(1) R. W. Shufeldt (1880. 4. 28) → M. M. Molly Shufeldt

My dear Moll,

My last letter to you was from Hong Kong, from whence we started for Yokohama, via Luo Choo islands, but fate and adverse winds and seas forced us into this Port, fortunately as [____] say, for on arrival I found it not only much nearer to our objective point, Corea, but the only place in Japan where we could obtain the much needed information about that country. The Japanese have a military settlement at Fusan in Corea and their Consul at that port was here on leave. He readily gave me all the desirable points. He has since returned to his post and I have rec’d from Yokohama a letter from the Japanese Govt. at Yedo, through our Minister, to that official directing him to afford us every possible assistance. In addition to this I have met here the French [___] apoptotic of Japan. Monseigneur [____], who is in correspondence with the French missionaries in Corea and have read their letter in which they say that the Corean Govt. has released all of the Christian captives in the country and is now tolerating the missionaries or at least ceased to persecute them. I have also met the Chinese Consul for their port who informs me that his Govt. has advised Corea to make treaties with foreign powers, as a means to resisting the encroachments of Russia on its northern frontier. Under these circumstances I feel quite encouraged and shall start for Fusan on Monday next. Yesterday I telegraphed this last fact to the Dept. and asked of it how many instructions. I have as yet had no reply. If I only had the squadron now for a few months, to add to the prestige of the flag, I would be almost sure of success, but I shall go anyhow, for here in the East, the opening of Corea, is regarded as one unaccomplished event, of final importance to Western Nations. In the meanwhile the change of climate from the tropics to this sudden cold latitude has had a singular effect upon me personally. A day or two after arrival, I feel an imitation over my body which I must originally attributed to fleas, but on going one night to bed, I discovered myself all covered with welts and red blotches and very soon was so annoyed by the itching that for two nights and days I could not sit, lie or walk, suffered indeed a most cruel inconvenience. The Doctor attributed it to the fever escaping from my system, probably escaping the climate, as the [___] in the scripture, went out to a herd of swine, and there I hope in my case, as in those into the river [_] all events I am fine of it now and feel in every way better and brighter.
The months slip around and the time draws near for our start for home. You cannot imagine how impatient I am getting, the routine time of sea life has become almost intolerable to me, besides in my hours of depression, I think cui bono. Why work and worry over matters which after all, are no good to you or yours. If there is no reward here after, there certainly is no reward here for the disinterested labor. The men who idle their time at the dining table or in the salons of Washington, are the men who reap the harvest sown by humbler hands.
Yesterday I went shopping in Old Nagasaki. The town is only a shadow of its former self, European civilization is killing it. I found little if any [_____], no bronzes or lacquer ware, worth the buying, a few plates of Yuan blue and a set of Kaga tea plates and cups, were all I bought and there for their rarity!
If I do not write letters to the boys and to your dear mama, by this mail it is because I am full of wordy dispatches to H.M the King of Corea, which must be concreted here, in order to be translated before sailing and besides my usual work on sea, in waiting up our last port, was prevented by the rough weather, nobody reads these dispatches and everybody would need my letter and yet I write the one and leave the other unwritten, but I do not forget my friends. Soon I hope to greet many, who will receive me with a smile and who with a frown I know of one, who at least will meet me, with that living heart, which is to me the most precious of treasures, the one last link which binds me to life. The bay of Nagasaki, a perfectly landlocked and so quiet as to give one a [___] of great rest, for the first there almost we lie in a [___] and this is a great relief after the voyage of 30,000 miles and 40 different ports!
Now my dear, with love to all and until my return from Corea, (when I only go now to send my letter to the King and from there I shall return either here onto Yokohama to give him time to make his reply) I am as ever and forever your loving father.

