CHAP. VII.
Revolutionary Character of the Chinese.—Secret Societies.—Insurrection of the Sect of the White Lily.—Edict against Secret Societies.—Persecution of Christians.—Memorial in their Favour.—Fall of the First Minister Doctor Paul.—The Mantchoo Tartars attack the Empire.—Their Chief swears to exterminate the Dynasty of Ming.—First Successes of the Tartars.—Death of the Emperor Wang-Lie.—Curious Petition of the Christians Jesuits summoned to Pekin to make Cannon.—Discovery of the Monument of Si-Ngan-Fou.—Testimony of Father Semedo.—Progress of Conversions.—Sincere Piety of the Neophytes.—Admirable Conduct of a Christian Generah—Death of Dr. Lèon.—Biographical Details concerning that illustrious Christian.—Dr. Paul First Minister.—He favours the Christians.—Commissions the Jesuits to reform the Calendar.—Fathers Schall and Rho arrive at Pekin,—They are placed at the Head of the Board of Celestial Literature.—Death of Dr. Paul—Abject Condition of his Descendants.
The revolution which in 1626 occasioned in Thibet the fall and death of Tsan-Pa-Han, does not seem to have been an isolated fact. This event was doubtless intimately connected with that formidable insurrection which at the same epoch convulsed the Chinese empire, and was destined to bring about the overthrow of the dynasty of Ming, and to substitute for it the domination of the Mantchoo Tartars.
Strange notions have been taken up by Europeans of what is called the immobility of Asiatic nations; and
