U.S. Flagship Ticonderoga
Special Service
Fusan, Corea

To His Majesty the King of Corea

Your Majesty,
I have the honor to inform Your Majesty of my arrival in Corean waters with the U.S. Ship Ticonderoga, Commissioned by the Government of the United States to visit your Majesty’s dominions, with the intent by means of a friendly correspondence to bring about that amicable intercourse between the Government of the United States and Your Majesty’s Government, which owing to a misunderstanding has been unfortunately interrupted for several years past.
I wish to inform Your Majesty that I am the Officer who, while in command of the United States Steamer Wachusett, lying near the mouth of the Ta-Tong River, addressed Your Majesty the following letter:
“The United States Steamer Wachusett
Off Ta-Tong River, District of Chang-Yuen, Corea
January 24th 1867
To His Majesty the King of Corea,
The Commander of the American armed vessel Wachusett begs to inform Your Majesty that he has come to the borders of Your Kingdom not to engage in war nor any unlawful business, but in obedience to the command of the officer commanding the armed vessels of America stationed in these seas, who has heard with great pleasure and thankfulness of the kindness of Your Majesty’s Officers and people to the ship wrecked crew of an American vessel in the month of June last, on the west coast of Corea, how Your Majesty had them transported to the confines of China from whence they safely reached their friends.
The whole American people cannot but feel thankful and praise your nation for this act of kindness and brotherly love.
The Officer commanding the armed vessels of America has since heard with pain and surprise that the people of another American vessel wrecked in the Ping-Yang River in the province of Ping-Yang in the month of September last, were all put to death and the vessel burned, and has ordered me to ask of your Majesty what evil these people had done that they should be made to suffer such cruel treatment.
But if any or all of these people are living the Officer commanding the armed vessels of America has directed me to ask of Your Majesty that they may be delivered to me on board of the Wachusett now lying in the harbor of Ta-Tong off the district of Chang-Yuew, or at any more convenient part Your Majesty may select.
This is especially desired that the peace and friendship which has heretofore been uninterrupted for many years may still continue between America and Corea. A speedy answer is requested to this communication in order that he may depart in peace.”
I have the honor to state to Your Majesty that the same kindly sentiments which guided me then activate me now while addressing to Your Majesty this Communication
The following is a Copy of Your Majesty’s reply:
To Commander Shufeldt:
The intendant of circuit in the Hwong Hae district, Corea and ex-office 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-Tuen, namely, that he has examined your letter of the 18th instant, forwarding a communication which you simply wish to be transmitted to my sovereign, and proposing to await the reply of the Minister of the Frontier. The local magistrate of the said 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 replay. 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 friend by 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 the affairs that the legal regulation of our country with reference to the merchant ships of a foreign country driven her by adverse winds are that, in case 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 heretofore, not merely once. Such a course we look upon as in accordance with true benevolence. He who is in [ ____ ] above regards the people of neighboring nations as he does his arm. Your worthy communication, which I have just received, is so exceeding by 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 the place, supposing that its vessel was driven hither by distress of weather, and coming in to seek a vessel to transship 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 they were not driven here by storm. There was one man on board the vessel named Tsuy, 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 armies. The local magistrate replied that the opening of trade was not a thing that a local magistrate could assume to promise.
