D.Spence
no. 24
Tientsin
22 May 1882

Sir,

You will I trust have received from Mr. Hughes, H.M. Consul at Shanghai, a message transmitted through the senior naval Officer at that port directing you as soon as you could to proceed to Shanghai, leaving the papers of the Ichang Consulate in charge of the Commissioner of Customs.
On your arrival at Shanghai you are to consider yourself at the disposal of Admiral Willes who may possibly require your services in Corea. You have been selected for this service on account of your known ability as an official agent, but also especially because the experience acquired by you during your former visit to Corea cannot fail to be useful.
Admiral Willes will let you know when your services are required. When he has no further occasion for them you will come up to Peking.
I am etc,

Signed,
T. Wade

P.S. It would be well to take a good Chinese clerk with you. He will require high salary, say $50 a month. I will sanction this for two months from the date of his engagement. He will easily return to Shanghai before that term expires.