THE HISTORY OF CANG-HY The Present Emperor OF CHINA Pesented to the Most Christian King By Father J. BOUVET, of the Society of JESUS, and Missionary into CHINA.  
LONDON, Printed for F. Coggan, in the Inner-Temple-Lane. MDCXCIX.   

The HISTORY of CANG-HI, The Present Emperor of China: AND THE EASTERN-TARTARY.  
THE Name of the Emperor who at this time Commands over all China, and Part of the Great Tartary, is CANG-HI, which implies as much as THE PEACEABLE. He succeeded his Father, CHUN-TEHI, a Prince of the Tartarian Race, called, The Mantcheou's, who first of all, being possessed of a large Tract of Ground in the Great Eastern Tartary, afterwards settled themselves in the Province of Leaotong, situate on the North-East side of China; and at last complicated their Conquest of this vast Monarchy, towards the middle of our Age.  
This Prince is at present in the 44th year of his Age, and the 36th of his Reign; a Person, who by many Noble Qualifications has rendered himself Worthy of the Management of so Great an Empire.  
His whole Deportment is very Majestic, being well proportioned in his Limbs, and pretty Tall, the Feature of his Face very exact,, with a large and brisk Eye, beyond what is observable among others of that Nation; He is a little crooked Nosed, and pitted with the Smallpox, but not so as to be in the least disfigured by them.  
But the rare Accomplishments of his Mind, surpass infinitely those of his Body. His Natural Genius is such as can be paralleled but by few, being endowed with a Quick and piercing Wit, a vast Memory, and Great Understanding; His Constancy is never to be shaken by any sinister Event, which makes him the fittest Person in the World, not only to undertake, but also to accomplish Great Designs.  
To be short, His inclinations are so Noble, and in all respects so Answerable to the High Station of so Great a Prince, that his People stand in Admiration of his Person, being equally Charmed with his Love and Justice, and the Tenderness he shows for his Subjects, and with his virtuous Inclinations; which as they are always guided by the Dictates of Reason, so, they render him an Absolute Master of his Passions.  
But, what may seem most surprising, is, that so Great a Monarch, who bears upon his Shoulders the Weight of so vast an Empire, should apply himself with a great deal of Assiduity to, and have a true relish of all Sorts of useful Arts and Sciences.  
It was owing to his extraordinary Genius which appeared in his very Infancy, the Emperor his Father, notwithstanding his Tender Age, gave him the Preference before all his Brothers, in declaring him his Successor; and this Prince has by his Conduct, since, made it apparent to all the World, that his Father was not mistaken in his Choice.  
For no sooner was he mounted upon the Throne, but his Chief aim was, how to make himself beloved by both the Nations he was to Command; and knowing the Tartars to be a Warlike People, he accomplished himself in all Sorts of Exercises used among them, as well as in those Sciences most esteemed among the Chinese.  
In Bodily Exercises he soon improved, to that degree, that there was scarce any Person of Note that could coop with him. And as the Tartars equally esteem the Strength and Agility of Body, they stand amazed at this Prince, when they see him manage his Bow with the utmost Dexterity, which is of such a bigness, that there is not one in the whole Court, who can bend it. He shoots well, both with his left and right Hand, whether on Foot or on Horseback, though riding at full-speed, and rarely misses his Mark, even when he shoots flying. He is very expert in Managing all sorts of Arms, not excepting those, that are no more in use now a-days, and is as dextrous at Handling our Firelocks, as at the Bow. The Tartars are naturally good Horsemen, but this Prince surpasses most of them in this Exercise.  
Notwithstanding he excels thus in all Military Exercises, this does not hinder his having a good relish of Music, especially of those Musical Instruments, which are brought thither out of Europe. And, if the multitude and weight of public Affairs did not prevent him from playing upon the same, as often as he could wish, there is no question but he would soon become as great a Master of them, as he is of some Tartarian and Chinese Instruments, which he has been taught to play upon, when as yet in his tender Age.  
But as he is not ignorant that the Art of Government is the Principal Qualifications belonging to a Sovereign, so it is to that he has applied himself with the utmost Diligence. He was scarce sixteen years of Age, when his Chief Minister of State (who was the most Potent of those four Lords, unto whom his Father had committed the Regency during his Son's Minority) was become so insolent, as to Lord it over all the Princes of the Blood, and to dispose of all the Courts of Justice at Pleasure, no body daring to stand in opposition to his Greatness.  