The man Tsuy 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 every day, riding on the tide, went up a few miles further. Our people were especially anxious that affairs should not become serious and so presented them with nice meats, vegetables, fruit and fuel. The man Tsuy replied that they would leave the next day; but when the next day came, instead of leaving they advanced again, evidently intending to push their way to the provincial city. The Adjutant -General went out in a vessel every day and escorted them, in order to guard against a collision between their people and ours. One day he threw out grappling-wires and ropes and captured the vessel of the Adjutant-General, seizing him, with his official seal, and confining him on board their vessel. In some cases the trading vessels they passing to and fro they sent 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 thus 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 [ _______ ] 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-thousands of 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 good 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 by both sides and fire-rafts were used. Finally the powder stored in said vessel exploded rending it to pieces and sending the black smoke up to heaven. The vessel was entirely burnt up and the men all killed. We still do not know whether 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 guest is a different nationality from that claimed by Tsuy. The beginning and the end of this affair amounts simply to this. That your honorable country’s customs greatly tends and produce propriety in intercourse with others is well known to all the provinces as well as our illustrious neighbor China.
As to what it said in your honored communication about containing former relations of friendship without an occasion of mutual injury, I will simply say this affair is but 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, twelfth month [ ___ ] day.”
Unfortunately Your Majesty’s reply did not reach me until several years after it was written owing to my absence from the Coast of China as well as the Coast of the United States.
If I had received it in time I do not hesitate to say to Your Majesty that in my opinion, the subsequent events which occurred in 1871, in the Kang-Kiang River would probably not have been of such an unfortunate character because I believe that the statement of Your Majesty in the above letter in reference to the lost vessel was essentially true, and, knowing as I do, the peaceful policy of the Government of the United States with respect to all foreign powers, I think I could have convinced its authorities of the truth of the fact as contained therein, and, I feel authorized to add, from the tenor of my official instructions from my Government, that notwithstanding the attack upon the ports in our Majesty’s dominion in 1871 the Government of the United States entertains most friendly feelings toward the Government and People of Corea.
I have now the honor to express to Your Majesty the hope that in view of the progress of events both in China and Japan, and in Your Majesty’s dominions, you will have arrived at the conclusion that the present time is opportune for the commencement of a new era by offering to the United States, under treaty, such commercial privileges as are granted to it by the two nations just mentioned.
I need not remind Your Majesty that the Kingdom of Corea is of all nations the only remaining which excludes other nationalities from its territory nor is it necessary to inform Your Majesty that the Government and People of the United States have never sought by aggression to extend their sovereignty in these waters nor have they ever meddled or interfered with the religious or political institutions of independent nations.
The United States Government only asks, first for the protection of its citizens if stranded upon foreign shores, and second, for such commercial facilities as nations universally grant to each other in the present day.
I need nor ask Your Majesty’s attention to the fact that Corea surrounded by nations some of which may be more or less anxious to extend their territory, would be materially strengthened and benefitted by making a friendly treaty with the United States, a strongly armed power which has no such desire or intention, and which is indeed your nearest neighbor among the so-called Western Powers of the world―lying as it does directly between Corea and Europe.
In view of these facts thus briefly stated I respectfully submit to Your Majesty the propriety of consenting to receive a commissioner duly appointed by the Government of the United States for the purpose of negotiating such treaty, or Your Majesty might exhibit a praiseworthy feeling deserving of Your Character as indicated in your letter to me, by selecting an officer of sufficient dignity to confer with me personally on this subject either on shore or on board of this vessel while lying in the harbor of Fusan for which purpose, or at least for receiving a reply to this communication, I will return to the same anchorage in 42 days from this date.
I beg leave to assure Your Majesty that while in the waters of Corea no act of hostility against Your Majesty’s subjects or their property, unless wantonly provoked, will be permitted by the officers and men under my command.
Trusting that a bond of peace, friendship, and good understanding may now be brought about which shall henceforth and forever continue to subsist between American and Your Majesty’s Kingdom.

