The intendant of circuit in the Hwong-Hae District, Corea and ex-officio, Inspector of the Imperial Board of Directors, makes the following reply to the Commander of the Steamer Wachusetts, anchored on our coast off the district of Chang Yuen [Vis], that he has examined you letter of the 18th instant forwarding a communication which you simply wish to be transmitted by my sovereign and proposing to wait the reply of the minister of the frontier. The local magistrate of the place was in duty bound to inform you that the road going and returning would be quite long, and to have treated you with kindness and sincerity so detaining your honored vessel for a reply. Now however, before the arrival of the reply, the guest from afar has already departed, so doing how grievously have we offended the rules of propriety and [violated] true friendly feeling. Aside from the fact that this local magistrate has received a demerit mark, I have prepared a dispatch in reply to be kept in readiness in case your honored vessel should return and first I beg to state in general as regards the circumstances of this affair that the legal regulations of our country with reference to the merchant ships of a foreign country driven hither by adverse winds are that in case that the vessel is sound, we are to furnish provisions and whatever is needed while waiting for a wind to depart. In case the vessel is not sound and there is no means of proceeding by sea, then we are to follow their wish in sending an officer to escort them by land to Pekin, which thing has occurred therefore, not merely once. Such a course we look upon as in accordance with true benevolence. He, who is in heaven above, regards the people of neighboring nations as he does ones own. Your worthy communication which I have just received is as exceedingly complimentary as to make me feel quite ashamed. With reference to the affair which transpired last autumn in the Ping Yang River, I would state that at that time there was a foreign vessel entered the lower waters of the Ping Yang River and the local magistrate of that place supposing that the vessel was driven hither by distress of weather and coming in to seeking a vessel to tranship to, proceeded to make inquiries into the matter, but the men on board the vessel became greatly enraged at the messenger and refused to make any reply, shutting their eyes and lying down at their ease clearly intending to offer insult. Our people restrained their anger and by the most humble address and earnest entreaty found out that the vessel was not driven here by storm. There was one man named Tony calling himself a Frenchman and another said to be an Englishman. They said a large number of men of war was about to come to this place and if the local magistrate would suffer them to open trade with the people it would secure the dispersion of the soldiers of the two countries. The local magistrate replied that the opening of trade was not a thing that a local magistrate could assume to promise. The man “Tony” however refused to regard it, becoming more and more unreasonable and violent. The water in the Ping Yang River is shallow and unfit for running large vessels, but he disregarded this and everyday, riding on the tide, went up a few miles farther. Our people were especially anxious that affairs should not become serious, and so presented them with rice, meat, vegetables, fruit and fuel. The man “Tony” replied that they would leave the next day, but when the next day came, instead of leaving they advanced again up the river apparently intending to push their way to the Provincial city. The Adjutant General went out in a vessel and escorted them every day in order to guard against a collision between their people and ours. One day he threw out grappling irons and ropes and captured the vessel of the Adjutant General, seizing him with his official seal and confining him aboard their vessel. In some cases the trading vessels the met coming to and fro, they rent to pieces with their cannon, carrying off the goods and killing their crew. I do not know to the extent how many far and near, all were exceedingly alarmed and fled in continuous streams. How extreme was the disgrace of the Adjutant General to be seized before hostilities had begun nevertheless we still resorted only to mild words and earnest entreaty, requesting that the Adjutant General should be given up, but the reply was, wait till we enter the city and we will restore him. This man “Tsuy” could speak Chinese and was without a match in fierceness and haughtiness, and seemed determined to force his way into the Provincial City though we did not know what his intentions were. The whole city, including several ten thousand soldiers and people, yielding to their indignant rage came out in a mass to the river and commenced an attack with all their might intending to rescue the Adjutant General. Several tens of people were killed by the cannon balls, when all becoming infuriated rushed on in a mass the force of which was irresistible; fire was opened on both sides and five rafts were used, finally the powder stored in said vessel exploded, rending it to pieces and sending the black smoke up to the heavens. The vessel was entirely burnt up, and the men all killed. We still do not know weather this vessel belonged to your honorable country or not. This man “Tsuy” without cause pushed his way into the interior of another country and provoked this affair, and examination had to this time failed to discover his object in acting thus. It appears from your honorable communication that the vessel of our quest is a different nationality from that claimed by “Tsuy.” The beginning and ending of this affair amounts to this: That your honorable country is well known to all the provinces as well as our illustrious neighbor China. As to what is said in your honored communication about continuing former relations of friendship without any occasion of mutual injury I will simply say this affair is but as a particle of autumn dust, not worthy to be entertained as a matter of doubt and solicitude. I now respectfully present this reply asking you to make all necessary allowances and for this purpose this reply is made,

A necessary reply addressed to the American Commander
Fifth year of the Emperor Tung Chi
12th month day