No. 5
January 7, 1881
Confidential

My Lord,

I had the honour to address to Your Lordship this day the following telegram—In cypher.

Confidential. Peace with Russia seems nearly certain, but a Japanese Under Secretary for Foreign affairs has arrived and I fear that China is receding from the engagements she had nearly concluded with Japan. Under Secretary has not visited any legation.

It is generally thought that Russia will seize something in Corea in Spring.
I hear confidentially that a telegraph line inland from Peking to Shanghai has been sanctioned by the Imperial Decree; also that a railway from Peking to the Great River is strongly supported.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect,
My Lord, Your Lordship’s most obedient, humble servant,
Wade.