248 KOEEA. 



ought to be jealously watched. It is unlikely that Korea 

 will much longer remain the unknown country it at 

 present is. And I should think, almost equally unlikely 

 that it will remain intact much longer. The Eussians 

 appeared to hesitate about advancing at the very 

 moment they might have advanced almost with im- 

 punity. This short-sightedness, however, may, and no 

 doubt will, be retrieved some day. It appears to me 

 absurd to suppose that having the interest, and this 

 continually increasing, in these quarters, they will rest 

 satisfied without having a good port open to navigation 

 all the year round. In fact, no nation would, if situated 

 as they are, and one could not blame them. Again it 

 is time that the Korean coast should be — if not opened 

 — well surveyed and known to the world at large, and 

 particularly to us, who have more at stake than others, 

 in the way of merchant shipping passing to and fro 

 along their coasts, which abound with excellent shelter 

 and anchorage, as yet not only unknown, but shut to 

 the public. At present a vessel seeking shelter any- 

 where in Korean waters is almost sure to be attacked 

 by the natives. We should insist at least on the coast 

 being surveyed, and that our shipping should find pro- 

 tection if obliged to come to an anchor. This might 

 be done as the Japanese did in 1877, by sending over 