This young Emperor was the first who had resolution enough to stop the career of his insolency. For which purpose, having called together the Chiefest of the Princes of the Royal Blood, who were Members of the Great Council of the Empire, he upbraided them with their want of Courage, in conniving at the Outrages committed by this Minister of State, without daring to oppose him in his violent Courses, and at the same time, ordered the Precedent of this Council, to go immediately and seize his Person, which was done accordingly.  
He being convicted of many Injustices, was condemned to die; but having asked and obtained permission to see the Emperor before his Death, he showed him the Scars and Marks of his Wounds, which he had received in the Service of the Emperor TAITSOW (whose Life he saved) Grandfather to His Majesty, and Father of the Emperor CHUN-TEHI, who entirely conquered China. In consideration of these Wounds received in the Service of the two preceding Reigns, he was pardoned as to his Life, and his Punishment changed into a perpetual Imprisonment, where he afterwards ended his days.  
Ever since that time, the Emperor having taken the Reins of the Government into his own hands, he has applied himself to the management of Affairs, with so much Affiduity, that he takes cognizance of all matters, and regulates them himself, after having understood the Sentiments of his Ministers of State and Council. By this continual application to Business, he has acquired such a Habit of managing all public Affairs, that so prodigious a multitude and variety of Business, as daily were brought before him from the most remote Parts of so vast an Empire, seemed rather to be his Diversion, than any Toil.  
For which purpose, he gives duly every Morning at break of day, Audience to those of the Sovereign Courts of Peking, who then lay all the Petitions lodged with them, before him. If the said Petitions concern any thing of Moment, he sends them to the Court of Colao, which is properly the Council of the Empire; where, when they are examined, and an Account given concerning them to the Emperor, he decides them as he thinks fit; No Judgement of any Court not of the Council of the Empire itself being of any Validity, till approved of by the Emperor.  
Besides, those Hours he sets aside in the Morning to give Audience, there is a certain Person of great Ability, in the nature of a Master of Requests, who all the day long attends the Emperor's Person, wherever he goes, and receives such Petitions or other Papers, as must be delivered to His Majesty, and to hear such Persons, as have any Business to be delivered by way of mouth, of which this Gentleman is bound to give an exact Account instantly to His Majesty, and to bring back his Answer, provided they are Persons, whose province it is, to inform the Court concerning these Matters, for otherwise they meet feldom with any Encouragement.  
If any of his Subjects find themselves oppressed by the Mandarins or Governors, they need only to inquire when the Emperor goes out of Peking a Hunting, or upon any other Diversion, and so to present themselves upon their Knees with their Petition open in their hands, somewhere near the High Road where he is to pass by; when most commonly the Emperor sends one of his Attendance, to inquire and examine the Matter of Complaint, and if the Mandarins are found guilty, they are sure to meet with most severe Punishment; But great care must be taken in this Case by the Subjects, to offer these Petitions with all the imaginable Respect and Humility due to His Majesty, expecting his coming, at a convenient distance from the High-road, if they expect to be favourably received; For if they are wanting in these Marks of Respect, and will force themselves upon him, by loud Acclamations, and demanding Justice, they are pushed back by the Guards; tho' effectual Care is taken, that no hurt be done to any who come to present their Petitions, unless they should be so bold as to lose all manner of Respect, this Prince being willing to give all due Encouragement to his Subjects, to have recourse to him in their Grievances, looking upon this as the most proper Means to keep the Mandarins in their Duty, for fear of being accused before the Emperor. We have observed during our Stay in China, that many of the most Considerable Mandarins of the Empire, and who had free Access to the Prince's Person, being thus complained against, and found guilty of what they were charged with, lost not only their Employments, but were likewise severely punished, according to their Deserts.  
The present Emperor never had any Favourite Minister, in whom he confided, but has introduced such an Absolute Government in the Court, that no body dares speak to him concerning any Business that does not belong to his Province, unless he be asked. And, as for his own Person, he is so close in all his Affairs, that the more you approach to his Person, the more you are convinced, that his Designs are passed all Discovery.  
It is his Custom to require an exact Account of all Matters of Moment, and to have secret Intelligence by different Persons, of all that is transacted in the Courts of Justice, and otherwise; when he gives Audience to private persons, he asks much, but answers little. He observes with great attention every word that is spoke to him, which he ruminates upon at leisure; And to be short, there is scarce any Prince, that ever I heard of, who more seriously reflects upon all what comes before him, who knows better the Act of Dissimulation, and is a greater Master both of his Words and Secrets.  
