Chefoo, China
Hon. Chester Holcombe
U.S. Charge d’Affairs
U.S. Legation, Peking

Sir:

I have the honor to inform you that upon my arrival at Chefoo, on the 4th inst., I found the U.S. Ship Swatara, Commander Cooper, at this port, and the following morning Comd’r. Cooper reported his ship in readiness to convey me to Corea, under instructions from Rear Admiral Clitz, commanding the U.S. Squadron on this station. I also found the Chinese gunboats under command of Admiral Tuig, of the Imperial Chinese Navy, in the port, ready to proceed to Corea.
Ma Taotai, a messenger from His Excellency the Viceroy at Tientsin, forwarded to me a letter from the Viceroy accrediting him to me as a messenger on the part of the Chinese Government to proceed to Corea. In a subsequent interview with this gentleman I ascertained that the draft of treaty (No. 4) which has previously been presented by you and myself, had been forwarded to the Government of Corea without any conditions of a political character being imposed upon it by His Excellency the Viceroy, and he announced himself ready to proceed on the morning of the 7th inst. in a Chinese vessel-of-war.
While at Shanghai I wrote to the State Department under date of April 28th, that if on arriving at Chefoo, I found the state of affairs as above indicated I should proceed to Corea, in the absence of any further instructions from Washington. I have therefore determined if the Chinese officials leave here on the morning of the 7th, to follow them on the next morning, to the coast of Corea, to the pre-determined anchorage. I confess myself somewhat surprised at the evident desire of the Chinese Government to act upon this treaty, without imposing any conditions whatever and under these circumstances and in the absence of answers to the telegrams, I feel it my duty to carry out my original instructions.
I regret exceedingly that the State Department has not authorized you to accompany me to Corea, and shall no doubt feel the need of your experience and knowledge, but I take this occasion to express to you my sincere obligations for the services you have already rendered. If the treaty is perfected and ratified it will be due very much to the interest you have taken in the matter. It is of course, difficult to say when I shall return or to what port, but by the earliest opportunity I shall inform you of the results. I am very respectfully

Your obedient servant
(sgd) R.W. Shufeldt
Commodore U.S.N.