(2) R. W. Shufeldt (1880. 5. 3) → M. M. Molly Shufeldt

Nagasaki
My dear Moll,

I have just rec’d the mail up to Febry 24. We are underway for the Corea. The telegram from Sidney CB, demanding 1500.90 C5, is a puzzle to me as it was to you. I don’t know any such person, didn’t know the place, don’t owe anybody, I can only suppose it came from a crazy man or a rascal. Your other matters a subject to consideration. I can only say that I do not want the thanks of Congress. I will not join the horde who are seeking for personal advancement. If the Dept. chose to give me the sqdrn well, if not well also, I expect the back from Corea in two weeks, I only go over now to open a correspondence when I return I will with write you more fully.
Adieu my dear daughter don’t worry over my advancement- “let us have peace.” Your loving father.

(3) R. W. Shufeldt (1880. 5. 22) → M. M. Molly Shufeldt

My dear Moll,

The letter rec’d by last mail were of course matters of great grief to me but I trust that the arrival of Augustus in Washington has dispelled much feeling which you and your mother have entertained in regard to his return home. I leave entirely to him the justification of my action. I am glad to find by a pleasant letter from him dated San Frisco May 4 that he had reached that point in good health and spirits.
Since our arrival here, I have been worried by the slow progress of diplomacy in securing cooperation from the Japanese Govt. for our project in Corea. It was only yesterday that with the very efficient aid of our Minister I succeeded in getting the desired communication to the Corean Govt. My communication to the King of Corea is now on its way, under Japanese cover, to the country. Our Minister says it is an admirable document, “fit for a King,” I only hope that it may produce the desired result. The great difficulty has been to get it started beyond the border of the “forbidden land.” I was up all last night getting up a history of the present stage of the negotiation for the Govt. at home. My last dispatch from the Navy Dept was dated April 26, in this I was given discretion to remain as long as I deemed admissable. I have now consented to wait 60 days for an answer. This will bring us up to August 1. At that time of [__], I fervently hope I get a favorable reply. I shall be able to start for home with permission of the Corean Gov to send a U.S. Commissioner to Corea. If snubbed or evaded I shall telegraph Dept for further orders. We sail tomorrow morning for Kobe and there gradually to Nagasaki. I send you slips from the papers here, to show the drift of sentiment among foreigners, on the Corean question, if we can open it, if we finish the cruise very creditably and finish éclat to the Govt. at home. I do not understand the trouble with Dr. Laurie and his parish, I am exceedingly sorry for him and his helpless family whatever the cause may be, I am very tired today my dear daughter and cannot write any more. The slips will give you all the news. With much love to your dear Mother and to all at home, I am an ever lovingly your father.

(4) R. W. Shufeldt (1880. 6. 11) → M. M. Molly Shufeldt

My dear Moll,

We have just arrived at this port and I am told a steamer leaves here this eve to connect with the mail at Yokohama for San Frisco. We found the Richmond here and during my call upon Admiral Patterson I saw Dr. Gunnell for a moment, he has promised to come and see me this afternoon and says he had a letter from you per last mail.
So far the Corean project is in good training, my letter to the King having gone forward by special Japanese Courier. I have agreed to wait here for sixty-days if necessary any for the reply. If it should prove favorable we shall probably go to Corea again to commence negotiations, if not it will be for the Govt. to determine its future course. It will be difficult however to retreat now that the movement has been initiated, I have sent to Washington all the data, which will reach about July 4. If then the Dept. chosen to given me this Squadron for the purpose of [___] the Corea in more force than I now possess, [___] and good, if not I share probably return to the U.S. on the Ticonderoga and am ordered to advise with the Dept when necessary which I shall do as soon as I hear from Corea. We have just heard of the nomination of Garfield, in my opinion a most excellent choice, I have long since believed that Grant had no chance, ever since it became evident that he and his friends were following [___] to get it. Your late letters have been so gloomy to say the least, that I have been in bad health, but I hope that your brother has done me the [___] to see you and his mother. That I not only had nothing to do with his difficulty but that he went home contrary to my advice and wishes. Judging from his letter from San Francisco he must be in better health than when at here. He never looked wise or appeared in full strength while abroad. There seems to be so little that is cheerful in Washington, so small a prospect of a quiet home for you and myself, to say nothing of your dear mother, that I am sometimes sorry that we ever bought the house. Now that Gus is home, perhaps it would be well to shut it up, rent it or sell it and you come at to me either here or wherever I may be. Your mother could no doubt like to be with Gus, wherever he may be situated and I should prefer buying board for Genge rather than keep open house for children who I fear am unappreciative. Perhaps in a few years we might go back, with at least the poor privilege of dying in our own beds. Mason has not written me for six months and Genge has seldom, but in all the time they seem to have lived as if my house was theirs, but I am tired of this selfish, un filial conduct and see no remedy but to shut up the shop and live the life of a wanderer. I feel no responsibility for the support of the boys, only you and myself and yet I am constantly living in short allowance. Why should we continue to do it only my dear sister Martha must have a home whenever she wants it. She and I have grown well together. Whenever her son can share her and we have a roof to shelter us, it must be hers as well as ours. Today I am uneasy and unhappy, as if some evil here impending, perhaps the next mail will clear the sky.
Today is the first summer day, and I have just been making my calls afloat. The harbor is quiet and the country beautiful, as beautiful only as can be in Japan, I wish my dear daughter you were here to enjoy it, then I should be happy indeed.
Your loving father,