He is so happy in his Memory, as to remember for a great while after, the meanest Circumstances of Things he has once taken notice of, even to the names of Persons; neither the multitude of his Affairs, of which he daily takes cognizance himself, neither length of Time being able to crase that out of his Memory, which has been once firmly imprinted there. Of this we as well as Father Verbiest, have had several times Experience; Among the rest it happened one day, when the said Father was following the King in one of his Progresses, that his Majesty asked him the name of a certain Bird which he saw, and the name of which, Father Verbiest had told him in Flemish, several years before; The said Father not being able just then to remember the name of the said Bird, which was somewhat odd; was not a little surprised, to hear the Emperor ask him; whether it was not called so and so in Flemish, and that he should remember what he had forgot himself!  
This prince has so quick an insight into Matters, that it is no easy Matter to deceive him, and such is the Solidity of his Natural Understanding and Judgement, as most generally to pitch upon the best expedient, where the Success is doubtful, and even the best Headpieces among his Ministers of State, do readily confess, that they are more beholding to his Instructions than their Advice in most Matters of Moment.  
Of this he has given frequent Instances, both whilst the Differences were on foot betwixt him and the Muscovites, and during the Treaty of Peace with them. As the Muscovites were formerly looked upon as a very unpolished Nation, which had nothing that is engaging in their Conversation, and that the vast distance betwixt their Country and Peking, made them little regarded in China, as being scarce known there; so their first Embassy, which was sont to CHUN-TCHI, the present Emperor's Father, was not as much as admitted to Audience.  
For these Muscovites having refused to conform themselves to these slavish Ceremonies, which commonly are made use of by those who make their applications to the Chinese Court, they were kept up close, in a manner, like Prisoners, without having the Liberty allowed them to see the City of Peking, or to converse with any of the Inhabitants; and being after some time sent back with their Presents, and without receiving their Credentials; This gave the first Occasion to the Muscovites to Invade some of the Tartars, Subject to the Chinese Empire.  
The present Emperor had no more reason to fear the Muscovites, than his Predecessors, but wisely considering, that they might prove troublesome Neighbours to some of the Tartars subject to and bordering upon China, His Majesty judged it most advisable, to treat them with more Civility, for the Benefit of his Subjects.  
Of this he gave a very remarkable Proof some years ago; For the Muscovites, having been forced to surrender at Discretion, the Emperor was so far from punishing them with Death, (according to the ancient Custom of China) that he treated them very civilly; those that were willing to return into Muscovy he sent back with a certain allowance of Provision; such as were willing to serve him, he received among his Troops, some of whom were sent to the Capital City of the Province of Leaotong, the others to Peking.  
They had each of them a House with some Land, and Slaves allotted them, and each simple Foot Soldier was made a Horse Man; The Officers were entertained in the same Station, and in better pay than they had in the Muscovite service.  
In the same manner he has treated the Muscovite Envoys, which since that time were sent to his Court, with a great deal of Civility, in defraying their Charges as long as they were within his Territories, and ordering the necessary Carriages to be provided not only for their use, but also for their whole Baggage and Merchandizes, both in going and coming, through a large Tract of Land of above three hundred Leagues. Whilst they were at Peking, they had all the liberty that could be granted, both in their own Persons and Traffic, without paying the usual Custom, or any molestation. The Muscovites being thereby made sensible of the Benefit that did accrue to their Empire by this Commerce, the desire of not losing this Advantage was one of the main reason, which induced them to conclude a Peace with the Chinese.  
The Muscovite Plenipotentiaries did frankly confess to the two Fathers Pereyra and Gerbillon, which were sent by the Emperor of China to be present at the Conferences of Peace betwixt these two Nations, That the Chief Motive, which had prevailed with his Czarish Majesty to send his Plenipotentiaries to the Treaty of Peace, was the good Treatment his Subjects had of late received from the present Emperor of China.  
It is certain that on the Chinese side, it was by the emperor's absolute Authority, That it was resolved in his Council, that their Plenipotentiaries should meet those of Muscovy upon the Frontiers; this Prince looking upon it as very reasonable, to dispense with that ancient Custom of the Proud Chineses, who never used to send any Ambassadors to foreign Princes, unless it was to carry to them their Emperor's Commands.  
The two Chief of this Embassy were two of the most considerable Lords of his Court, the best Headpieces in his Great Council, and of whose Integrity he was well assured. The Treaty not being brought to a good issue the first Year, he was so far from being disgusted at this want of Success, that on the contrary, he sent his Plenipotentiaries a second time, with such full Instructions, that the Treaty was happily concluded, and the Limits settled betwixt these two Empires, to his Satisfaction.  
