Legation of the United States
Peking, January 11, 1872

Sir:
　Referring to my No. 102 of 23rd of November last I have now the honor to lay before you Prince Kung’s reply to my note.
　It is evident that the Prince is not quite certain of the precise object I had in view in writing the note in question; he is undoubtedly suspicious lest it be to lay the foundation for a correspondence with the Corean Government through some other channel than the Board of Rites. The non-committalism of the reply, and the extreme caution with which every statement is made shows only too plainly that he expects a copy of it may reach the Corean authorities.
　The point in the note of the most importance is, that which shows most conclusively that the Chinese Government is fully impressed with the fact that the insults offered to our vessels in Corea were fully and severely redressed. This is what I have been solicitous about.
　I may add that the chief object I had in view in discussing this question with the Yamen was to thoroughly convince the ministers that in our operations last summer we suffered no defeat.
　Having accomplished fully all that I expected, I shall not consider it my duty to continue the correspondence, or again enter into discussion with the Foreign Office about Corean affairs, unless something new should transpire, or instructions should reach me from the Department ordering the question to be opened again.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
Frederick F. Low