Department of State,
Washington, Nov 9, 1878
Hon. R.W. Thompson
Secretary of the Navy
Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, accompanied by a copy of instructions which you have addressed to Commodore Shufeldt, who is about to proceed on a special cruise along the coasts of Africa and Asia and through the Indian Ocean.
In reply, I have the honor to inform you that those instructions have been read with much interest and are entirely approved. If carried out, as it is hoped, they may be from the high professional and personal character of the officer to whom they are addressed, they cannot fail to redound much to the public advantage. This Department has a special reason for forming a favorable opinion of the capacity and energy of Commodore Shufeldt, inasmuch as some years since, when his service in the Navy was of his own accord temporarily suspended, he was at a critical time Consul of the United States at Havana and discharged the duties of that onerous office with great diligence and sagacity.
Since the conclusion of the Treaty between the United States and the Sultan of Muscat of the 21st of September, 1833, there have been changes in that quarter which are not clearly understood here and which it is desirable should be explained. The Sovereign of the country now resides in Zanzibar, and is understood to acknowledge the treaty with Muscat adverted to. What were the political events which led to the change of the residence of the Sovereign and when did they take place? It has been represented to this Department that American vessels are not allowed to take cargo at places on the African continent belonging to the Sultan of Zanzibar but that at the productions of the Sultan’s dominions on the mainland are carried to Zanzibar for exportation abroad. The cost of that merchandise to the foreign consumer must be considerable enhanced by the restrictions adverted to, which it is desirable should, if practicable, be removed. It is important to know whether, if the restriction exists it is general in its application. If there should be any discrimination in favor of the vessels of any other nation, we must claim the same privilege pursuant to the IV article of the Treaty.
The Consul of the United States at Tamatave, Madagascar, is of the opinion that the Treaty of 1867, between the United States and the Queen of that Island, is susceptible of improvement. A report from Commodore Shufeldt on this subject would be acceptable.
The British port of Aden, always important to commerce from its position at the entrance of the Red Sea, has in that respect much increased since the completion of the Suez Canal. At one time, Mr. William H. Nichols was the Consular Agent of this government there. He, however retired in 1869, and we have not since had any form of Consular representative at that place. The fees alone would not support one, but the Department has an application for appointment as Consular Agent there, from one Pieroslaw Buyorjee Sorabja of Aden, who says that Mr. Nichols on his departure, transferred to him the Consular effects. The application is supported by numerous testimonials of naval officers of the United States who have visited Aden. Commodore Shufeldt’s views on the subject are desired. It is presumed from the manner of the application that he is either a Hindoo or an Arab, and an enquiry as to his nationality as well as his capacity is advisable.
In a dispatch to this Department of the 17th of September last, Mr. A.J. Studer, the intelligent Consul of the United States at Singapore, asks whether the treaty of 1850 between the United States and the Sultan of Borneo, is here regarded as in full force. As the instrument itself is unlimited in duration, the question can only be answered in the affirmative, in respect at least to all those parts of the Island, which that Sovereign may maintain within his own jurisdiction. If he should in due form have alienated to another Sovereign power any part of his dominions, the privileges promised to us by the treaty may be modified accordingly. It is understood however, that he has ceded or leased to individuals or companies pacts at least of the main Island and smaller islands adjacent thereto.
His competency to do this in disparagement of his stipulations in his treaty with the United States, cannot be acknowledged. This opinion is expressed despite the fact that one of the companies which obtained grants there was called the “American Tracking Company,” the leading manager of which was M.J.A. Torrey, now Vice Consul of the United States at Bangkok, Siam.
It is understood that the lease of that company has been made voidable by a failure to comply with its conditions and especially the annual payment which it required to the Sultan. The extent of that Island and its resources, mineral and otherwise, are so great that it is important that the whole subject should be carefully enquired into. To this end Commodore Shufeldt may be advised freely to confer with Mr. Studer.
This Department is not aware that there is a material change in the prospect of opening commercial intercourse or entering into a Treaty with the Kingdom of Corea. Commodore Shufeldt may be referred to the accompanying reports on the Foreign Relations of the United States for 1870, 1871, and 1872 for the particulars of the abortive attempt for that purpose by Mr. Low, when Minister of the United States in China. In a dispatch to the department, however, of the 26th of March 1874, Mr. Williams, then Charge d’Affaires at Peking, represented that he had received credible information that there had been a change in the Government of Corea, and that the King during whose reign our overtures for diplomatic intercourse were rejected, had been dethroned, and that the dynasty by which he had been succeeded, might be regarded as more favorably disposed. If Commodore Shufeldt should find the same dynasty in power, he might cautiously sound it as to its inclination to enter into a treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States similar in spirit and purport to those already in existence with other Oriental Countries, and it is desired that upon this subject he will report as early as may be practicable.
The volume containing the treaties of the United States with foreign nations is herewith transmitted for reference in this matter.
It will in any event be desirable for the Commodore to endeavor to ascertain the facts in regard to the American Schooner “General Sherman” and the persons on board of her. That vessel visited Corea in 1866, but never returned thence, and nothing authentic has since been learned of her officers or seamen. The accounts of their fate in the papers on file here, are so conflicting that a satisfactory opinion upon the subject cannot be formed. The failure of that vessel to return from Corea was the principal occasion for the mission of Mr. Low, above referred to.
This Department has information that Japan and Corea have recently entered into a treaty by one of the stipulations of which provision is made for relieving and returning shipwrecked mariners, not only of the parties but of other foreign countries. This is a proof of intimacy between those two governments, which may be taken advantage of in behalf of Commodore Shufeldt.
I have consequently addressed an instruction to the Minister of the United States in Japan, directing him to apply to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs for such personal or official letters to the authorities of Corea in favor of Commodore Shufeldt as may tend to smooth his way and contribute to the success of his errand.
The opinions of the Commodore in regard to such Consulates as he may visit and as to the expediency of establishing others, would be appreciated, and any information that he may obtain in regard to opportunities for the development of American trade with the regions he is about to visit, would be gratifying to the Department as well as of public interest and importance.

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Wm. M. Evarts
Accompaniments.
Volume of treaties and conventions between the United States and other Powers.
Foreign Relations of the United States for 1870-’71 and ’72