It is more than probable, That if this Emperor would have insisted upon those extravagant Punctilios, used among the Chinese, and would have pretended to give no better reception to the Muscovite Ambassadors, than what they had met with at their first Embassy sent to this Court, they would have found means to enter into an Alliance with some of the Western Tartars, by which means they might have proved very troublesome Neighbours to the Chinese Subjects on that side.  
And upon this occasion, I cannot pass by in silence, That the Muscovites are not the only strangers, who have been made sensible of the good Will, the present Emperor bears to them. The Portugese and Holland Ambassadors, have received such signal Proofs of his Magnanimity, during their stay in this Court; That they do freely confess, That the present Emperor's Temper is far different in this respect, from that of the Chinese in general, who have at all times shown so much Aversion to Strangers, and have looked upon them as so despicable, as not worth their keeping any Correspondence with them; Or if they vouchsafed sometimes to receive some of their Ambassadors, they were treated rather like Subjects than their Equals.  
Thus much is to be said in behalf of the Chinese, That unless it be the japonese, the Toakinese and Coreans, who have got something of Politeness, which they are obliged for, to the Chinese, all their neighbouring Nations are very Savage and Barbarous; But the present Emperor, who has a much better insight into foreign Affairs than the rest, has a considerable time ago, found out the effects of this Mistake. The jesuits have imprinted into his Mind so advantageous an Idea of the European Kingdoms, and of some other Nations in the World; and by this continual Application to some of the best Works, as well as to Arts and Sciences flourishing in Europe, he has been sufficiently convinced, that the Chineses are not the Only in the World, who can boast of their being Famous in many Arts and Sciences.  
This has been, in a great measure, the true Reason why this present Emperor has thought fit, to lay aside this preposterous Custom of the Chinese Nation, and to receive the Ambassadors of Holland, Portugal, and Muscovy, with all the marks of Respect and Civility; though at the same time, they were obliged to Accommodate themselves in this point to the ancient Custom of this Empire, as to Treat concerning what they were to transact, with the Courts appointed for that purpose.  
But this singular Wisdom and Conduct did never appear with such Lustre, than during these several intestine Commotions, which happened under his Reign.  
The first and most Famous of all, was the Rebellion raised by one Ousan-govei, who, having brought a considerable number of Tartars into China, and thereby deserved the Title and Dignity of King, of Feudatary Prince of a certain Province, from the present Emperor's Father, at last entered into Cabals against the Tartars, with an Intention to drive them out of China.  
He was at first so successful, that in a little time, he made himself Master of one half of this vast Empire, without much Opposition, and it was next to a Miracle, that the rest escaped his Hands; the Chineses declining, wherever he came, for his Party; in comparison of whom, the Tartars were but a Handful of People, who were not able alone to stop the Current of his Victorious Arms. But such was the Prudence and Conduct of this young Prince, who then was not above twenty years old, that what he wanted in Force, he supplied by his own Ability.  
To speak without Flattery, it was chiefly owing to this Prince, who managed all Matters in Person; it was, I say, owing to the wise Precautions he took with the Chief Governors of the Provinces, and other Military Officers among the Chinese, that he not only kept in Obedience those who had not had the Opportunity as yet to join with the Rebel Ousan-Gouci, but also brought over a great many of the Revolted Chineses.  
'Tis true, he did not appear in Person at the Head of his Army's; but this was an effect of his Wisdom, being sufficiently convinced, that his Presence was of Great Consequence at Peking, to keep the Northern Princes in Obedience, and to disperse by his Royal Presence these Factions, which were carried on in that City against his Interest, and which might otherwise have proved of more dangerous Consequence, than the whole Force of Ousan-Gouci.  
To be short, he acted in this Affair not like a young Prince, but with such precaution, that no more could have been expected from the most accomplished Politician. He was day and night present at the Councils, and ready at all times to dispatch his Orders according to the different Exigencies of Affairs, concerning which, and all the least Circumstances that attended it, he had constant Intelligence given him; it being the most dangerous that ever threatened the Chinese Empire; forasmuch as it proved the Source of many other Factions, which however, he happily suppressed before they came to any Maturity, by his prudent Conduct.  
The first of these Factions was a Conspiracy among the Slaves of Peking, who being all Chinese, had agreed among themselves, to Murder all their Masters that were Tartars by Offspring, in one Night; and the better to compass their Design, they were afterwards to set Fire to four or five places of the City. But there being so vast a number concerned in this Conspiracy, as scarce to know one another, the same was by Accident discovered by several of the Accomplices, some days before it was to be put in Execution; whereupon the Emperor, having seized upon and punished with present Death some of the Ringleaders, he broke the Neck of the whole Conspiracy in a few days, by granting a General Amnesty to the rest.  
