The New York herald., 1871-03-23
A SPEC on WAR III THI EAST
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A United States Expedition
TO CGrea.
Murdfr OF The Grew OF On American Vessel
Sati factea 10 be Demanegd.
COREA TO Be OPENED TO COMMERCE.
Attempted Violation OF the Grave
of a King.
The Remains to be Used TO FxtOTt Money
from the Natives.

expedition 10 Corea for the purpose or securing
treaty for the protection Of shipwrccked mariners.
l. WAS deemed advisable TO defer lis departure until
the present time We now learn by way OF san
Francisco that the United States steamer Alaska
arrived Mt Yokohama February 10 TO relieve the
Benicla ordered 10 Join the expedition under Ad-
pllral Rodgers for the Corea. The force is 10 con-
sist OF three or more war vessels, including the
asuship. Mr.. L. +. Low, Minister to China, is
charged with the duty ofneso;tating the treaty, and
will be accompanied by Mr. George /. Seward, Consul
General at Shanghai. who is known TO have great
experience In Oriental character. and who has also
made study-o The question. Mr.. Seward goes by
direct Instructions from Secretary Fish, The first
object or The mission Is 10 obtain Information or the
loss or destruction OF the American schooner Gen.
eral Sherman, and OF the fate OF the crcw-repored
10 have teen murdered by the natives. If the
ports arove correct then indemnity or satisfaction is
10 be enforced. The instructions gwen to the Min
lister ana the Admiral contemplate the possible
Of force, but II an extreme emergency should
arise the former solely is TO decide whether
such course be advisable not. The
Coreans IL must be borne in mind, are, OF all the
Eastern commercial nations, the most exclusive,
and have hitherto de1ed or avoided all efforts OF
foreigners TO hold intercourse with them. In some
points the political condition OF Corea resembles
Canada, as Corea, with ia king, pays tribute to
China Ii is thought that II the government are
prepared TO 60 tie extent o. opening their coun-
Try to our merchants opportunity Will be taken OF
the circumstance. The commercial advantages OF
The peninsula referred 10 further France has
not been fortunate IN Corea. Great Britain, power
fu In the East hardly greater interest al STAKE
than America, ana no grievances TO redress. The
German empire fast advancing TO be great mari
time Power, has yet settled or determined policy
IN the East, but follows, less in the wake OF
England. The United States Is iavorably known,
and all the surroundings Indicate that the present
attempt 10 open the country may best be made by
the expedition under Admiral Rodgers. Whether a
general treaty Is required or not the State Depart.
men IL Is believed, consider that Is needed to
provide for the safety OF saamen and others wrecked
or driven on the Corean coast Ii Is also held that
10 longer consent that 1t shall remain pecu-
Larry dangerous to our navigation.
THE Loss OF TaE GENERAL SHERMAN.
The causes that have led to the present eSped.
tion TO the Corea date back TO 1856 1t appears that
In August OF that year the American schooner Gene
raj Sherman got ashore on that PENINSULA TIE ma
nves OF the country GocAed about hes when she
stranded, ana q quarrel arose between them and
the crew, resulting Ia injury aud wounds 10 beth
parties, ana fight III wLlca all the Latter twenty
four in puIuber, were ultimately DESTROYED. In
consequence OF this TeporG the United States COR
vette Wachusett otsn patched III tie summer of
1867 to make inquiries nto the matter, and ascer-
tain the circumstances OF tue affair on The spot: tnt
this the COMMANDER not able to do ft the timc in
Il salts factory manner The late Mr. Buriingame,
matter to the notice of the Chinese authorities for
the purpose Of engaging lis good Offices II ascer-
tanning by direct application TO the King OF Corea
what were The real faet5 connected win the loss Of
The vessel. Alter the resignation OF Mr. BurlIugamc
Tue luituer lhFsstisa'iol o. taS matter Was prose-
Gated by&tne Chafga. lr. q. Wells " lllians. and
Biz. George L. SewaId, Consni General at Saanghae
The Kingdom OF Corea, as stated below, Is
almost entirely hGepeAacut. IL pays, however,
a complimentary tribute TO Chlna, ana for TINS
purpose an embassy annually arrives ut PeKu.
