Sir:

I have the honor to transmit herewith a receipt from Paymaster Thonon on the commercial interests of Corea, with a report from Lieut. Niles, being a brief compilation of its geography and history as far as known- and at the same time to submit some views on Corea, and American interests in the East.
The acquisition of Alaska and the [_____] Islands, the treaties with Japan, the [_____] Islands and [_____] are only [_____] to the proposition that the Pacific Ocean is to become at no distant day the governmental domain of America.
The Atlantic either by force of circumstance or national indifference has been given over to foreign flags, backed by the immense weight of European Capital, but under natural law the flow of commerce—as if emigration—is from the East toward the West and geographical position of the United States in conformity with this law—points to the Pacific Ocean—as the main channel of trade and our country as the source from which the Oriental people must obtain whether they need in the way of commercial exchange-. In all probability within next half century the United States will find its largest market in Asia rather than in Europe.
Thus a treaty with Corea becomes but another link with the chain which binds the East to the West and would give to our country that naval precedence in Corea which is so universally conceded to it in Japan.
But the marauding expeditions of Europeans and Americans for the purpose of ill traffic or the still more contemplate object of robbing royal graves of supposititions golden coffins, added to the (so considered) unprovoked attack of the French Squadron in 1866, and the American Squadron in 1871 have naturally rendered the Government and the people of Corea averse to any foreign intercourse.
Yet in the very logic of events, Corea can no longer remain secluded. Japan has already forced a treaty upon her and Russia is silently preparing to appropriate the Northern Ports, and if any means can now be found to get beyond the “barred gates” and reach the Central Government, I am convinced that Corea would be made to understand not only the policy of a treaty with the United States,—but its absolute necessity as a matter of protection against the aggression of surrounding powers.
Corea would in fact be the battle field of any war between China and Russia or Japan in whichever may these nations might confront each other.　　But to accomplish this treaty need to same [_____] of purpose that characterized the course of the Commander Perry in Japan. The commissioner must have done outward and visited [_____] of the power of tis government [_____] with oriental and particularly the Coreans who have seen so little of the world, though assorted in the [_____] power. Full language, now fail to convince some those willing to believe, unless they saw indexers of the power of the nation which sought their friendship.
Besides in the intervention between the United States and Corea I am not satisfied that Japan has been acting in perfect faith, it is her policy indeed to monopolize the commerce of Corea.—She possesses in that country extraterritorial rights, and rules the Corean with an iron rod.—Stringing to free herself from the obnoxious away of foreigners upon her own soil,—she is unwilling to have these foreigners—she has imposed these same laws in an aggravated form—upon her defenceless neighbors.
But the [_____] has inaugurated a moment in Corea as the “Columbus” under commander [_____] did in Japan and it only remains for the United States if it really wished to extend its influence in the East to follow up the moment in the one Country with a legation in the command of a distant affair―as it did in the other―controlled and guided so successfully by the fairmness and wisdom of the Great commander Perry―Otherwise we shall bestow upon some other nation the prestige and some which of might belong to oneself. Moreover, it is a duty which we are to these people to become the pioneers of a more enlightened policy in the East. European Power is not employed to “civilize” Orientals, but to subordinate them and to keep them subordinate for the purpose of trade or Proselytism. A distinguished Chinese officer recently said to me “What has European treaties done for China had to fuse upon her opinion and missionaries? The H.S. should take higher grounds and which demanding protection for its citizens should ask for nothing more than he is willing to [_____]. Although as we’ll be seen paymaster Thompson report―the foreign goods imported through Japanese lands into Corea as well as there suggested on it northern [_____] from Russian territory are of American main factor yet the consumer is at present unimportant.