(5) M. M. Molly Shufeldt (1881. 7. 4) → Mary Howey Shufeldt (mother)

My dear mother,

When I closed my letter at Shanghai, we expected to start that night, or early the next morning for Tientsin, but no steamer sailing, we were delayed until Friday night or rather Saturday morning as it was after midnight when we started. I told you didn’t I about the little dinner Mrs. Denning gave for the Spanish and Brazilian ministers. If with it was no loss and a very nice dinner, Madonna Callado the Brazilian Minister’s wife, the only lady present except Mrs. Denning and myself, but was particularly lively. Mr. Pindleton called again the night we left. Tell Mary he is looking very well. The Swatara is at Chefoo I fancy by this time and perhaps he may come up here. We came here on the Hae-an, the trip was very pleasant, the weather much brighter than on the other trips, and the ship very clean and comfortable. The captain, a Dane, had his wife on board, a very pleasant and well educated little Germany woman. The Atterburys will not leave till Sunday morning and were detained forty-eight hours by fogs and by mostly high tide at the far Sunday night. While sitting on deck we saw a wonderful bright [___] with an immense luminous tail. We had not seen it before, [___] to the light clouds which covered the entire heavens. Monday morning about 2 A.M. we stopped at Chefoo and remained till after 6 A.M. so that I had a good view of the bay. We took on board a number of passengers all gentleman and foreigners. Mr. Deitring, the Commissioner of Customs being one of them. He was very civil and offered any assistance in his power. Tuesday at 4.A.M. we arrived at the mouth of the Pei-ho river, cruised the bar a little after flood tide, and went on up the river. The most crooked chain you can imagine and besides the [___] sharp bends, very narrow. We were aground once for a few minutes and arrived in Tientsin about 10 o’clock, to find the only two remaining rooms in the Globe Hotel engaged for us by Major Mannix. Mrs. Mannix and the children are well, but dreadfully bitter by sand fleas, or, more likely fleas. This hotel is full of people connected with the new lithograph to be put up from here to Pekin. It is an envious looking place one story high and two rooms deep, built all around like a puzzle, of a white stiff concrete I fancy, and with a wide hall between each block of four rooms. It’s not exactly the “Brunsevilo” and does not even remind you much of the ‘Higgs’ but is much better than I had expected. We had [___] unpacked a little, napped, had dinner and walked a little way along the Bend, or road that close to the river, to the Hae-an then about a block or two into the city and back to the Hotel. Lots of people called on father, none of them very interesting. As the next day began my life in China I might as well give you the singular purpose for each and every day. Most people have coffee &c in bed, but I don’t fancy that arrangement, so I have my bath brought in the night before that. I may rise when I choose. After that I put on a dressing gown, a white one, and [___] for coffee, a very small cup, toast without butter, and fruit when it can be had. Then I write or read or sew until Father has bathed and breakfasted when he knocks in for me and will go out into the hall. By that time I have on the [___] you know there I wore at home, which with a blue neck tie.