Ihe United STATES has 10 representative III Iorea,
and had 10 seek explanations through the Chinese
and japanese authorizes. II was thought best to
await the arrival o. these Gign!taIies Wheu more
direct Intercourse Win the officials OF that country
could be Obtained The embassy arrived III January,
1865 but no communication could be had wtd them
directly, as the Chinese olNcialS were particularly
careful 10 Keep these representatives Of tributary
nation confined to thelr own quarters, and they
themsel es were sny OF all intercourse. klr Secre-
Minister to Japan, January u, 1865, says:-"We
learn with satisfaction that the Japanese govern
ment has taken measures TO open Communication,
possible with the government OF Corea, and thai
We nay indulge au expectation that tAe United
States may be abe 10 avail themselves OF the god
otces OF tie proposed Japanese Legation impress
upon the Coreans the necessity OF due respect 10 the
power OF the United States. Tie wrong we have
sustained Is unehouraoIe and canpot lie over.
lOoked.p
Tue United states steamer Shenandoah was De.
spatched 10 Corea the 18th OF March, isGS an the
commander had Intercourse with officers at DIFF
fe1epl points On the coast but learned nothing te
corroborate the reports prevalent thai 0. tat
crew of tue General SHeiinau were still living ol
,nat 'ae eoVeiul%lenI % Wa alspoaea 10 send an en-
there was some disturbance between tie krencf
and tho Coreans i collision took place ANA man,
French missionaries were murdered aud Other
escaped foia the country.
co4EA AND ITs COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE.
The Corea, Tor wnlca the squadron IS destined, is
g peninsula, OF which very llttie IL Known. Ii /.
separated nom Japan by me straits OF Corea, and
length and $50 in wijtn. it is rraversed from north
TO south by range OF mountains. Some paris OF
the country are sterile and rugged; considerable
portion Is covered wiih forests, shl there are large
tracts Of wei cultivated territory, producing rce,
hemp, tobacco, sc. In the more ooon coantry there
is abundant vegetation. Tie Climate Is cool and
moist. The population IS auoat SIX millions, one-
third that Of Japan. Tho people are described IS
peaceful and Industrious. However they even ex.
ceed Chinese In jealousy OF strangers. CoIea pays
homage and tribute 10 Chlna, hut he King wieIds
general sway, and may be considered iuuenru dent
The arts ana letters or China have been 10 great
e&tent imported, and Corea has the same written
language, though lts SPOKEN one Is entirety dueient
Inc men CT letters undergo similar limitations
and hold the same conspicuous places in
ohlna. AS stated above the Coreans exclude
their country and besides suppress Christian mis-.
sionarles and their converts. Tue IMPORTANCE. how
ever, OF opening up the country to civilized coa.
merce has long Engaged The attention Of the United
States government We have three potts Of China
III Tue 1un ol fechili iAGch feqaehtet uy eur Ves-
similarly available to us. Right down between
these juts ine Gorean peninsula. fno steamers
from San Francisco run lor n distance almost III
slgbt OF TIE coast OF COrea. 10 le nor.h stretch
away possessions OF Russia, having the RIVER Amnor
as q natural caannel ana guide OF tlelr commerce
IN the racine. Here are regions o. China. japan
and Siberia, which have already D considerable
trade. hithln year or two coal vii be exren-
sipey worked IN each, and 1t win sooa DC no
longer necessary 10 bring this indisIeuga-
bic article alouno the Cape uf Good
Hope. Centrally situated, d1ay in the Tong
stretch OF the Eastern AslaiIc COAT win
foreign vessels already sAntng her shore In very
considerable numbers, Corea cannot hope 10 exclude
foreigners much longer, nor can 1t be possible tpat
with mild climate and large ana industrious
population, commerce must, ul1cr favorable CIR
cunstances, flourish Ia her cities. TIE capitai OF
Corea Is hing-Kltao. an inland town ana centrally
located. Ii would appear tl3t, In ls0e, the govern
meDt had been some time engaged M efadicaung be
Buddhist religion and forbiddIng It's exercise. Tins
was done I'D defiance OF Chinese law and authorities.
BoBBiN0 THE GRAVE OF A KING.
During the pendeney OF the negotiations with The
Chinese government. (Aprl, 1863 an expedition ieit
bhaDghae for Corea. There were three leaders-a
French priest named faronl; citizen of Hamburg,
named Oppert and j. ". B. jenkins, an American
citizen. The Cnina a North German steamer OF O4s
chartered il. and q steam tender OF