Granville
Confidential 27
Tientsin
May 27 1882

My Lord,

In continuation of my Despatch No. 24 of the 23rd instant, I have the honour to state that Mr. Maude started for Chefoo in a merchant steamer on the morning of the 24th instant. Her Majesty’s gunboat “Sheldrake” had left Taku a day on two before. She was to wait there until Mr. Maude’s arrival when she would proceed with him to the mouth of the river upon which the capital of Corea stands. It was hoped that Mr. Maude would there find the Chinese gunboat on board of which Ma Taotai had embarked for Corea. The letter to Ma Taotai, I was informed, desired him to remain for some time longer in that country. I have since received a note from Mr. Maude dated the 25th instant, 8 am, informing me that the “Sheldrake” was just getting under way.
It is possible that under these circumstances he may not find Ma Taotai in Corea, for that officer was originally to return here as soon as Commodore Shufeldt had signed his treaty. This, it should be noted, will not be the fault of Mr. Maude, who has not lost a moment since the necessary papers were received here. These, the papers, might easily have been supplied to me a week earlier, and would, in that case, have reached Admiral Willes at Chefoo. He only left that port on the 20th.
I have, &c.

Thomas Francis Wade