No. 164
Nagasaki,
December 6, 1875

My Lord,

In a Despatch dated the 10th ultimo Mr. Consul Eusden has reported to me that the master of the British Barque “Ocean Vidal” when on a voyage from Shanghai to Hakodaté had picked up a Corean from a raft fifty-five miles off Quelpart Island, and on his arrival at Hakodaté had delivered him into Mr. Eusden’s charge. As the man spoke only his own language it was difficult to obtain from him a clear account of his misfortunes, but as far as his story could be understood it appeared that he was driven out to sea while fishing off the Corean Coast, and when saved by the “Ocean Vidal” he had been ten days without food, and had eaten part of his clothes to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Having some knowledge of Chinese characters he was able to explain to a Chinese at Hakodaté that he is thirty-four years of age and has a wife and two children, but his interrogator could not understand to what part of Corea he belongs.
When the man was given over to Mr. Eusden he took him to the Japanese Authorities who were also unable to elicit any information from him beyond the obvious fact that he was a Corean. They declined to take charge of him, and begged that Mr. Eusden would do so because he had been brought to Hakodaté in a British vessel. Mr. Eusden, therefore, complied with this request, and he asked me to instruct him as to the course he should now take.
I have accordingly authorized Mr. Eusden to send the man to the Legation. His presence there may in the first instance prove of some service to Mr. Aston who is giving attention to the study of the Corean Language, and his restoration to his native country may be better arranged at Yedo than at any other place.
This, it appears to me, may be managed in two ways either by requesting the Japanese Government to return him to Corea through their agent at Sôriô (the Japanese settlement in Corea), or by ourselves taking measures for sending him to his country. The former is certainly the easier course of the two, but the latter would furnish an opportunity for making a friendly communication to the Corean Government in case Her Majesty’s Government should deem it desirable to attempt to do so.
I am disposed, therefore, to retain the man at the Legation, if he should be willing to remain there for a few months, until I receive Your Lordship’s instructions on the subject. If Your Lordship thinks it desirable that we should endeavour to restore the man ourselves, Admiral Ryder would probably not find it convenient to undertake this service before the return of fine weather in April or May.
In the event of it being decided that the latter course should be followed, it would probably not be difficult to give notice to the Corean Government through that of Japan of the object of the visit, and thus prevent that object being misunderstood. A similar communication might be also be made with advantage through the Government of China. We must not, however, shut our eyes to the fact that the character of the reception which would be given to the Coreans to any of our vessels visiting them even for this humane purpose is at least doubtful, and that if the reception should prove to be hostile, serious consequences, for which we should be prepared, would probably ensue.
If we attempt to return the man ourselves, I should think the proper point of delivery would be near the Capital where we are more likely to meet with responsible officers than anywhere on the coast. In case communications could be opened at that point, I would then suggest that the Corean Government should be informed that the survey of the channel between Fuelpart and the South Coast of Corea has become a necessity to foreign navigation, and that they should extend friendly treatment to, or at least should refrain from opposing, or obstructing, any vessels that may be employed on that service.
Judging from the experience gained by the recent visit of Her Majesty’s surveying vessel “Sylvia”, which I reported in my Dispatch No. 140 of October 11th, there are no grounds for hope that this survey could now be prosecuted without incurring collision with the Coreans. There in no doubt that the latter intended to attack the “Sylvia” as Corean officers have openly boasted to the Japanese Agent at Sôriô that they would have destroyed her if she had not retired, and that the force, which prematurely attacked the boats of that vessel had been collected for that purpose. It is noteworthy, as showing the treacherous character of the Coreans, that while these preparations for attacking the “Sylvia” were being made, the principal Corean authority of the locality visited Captain St. John on two successive days, spent several hours on board the “Sylvia” on each occasion, and partook freely of the hospitality which was offered him.
I would also submit that the same occasion should be taken advantage of to point out to the Corean Government the responsibility which devolves upon them of treating shipwrecked foreigners with due humanity. The Japanese have an understanding with the Coreans on this subject, under which the shipwrecked people of either nation are taken care of and restored by the Government of the country upon whose shores they may be thrown, and it would be as barbarous as it would be unreasonable for the Corean Government to refuse to make similar arrangements with other foreign governments.
I beg again to observe to your lordship that the considerable and increasing foreign traffic, which, as noticed in my Despatch No. 140, now passes the Corean Coast on its way between Japan and China, renders it necessary that some arrangements of this nature should, sooner or later, be arrive at with the Corean Government. I have therefore thought it my duty to report to Your Lordship the circumstances of this shipwrecked Corean having fallen into our hands in order that Your Lordship may judge whether it affords a suitable opportunity for attempting to open friendly communications with that country, although I am by no means sanguine that any well-meant effort on our part will be favourably responded to by the Corean Government.

I have the honor to be,
with the highest respect,
My Lord, Your Lordship’s most Obedient,
Humble Servant,
Harry S Parkes