United States Consulate
Tients in March 3rd 1881

My dear Commodore,

Since my last of the 22nd ultimo I have occurrence one or two important events that has come to my knowledge which I would communicate to you by “wire” were it safe, as it is I hope this will meet you in season to take action.

On the 1st inst I had a long interview of over two hours with the Viceroy. He made many kind enquiries of you and Major and is wondering why he does not hear from you and also why Major does not telegraph at the Viceroy’s expense when he will leave for China, as requested at the time of his ending the Major’s contract, &c.

He says be sure and write to the Commodore at once, telling him that in compliance with his request he had entered into correspondence with the Corean Minister storing your wishes &c that this question had been in referred to the home government, and that a short time ago a favorable answer was received and that they were willing to negotiate with you. The Minister (this sub rosa) asked the Viceroy what would be demanded by you in making this treaty and he told the Minister about what would be just to ask and to give, and made up a sort of memo for their guidance. The Viceroys say be sure and tell the Commodore to come out in the Spring and accomplish the work so well inaugurated and after that is accomplished he wants you to come here and see and have long talks upon the many questions that are surrounding China, and he says he feels such that when he sees you again you can come to some final arrangement about staying with him, as he wants your advice continually. He wound up our interview with the request that I should come and see him professionally the following day at 3 p.m. in compliance with this request I could yesterday over examined him. He has inflammation of one eye &c. I gave him a very close examination and at 5 ½ p.m. he let me off. Today I have placed him under treatment which I hope will have a favorable [______]. He yesterday asked all about my medical experience―if I have my diploma, my army commissions &c, what I thought of Japanese doctors, and ten thousand more questions on telling him that I had with me my diploma, commissions &c. he manifested great pleasure, but I took the old man’s heart when I took out my pencil and made a sketch of the eye in its natural state and then showed the contents of his eye, it was wonderful to see the catalyst, he got up, came, and stood beside me, just his hands on my shoulders and said I know now you understand your profession, you must remain here at Tientsin, I assure you to be the Consul and my Physician, here’s much good you can do me and others, I have known of you when you were in Japan and I know you are a true friend for China; progress, you must stay here and not go home.
Now Commodore for the first time I ever held conversation with him upon this branch, I must say it looks very favorable, the more so when he has had two “dime [__________]” attached to his yamen and he has not called them professionally to see him. If I could only remain here in charge for a few months, say six or eight more, I am sure of final success and not leave everything here to the English.
Late news from Peking and authentic states that the question of the introduction of railroads has been negated in the Consul unanimously. The reasons given are- 1st it will deprive the civic labors of traffic of work and injure the Hotel [_____] of the country by taking passengers so rapidly though the country, 2nd that the [______] tax of each station would be done away with and only one tax instead, for any number as the case might be, could be collected thus emerging great loss to the government revenue. The telegraph from here to Peking and Shanghai is permitted. Tsu, the former general in the West is at Peking. He is storing favor and has been made member of the Foreign Office, and now Li Hung Chang stands at the head of the peace party and the railroad and telegraph interests. Time will soon tell which is the stronger. If this is news to the Department kindly advise and if &c if prudent.
We are still frozen up, and have had no mail either way for many days as the outland [_____] has been stopped for the river to open, and it closed. Thermometer last night 11° above. Ice at Tokei forts 14 inches, so the Lord only knows when we shall have communication with the outside world again.
I shall try to write to Mannix tomorrow but should I not have time to drop a line tell him he is not forgotten.

With kind regards and remembrances
I remain my dear Commodore,
Yours very truly,
CL Fisher

Laisun has just come in from the Viceroys and says- Be sure you write to the Commodore today, as the V.R. is very anxious I inform him that the letter was already written. This Corean business and the late news I have not communicated to anybody, though Capt. Johnson of the [_____] is continuously sending me on the subject so that he can write to―addressed.