Page:American Diplomacy in the Orient - Foster (1903).djvu/338

 was asked to notify the Korean authorities of the coming of the American minister and the object of his visit. The Tsung-li Yamen replied "that though Corea is regarded as a country subordinate to China, yet she is wholly independent in everything that relates to her government, her religion, her prohibitions, and her laws," and that though the request "was an extraordinary favor, quite in excess of usage," the notice would be sent.

On May 30, 1871, the American minister, escorted by Admiral Rodgers in his flagship, with four other naval vessels, appeared in Korean waters near Chemulpo, the harbor nearest to the capital. Some difficulty was experienced in finding officials with whom to communicate, but notice was given that the mission of the squadron was peaceful, that it would remain in the vicinity till communication could be had with the king, and that meanwhile some of the ships would be sent up the channel nearer the capital to make surveys. Two days after their arrival, two of the vessels, with four steam launches started up the narrow channel leading to the city of Kang-wa destroyed by the French, and the sea-gate to the capital. Here they were fired upon by the Korean forts. The fire was returned by the ships and the forts silenced without loss on the part of the Americans.

This action satisfied Mr. Low that the government of Korea was determined to resist all intercourse and that his mission was a failure. Nothing remained to be done, in his opinion, but to prevent this attack from being construed into a defeat of the "barbarians" and