To His Excellency
Commodore Shufeldt U.S.N.
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Corea
Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty the Emperor of China has been Gracious to approve of my memorial whereby I have prayed the Throne to appoint Ma-Rietchong an expectant Taotai of the Honorary Title of the Second Rank to proceed to Corea in a man-of-war of the Chinese Imperial Navy to act as an intermediary for facilitating the final arrangement of the forthcoming treaty between the United States of America and Corea.
The recommendation to appoint a high official for this purpose was especially made at the request both from your part and from the part of the Corean Government.
As Ma Taotai has followed the whole course of the negotiations of the said treaty from beginning to end he will unquestionably be able to render valuable services towards the initiating of the perpetual friendship and amicable relation between the two countries. I therefore trust you will place your whole confidence in him so that my hope for the accomplishment of an affair in which I have taken so deep an interest may not be frustrated and the status quo of the great East may be maintained.
I avail myself of this opportunity to assure you my highest consideration and esteem.

Grand Secretary of the Chinese Empire and Viceroy of Chili

Li Hung Chang
Tientsin Apr 23, ’82
Letter informing of the appointment of Ma-Rietchong as intermediary.
Answered
May 6, 1882