I have the honor to be,
Your Majesty’s humble servant,
(Signed) R.W. Shufeldt, Commodore &C

【漢譯文】

照錄抄單
照鈔美國太匡低羅嘉纛船特命總兵官上高麗國王修好書大合衆國特命査辦各國通商事務 坐駕纛船太匡低羅嘉總兵官 上書於高麗國王殿下 爲敬陳修好事 竊因前數年兩國情意 尙有未協 是以大合衆國朝廷特命總兵官乘駕纛船名太匡低羅嘉前來貴境 欲修舊好 敬爲殿下陳之 今總兵官卽曩時一千八百六十七年正月二十四號 在貴國大同海口 乘坐敝國華休屑軍艦 曾經陳書於殿下者 其詞曰 合衆國華休屑坐駕官到來貴境 非欲有所戰爭及一切違理之事 但因奉合衆國統帶東方水師提督之命 以舊歲六月間有敝國船隻駛至貴境西邊 破船遭難 其在船人等幸得貴國官民照料 復蒙殿下派員將更生之難民 遞送中國疆界 然後得以安扺親友 凡敝邦之人 莫不感戴貴國仁愛之心 雖兄弟無異 水師提督不勝感激稱謝 厥後是年九月 又有敝國船在於貴國平壤河地方 船隻被焚 人亦遭害 提督聞之 極爲驚駭 痛惜實深 特派坐駕官前來 敬求殿下査明該船之敝國人民有何不法 致被此害 倘或尙有生存者 望交還坐駕官船上 或由殿下另擇更爲合宜處所 知會坐駕官 得至該處領回 均隨方便 敝國與貴國數年以來 共敦和好 今望彼此親睦 仍復如前 此事若何 求早日賜覆 俾修好而歸 幸甚等語 總兵記憶前言 至今猶存此念 再爲殿下陳之 前數年得接賜書開稱 貴坐駕官蕭孚爾 高麗國黃海道台前監督部官爲照覆坐駕官華休屑事 前十八日來函 本道經已覽悉 另有轉遞敝國主上書一封 欲候邊疆大臣回復 當經地方官報違 以往返路遙 須要貴艦逗貿 遲日方回後 不料復函未到 而遠客揚帆 似此不周 有傷睦誼 抱歉之至 地方官亦有受責 玆竊有陳者 凡外國商船如有在敝境遭風者 敝國立有章程 若該船尙堪駕駛 俟其動身之日 須供給火食及各項需用物件 倘船不能駕駛 卽派官員將其難民護送北京 歷經照辦在案 我國以爲此仁義之擧 上帝臨之 四海之內 無分畛域也 今接貴函 情詞備至 殊覺抱慙 至去歲平壤河一事 敢據實覆陳之 是時有洋船一艘 駛入內河 地方官以爲遭風漂至 覓雇船隻 委人到船査問 不意船上人等見有委員來査 不勝憤怒 問之不合 閉目安睡 任意欺凌 敝國之人忍聲呑氣 再三訪問 始知該船非因遭風而來 該船之人有名睢者 自稱法國人 又有英國人一名 二人皆云不日有許多兵船到此 若地方官能准我外國人在此往來貿易 可免干戈等語 地方官答以通商之事 本官實無此權 睢等聞言不顧 愈加兇怒 平壤河水甚淺 洋船不便往來 睢亦不理 每日乘潮駛入數里 我國人民但望不致生事 自備米柴魚肉蔬果各物遞送該船 睢答云明日卽去 乃至明日 不惟不去 且更駛進 顯欲到城 我國副將官恐土人與該船生事 每日駕船伴送 一日洋人睢抛擲鐵鉤䋲索拘繫副將之船 將副將及其鈴印押送過船 或遇敝國商船往來 該洋船開炮向擊 奪其貨而戮其人 不知多寡 敝國人民驚慌奔走 兩非對敵 而副將如此受刑 可云辱甚 然我國之人仍以溫言求懇 請其放還副將 該船答云 俟我等扺城之後 自將副將交還 惟是能說華語之洋人睢 兇暴愈常 其意決要進城 我等不解其何因 是以全城數萬兵民 氣怒已極 齊赴河旁 互相攻擊 欲救回副將 反被擊斃民人數名 人心更忿 蜂擁而來 不能阻止 兩岸施放槍抱 兼用火棑 迨後該船藥艙被火 煙焰冲天 全船被焚 無能生活 是時敝國之人亦不知其是否貴國之船也 忖思兇悍如睢者 闖進他國內地 激成事端 彼實因何至此 迄今無從稽査 今査來函 貴坐駕之船非與睢同國者 然其事顚末 實係如此 貴合衆國禮義之邦 不但于我國知之 卽有道顯榮之大淸國 亦共聞之 貴函又稱重修舊好 無傷友誼 則此事亦何足介意 爲此照覆 諸祈鑒原 須至照覆者
右照會大合衆國坐駕官 同治五年十二月等因 寄遞前來 不料其時總兵官遠離中國海疆 亦未回至敝國 竟遲至數年方接殿下賜敎 若得早接貴函 在總兵官甚爲篤信 可以布告己國人民 共釋疑惑 敝國政治和平 素欲與各國和好 諒不至有一千八百七十一年在漢江河不幸之擧 今總兵官銜命而來 不復記念前時砲台攻擊 但欲與貴國修好 友誼盖敦 近觀中國日本及貴國進益情形 正宜倣照規條 與敝國立約通商 現今天下萬國無不往來貿易 惟貴國尙未允行 伏念敝國向無在此貪人疆土之意 凡有自主之邦 其敎俗禁令 斷無干涉 致有阻難 其欲通好於貴國者 一則爲己國船隻遇有遭風 藉資保護 二則欲照各國一律通商而已 至于貴國鄰封有思拓其土宇者 固不必言 我國素稱强大 毫無此心 若貴國與之修好 邦家益固 其利非淺 况此處離泰西之國與敝邦最爲密邇 敢以此敬陳殿下 希惟允准接待合衆國公使 共立條約 或簡派本等大臣到船西議 或另擇相宜之處 彼此往來晤商 均無不可 總兵官准於 空格待簽日期 日 再至釜山拱候鈞覆 此次奉命來此 未有敵視貴國人民之心 除非貴國人民先以非禮相加 始許員弁從事 伏願允准施行 俾我兩國立約 永遠和好 正函譯函止此 尙未簽名