In September of the year 1820, the emperor; Kia-King, who had so long and cruelly persecuted the christians, died suddenly in Tartary, and was succeeded by his eldest son, who assumed the name of Tao-Konang. The new emperor manifested towards the christians dispositions but little less unfavourable than his father had done. In the meantime, the Almighty did not forget his afflicted children. The constancy of the faithful, under the most trying hardships and vexations, was a source of mutual encouragement to each other; the devoted missionaries fearlessly faced every danger in order to administer to them the consolations of religion; their faith was wonderfully confirmed by the discovery of the body of M. Hamel, entire and incorrupt, seven years after his decease; and it was not the least esteemed blessing of Providence that the succession of bishops was maintained without interruption. In due course, M. James Fontana was nominated by the Holy See, Bishop of Sinite, and V. A. of Su-tcheun, and a coadjutor to him was appointed in the person of M. Perocheau.
It must be fresh in the recollection of many British Catholics that the Rev. Leonard Perocheau, (of whom a memoir and: portrait was inserted in the Laity's Directory for the year 1819,) was consecrated in Paris towards the commencement of the foregoing year, Bishop of Maxula in partibus and set out for China as a missionary and coadjutor to Dr. Fontana. Having embarked at Havre in April, he reached Cochin-China in the same month of the succeeding year.—From thence he proceeded to Ton-King, where he was under the necessity of remaining the rest of that year, waiting the arrival of conductors, whom Dr. Fontana Was to send to meet him. On their arrival, he immediately resumed his journey, and, after encountering many dangers on the way, reached Su-tchen in safety on Easter Eve. It is rather a remarkable occurrence, that it fell to the lot of this prelate to consecrate his own superior, Dr. Fontana, who, although nominated bishop, had not hitherto had an opportunity of receiving episcopal consecration. The ceremony was performed on Whit-Sunday.
In this place, yet fresh with the blood of their predecessor, these two zealous prelates, without delay, set about the work
