easy of access, and easy of defense. This harbor claims the attention of Naval Powers. It is 150 miles from Nagasaki, 240 miles from Van Diemans Straits, 180 from Simonasaki, 300 from the Yangtze River and 330 from the Seoul River.
　Chrichton Harbor Lat 34° 20¢, Long 126° 38¢, further west is also regarded as a good harbor. These islands have very little soil, are thinly peopled with a poor race of fishermen who are jealously watched over by a district Corean Mandarin. Good anchorages are found in the Prince [Jerome] Archipelago leading to Seoul River, the rise and fall of tides being twenty-six feel.

I have the honor to be, Sir
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
H.H. Bell
Acting Rear Admiral
Commanding U.S. Asiatic Squadron