The Most Noble
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G.
No. 113
Yedo
November 11, 1878

My Lord,

I have the honor to report that a British merchant schooner, the “Barbara Taylor” of Greenock, Official Number 67,922, was wrecked on the Corean island of Quelpart on the 21st September, and that the crew were treated in a very hospitable manner by the Corean Authorities, who enabled the master to salve and bring away from the island a great part of the cargo of the wrecked vessel.
I first heard of this occurrence on the 15th October from Mr. Consul Troup, who communicated it to me in the following cypher telegram:
“Is there any objection to man-of-war visiting Quelpart Island to take off shipwrecked crew of British vessel.”
To which I at once replied by telegraph in cypher:
“No objection. Telegraph particulars of shipwreck and which man-of-war goes to take off crew. Take care not to offend natives.”
On the 20th October, Mr. Troup again telegraphed to me in cypher:
“Norwegian steamer goes to Quelpart tomorrow for crew and cargo. Japanese-Corean interpreter accompanies. Is there any objection to Paul going.”
To this I replied by wire, in cypher:
“I entirely approve of Paul going. He should hold as much friendly intercourse as possible with the Corean Authorities.”
I should mention that Mr. Paul is the Assistant at present attached to the Nagasaki Consulate.
Subsequently, I received from Mr. Troup a despatch dated the 17th October, in which he reported to me the particulars of the wreck, and the measures which were then being considered by the master and his agents, and also by Mr. Troup and the Senior Naval Officer at Nagasaki, for bringing away from Quelpart the salved cargo of the “Barbara Taylor,” as well as the shipwrecked crew. I enclose a copy of this despatch (from Mr. Troup, October 17, 1878) and its three enclosures (Affidavit―October 10, 1878; Mr. Taylor to Mr. Troup―Oct. 15, 1878; Mr. Troup to Mr. Taylor―Oct. 17, 1878), one being the Affidavit of the Master, Mr. John Taylor, in which he describes the way in which his vessel was wrecked and the kind treatment he received from the Corean Authorities.
Although the Senior Naval Officer was quite prepared to proceed to Quelpart, on Mr. Troup’s request, to bring away the shipwrecked crew, the latter considered that the salving of the cargo was a service which Her Majesty’s Ships could not be expected to render under such circumstances; and indeed it would have been impossible for vessels of the size of the two gun-vessels then at Nagasaki to have taken the salved cargo on board. Eventually the agents of the wrecked ship succeeded in chartering a private steamer―the “Hakon Adelstein,” under the Norwegian flag--for this purpose, and Mr. Troup then concluded that it would be unnecessary to send in addition one of Her Majesty’s Ships. He determined, however, to give the master and his agents the assistance of Mr. Paul, on hearing from me, as mentioned above, that I approved of his being despatched on this service. In the enclosed despatch (Oct. 23, 1878) Mr. Troup reported to me the departure of the “Hakon Adelstein,” and the instructions he had given to Mr. Paul (Oct. 31, 1878).
I have now received from Mr. Troup a further despatch (Nov. 1, 1878), reporting the return of the “Hakon Adelstein,” and enclosing a very interesting report by Mr. Paul (Oct. 31, 1878) of his communications with the Corean Authorities. The principal authority of the island sent twice to invite Mr. Paul to visit him at the Capital, and I regret that Mr. Paul was unable to accept this invitation. The time of his stay at the scene of the wreck depended on the movements on the “Hakon Adelstein” and she being a private vessel, chartered at the expense of the agents of the master or the underwriters, he could not request her detention for such a purpose.
His report shows that the Corean Authorities treated both himself and the shipwrecked men with great kindness, that they would accept no remuneration for all of the cost they had incurred in salving the cargo of the “Barbara Taylor,” and in reshipping it on board the “Hakon Adelstein,” and that the latter brought away everything that could be saved from the wreck. It is curious to notice that the Corean Authorities insisted on burning the hull of the wreck; but as it was of no value, and could not be removed, this act entailed no loss on the insurers. It is undesirable, however, that the Corean Authorities should follow on all occasions a similar course.
Mr. Troup mentions the assistance he received from the Kenreior Prefect of Nagasaki, who lent him the services of an Interpreter in Corean. I intend to thank the Japanese Foreign Minister for this assistance, and to confer with His Excellency as to the best way of conveying to the Corean Authorities some expression of my sense of the kindness they have shown to those shipwrecked British subjects, and, if possible, of dissuading them from burning on all occasions foreign ships that may unfortunately be stranded on their coast. I should also wish the Chief Authority of the island to understand the cause of Mr. Paul’s inability to visit him, and that he should not take umbrage at the latter having omitted to do so.
It is very gratifying to me to be able to report to Your Lordship such friendly action on the part of the Corean Authorities, as it denotes a material mitigation of the hostile feeling they have hitherto evinced towards foreigners, and a disposition to give full effect to that Article of their Supplementary Treaty with Japan of 1876, by which they engaged to treat shipwrecked foreigners with kindness, and to restore them to their homes through the agency of the Japanese Authorities. Their humanity in this instance has been extended to an Italian subject―the sole survivor of the Italian barque “Bianca Pertica,” who, as shown by Mr. Paul’s report, was also brought away from Quelpart by the “Hakon Adelstein.”
Mr. Troup’s proceedings in this matter, and also those of Mr. Paul, have afforded me much satisfaction, and I beg to recommend them to your Lordship’s approval.
I have &c.

Harry S. Parkes