retained at court, who kept together the flock of professing Christians; until Kang-he, coming of age, found the calendar in such disorder, that he recommitted it to the hands of Verbiest, and reinstated him in his former office; thereby affording him an opportunity of promoting the interests of his church at Peking. Finding that the emperor was disposed to redress any grievances which had occurred during his minority, Verbiest presented a memorial, praying for the recal of his brethren; which, after some difficulty, was acceded to.
In 1671, the missionaries were put in possession of their churches, but were prohibited from making converts from among the natives. Notwithstanding this interdict, however, they baptized in that year 20,000 Chinese. The year following, the emperor's maternal uncle was added to the number; and the cause of the missionaries again flourished. The emperor himself studied the elements of Euclid, under Verbiest; and while the father was engaged in communicating some knowledge of the mathematics, he did not fail to inform his illustrious pupil on the doctrines and duties of Christianity. The mind of the monarch thus became more favourably inclined to the religion of his preceptor, and though he did not embrace, lie desired that no one should vilify, the Gospel.
In the tenth year of Kang-he, an extensive revolt broke out in China. Woo 8an-kwei, who had assisted the Tartars in ascending the throne; and who, during the reign of Shun-che, had fought in their defence, now rebelled, and made himself master of the southern and western provinces. This revolt was so serious, that all the energies of the government were called forth to repress it. At this juncture Verbiest was applied to,
