No. 5., Fourth moon, 12th day, (30th May, 1871.)

No. 5.

Translation of note in Chinese, undirected and unsigned, brought by four Coreans to the Colorado at Isle Boisée, from three officials, on the afternoon of the 30th May.

A day or two since, on the transmission of your honorable missive from Nan Yang Foo, the court for the first time recognized that your honorable ships are [the ones] sent from America to enter our humble confines. Thereupon the officers [who are the writers of this] were sent forward to ask particulars [of your mission.] Your vessels lie at anchor out in the sea, and as ours are not used to going to and fro in the stormy waves, we remain temporarily on the sea shore of Jên-Chûan Foo. We first make this announcement and await a few words in reply.