Mr. Foulk to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Seoul, Corea, February 10, 1885. (Received March 16.)
Sir: On the morning of the 8th instant the Chinese ambassadors, dispatched to Corea upon the occasion of the late revolutionary attempt, took their departure from Seoul to return to China, removing, from the city at least, the major part of the Chinese troops which have been stationed there.
On the day before their departure they were visited by His Majesty, the King of Corea, who moved to their headquarters, nearly a mile distant from the royal palace, in an imposing procession. The interview lasted upwards of two hours.
As to the character of the negotiations of these ambassadors during their prolonged stay in the capital, it has been impossible to ascertain, but it is not unlikely that they were of much significance.
On the 2d instant a board of high officers, forming a part of the department of justice, memorialized the King for the lives of the women of the houses of the conspirators who are now in Japan. This created considerable excitement, and it was generally believed the women, who are as yet hiding in the mountains, would be arrested; however, on the following day the Official Gazette announced that the offices of the memorialists would be taken from them, and that their memorial had been disapproved of by His Majesty.
I have, &c.,
Ensign, U. S. Navy, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.