CHAP. VIII.
Father Schall fabricates a Harpsichord for the Emperor.—Christianity in the Imperial Harem.—The Tartars summoned to the Assistance of the Empire.—Father Schall establishes a Cannon Foundery Gratitude of the Emperor.—Progress of the Insurrection Ly-Kong the Chief of the Rebels.—He attacks Pekin.—Tragic Death of the Emperor.—Character of this Prince.—The Insurgents at Pekin.—Adam Schall before the revolutionary Tribunal.—First Act of the Government of Ly-Kong.—Submission of the Lettered and the Magistrates.—Heroism of General Ou-San Koui and his Father.—Ou-San Koui swears to exterminate Ly-Kong.—He invokes the Tartars.—Rout of the Insurgents.—Terrible Conflagration at Pekin.—The Catholic Mission is saved.—The Mantchoos Masters of the Capital.—Character of their Policy.—Memorial of Father Schall.—He is appointed President of the Board of Mathematics.—The Government Astronomers.—The Mantchoos favour the Missionaries.—Father Martini and a Tartar Chief.—The Tyrant Tchang-Kien ravages and depopulates Sse-Tchouen.—Adventures of Fathers Buglio and Magalhans.—Father Schall at Pekin.
The Chinese astronomers now recommenced their cabals against the missionaries, and still hoped, by means of calumny and falsehood, to ruin them in the opinion of the Emperor and the country. But Providence did not suffer them to succeed in their attempts; and their jealousy and hatred only served to betray their own intrigues, while the missionaries rose higher than ever in public estimation.
