Sir H.S. Parkes to Earl Granville.— (Received May 8)

(No. 39)
My Lord,
Tôkiô, March 24, 1883

IN continuation of my despatch No. 33 of the 9th instant, reporting that Vice-Admiral Willes had kindly met my request in respect to the prompt conveyance of Mr. Aston in Her Majesty’s ship “Moorhen” to Corea, I now beg to add a copy of a letter in which I acknowledge the Vice-Admiral’s despatch of the 28th February, and explained to him the grounds which rendered it advisable that Mr. Aston should proceed there without delay.
The Commander of Her Majesty’s ship “Daring” has now informed me that he has been instructed by Vice-Admiral Willes to proceed to Jinchuen (or Chemulpho) to relieve Her Majesty’s ship “Moorhen” of the duty in which she is now engaged, and this arrangement will afford me the opportunity I had desired of maintaining communication with Mr. Aston.
The “Moorhen” having been detained by bad weather at Nagasaki did not leave that port until the 17th instant, and Mr. Aston and his party of Corean functionaries probably arrived at Chemulpho on the 20th instant. The “Daring,” leaving here to-morrow, may be expected to arrive there on the 5th proximo.

I have, &c.
(Signed)　　HARRY S. PARKES

Inclosure

Sir H.S. Parkes to Vice-Admiral Willes.

Sir,
Tôkiô, March 10, 1883

ON the 4th instant I had the honour to address your Excellency the following telegram:―
“'Daring’ cannot be repaired and reach Nagasaki before the 28th (instant), or possibly later. Aston can be there by the 14th. There are now important additional reasons for dispatching him promptly; (I) strongly recommend that ‘Moorhen’ should proceed with him. If you approve, (she) might subsequently be replaced by ‘Daring.'”
On the evening of the 5th I received from your Excellency the following reply:―
“In consequence of urgency ‘Moorhen’ at your disposal. ‘Daring’ was supposed to be ready for the 14th.”
I now beg to return my best thanks to your Excellency for having so kindly met my wishes in this respect.
In explanation of my desire that the departure of Mr. Aston should not be delayed until the “Daring” was ready to proceed with him, I should observe that, as the authorities and workmen of the Yokosuka Dockyard cannot be relied on for dispatch, the date of the completion of the repairs was attended with some uncertainty; that on receipt of your Excellency’s telegram of the 23rd ultimo, informing me that the “Daring” would convey Mr. Aston to Corea “when he was ready,” I had at once relieved him of the charge of his Consulate, and he had consequently left Kobé; and that I had also arranged for his being accompanied by two high Corean functionaries who were then on the point of leaving Tôkiô, and who will now join him at Nagasaki, and proceed with him in the “Moorhen.” I had also to consider that the value of the information which Mr. Aston will obtain in Corea, on other points that those connected with the selection of Consular sites, will be in proportion to the promptness with which it is gained.
I have now the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s despatch of the 28th instant. I have fully explained to Commander Eliott the nature of the assistance I wish Mr. Aston to receive, and he has been so good as to show me his orders of the 7th instant to the Commander of Her Majesty’s ship “Moorhen,” which are entirely in accordance with my wishes.
The distance of the Jinchuen or Chemulpho anchorage from the capital, to which Mr. Aston will endeavour to proceed, and the indecision and delay of the Corean authorities which he will probably have to encounter, render it impossible for me to estimate the length of time he may be detained in Corea, but I am satisfied that he will not protract his stay there longer than is absolutely necessary.
I can clearly understand from your Excellency’s despatch that Mr. Aston cannot be conveyed nearer to the capital than Jinchuen in Her Majesty’s ship, but your Excellency will, I trust, permit me to mention that that anchorage appears to be free from ice throughout the winter. It was formally opened to Japanese trade on the 1st January last, and Japanese ships of war and merchantmen, and I understand Chinese vessels also, have been going there since that date.
I am further reminded that the Japanese Expedition, consisting of eight or ten vessels, which was sent to Corea in 1876, proceeded to Jinchuen in the month of January of that year, and the Treaty which occupied a month in negotiation was signed on the 26th February.

I have, &c.
(Signed)　　HARRY S. PARKES