The Coreans are a poor people, and the country for the most part rugged and unproductive, a failure of the rice crop invariably creates a famine, its mineral wealth, of which such fabulous stories have been told, is at best Apocryphal. The Corean, therefore have but little to sell and consequently but little to buy with. The account of the French missionaries which are the most authentic, indicate that the people are formed most despotically and that their aversion to [_____] [_____] as much from the fear of their Rulers as from any innate [_____] to have intercourse with them. Judging from the member of Christian [_____] there missionaries are said to have made, the Coreans must be willing to leave. The conclusion has recurred among all class from the coast to the handless pleasant. Indeed it is probably [_____] to the officers zeal of the priests that much of the [_____] of the Corean Government to foreign Government is due. It dreads and perhaps has reason to dread [_____] [_____] [_____] of authority though priestly intrigues with discontented or turbulent subjects. The population of Corea is probably very much exaggerated – the peninsula is not over 600 miles by 300 *** (Sic.) and judging from what I have seen myself and from the account of others, it cannot possibly contain an estimated 15,000,000 of people or even half of that number. Urged by that greed of fain or that desire of [_______________] which characterized the career of foreigners in the East. Some pretext has been constantly advanced by (foreigner) them to induce their Governments “to open Corea” as the last remaining “forbidden land”―for the pursuit of trade or Christian propagandism.
The destruction of the American Schooner General Sherman and the massacre of its crew in 1866 was the pretext used by English, and American in China for the forcible entry into Corea, by a naval force of the United States. The attempt, however gallant, was fruitless-expect in embittering Coreans against citizens of the United States and deferring the prospect of a friendly treaty.
Previous, however, in this attack the United States ships Wachusett and Shenandoah had visited the neighborhood of the wreck, and a correspondence had ensured between their commanding officials—, in which the latter stated distinctly that the massacre was brought about by the imprudence and insolence of the people of Schooner-, who were made up of a several nationalities and while the Schooner was ascending the Ping Yang River in defiance of the Authorities of Corea and was undoubtedly engaged in illegal traffic. The statement seemed to be corroborated by the fact, that during previous year the crew of another American vessel wrecked upon the Corean coast, had been hospitably received and with their effects conducted to the Chinese Boundary, whence they safely reached their own country.
But this explanation although forwarded to Washington, never received any attention, and the Naval Expedition in 1871 under Admiral Rodgers accompanying Mr. Low the American Minister in China-visited Corea, apparently in utter ignorance of its existence. On the other hand the French Naval expedition in 1866 went to that country to demand satisfaction for the murder of French Missionaries, who had clandestine by [_____] it said remained there inspired by the [______] intention of connecting Corea to Christianity. They suffered the [______] which they apparently had counted by entering and remaining in a forbidden land.
This Naval Expedition was still more unfortunate than our own in the loss of life without attaining its object. The people and the governors of Corea remember these things to the detriment of future friendly relations with Western Nations- as well as to exult over the fancied defeat of the two powerful naval forces upon their coast. The object of the Ticonderoga was to do away in the first place with this unfavorable reminiscence- and in the second, to endeavor to pave the way to such a treaty as would at least give to the United States the right to protect its citizens and this property if wrecked upon the Corean coast. At present we submit to the humiliation of such protection from the Japanese Government, the only one which thus far has such right under treaty.
The risk of the ship to Corea, however insignificant in its immediate results, has nevertheless attracted the attention of European Government and has been followed by the visits of men-of-war of every nationality represented in Eastern Seas. It may therefore be regarded as “the first step which is difficult” in the attainment of the purpose.
While acceding to the desire and even the right of Corea- to remain secluded from the family of nations- no one I presume will deny to other countries the prerogative as well as the duty of protecting their citizens wherever they may be found.
The Peninsula of Corea just out into the Ocean big array of the world-. Wrecks are likely and indeed often do occur her unknown others. Commerce insists upon the right to travel upon this trick and merchantile world is justified in demanding its protection.
I do not wish to see the United States use coercive measures in Corea or any where in the East. Yet as I have said before, America is the pioneer of the Pacific-a position which she shall not only recognize but claim for this reason-. If for no other, I hope she will not resign her places in Corea to other Powers both willing and anxious to retard her progress or cripple her prestige in the East.

I have the honor- ……
R. W. Shufeldt