This Faction was soon after followed by another: For the Kings of Canton and Fokien, being likewise of the Chinese Race, when they saw the Tartars embroiled by the Revolt of Ouson-Gouci, did look upon this as the fittest Opportunity to shake off the Tartarian Yoke, and to make themselves Sovereigns each in their own Province.  
Much about the same time there revolted another King of the Race of Mongo, Chief of the Head branch of those Princes descended from the West-Tartarian Emperors, who Reigned over China before the Imperial Family of Taiming; which is above three hundred years ago, and who, after they were chased from thence, regained the Imperial Throne a second time, and reigned till the 30th year of this Age, when these Princes ruined themselves by Intestine Divisions.  
For, the present Emperor's Grandfather, laying hold of this Opportunity to ascend the Imperial Throne, knew so well how to foment these Quarrels, till he found means to reduce them, one after another, under his Obedience, not expecting even the Chief of the Family, who retained hitherto the Name of Emperor, and was forced by his own Subjects, to submit like the rest. But the Tartars of the Race of Mantcheou, to render their Subjection more specious and easy, did, after the entire Conquest of China, bestow the Title of King upon this Emperor, as well as upon several others of the most Potent Princes of the Family of Mongo.  
Whilst the present Emperor was engaged against the three beforementioned Rebellious Chinese Princes or Kings, some Officers belonging to this Prince, who is Chief of the Principal Branch of the Family of Mongo, being come to Peking, and having observed, That the Place was not provided with any considerable Number of Troops, the Garrison consisting only of a few young, raw Soldiers, they did not fail to give Intelligence of it to their Master, who being encouraged to improve so favourable a Conjuncture, resolved to try his Fortune, whether he could recover his ancient Right, and the Empire of China.  
But whilst he was making the necessary Leagues with the other neighbouring Princes of the Race of Mongo, the thing could not be carried on with so much secrecy, but that it reached the Emperor's Ears, who with an incredible Resolution, sent immediately a small Body of Troops, composed partly of the Garrison of Peking, partly of those Quartered in the Province of Leaotong, bordering upon the Territories of the revolted Prince, against him, whereby the Enemy being bereft of the Succours he expected from the other Princes his Allies, was forced, with what Forces he could bring together in haste of his own, to fight the Army of the Emperor, who were advanced to the very heart of his Province, where he was entirely put to the Rout, and taken Prisoner in the pursuit, with his Brother and Children.  
He made use of the same Method, and with the same Success upon many other Occasions, during the Civil War; for with that small number of Troops, who were entirely to his devotion, he always was successful against the Rebels, tho' they stood it out to the last with a great deal of Bravery.  
Among the Heads of the Rebellion, even many, who did not stir, or had any share in these Commotions, were seized and put to Death, with all their Children, without distinction of Age or Sex; pursuant to that most rigorous Constitution of the Chinese; according to which, Rebellion is punished in the ninth Generation, which was done with an Intention to extinguish the whole Race of a Rebellious Faction.  
In the mean while, the Emperor, whose Nature is in no wise inclined to Cruelty, was so merciful to the Brothers of the Kings of Canton and Fokien, that he would not let them receive the least Damage either in their Persons or Estates, knowing them to have had no hand in the Rebellion. But, because he found himself under a necessity to put to Death some of the Kindred of Ousan-govei, that were as yet very young, he issued out a Manifesto, in which he protested, that it was not according to his Inclinations, to put them to Death; but that he was constrained to yield to the Law of the Empire, and to the Advice of the Princes of the Blood, and of other Sovereign Courts of the Empire, who were all for maintaining the Force of this Law, to strike Terror into the Subject against Rebellion, by the Dread of the worst of all the Punishments which can be inflicted upon the Chinese, which is to leave no Posterity behind them.  
Thus the Emperor did not only reunite those Provinces with the Crown, which had shaken off the Yoke, but also those who were dignified with the Title of Kingdoms in favour of three Generals of the Chinese Army, who having embraced the Party of the Tartars, were very instrumental in the Conquest of China.  
He had also the good Fortune, to exterminate the Remainders of those ancient Chineses, who rather than submit to the Tartarian Yoke, when they first entered China, chose rather to follow that Famous Pirate Covesin.  
It was under the Reign of CHUN-TCHI, Father of the present Emperor, that this Pirate attempted no less than the Conquest of the whole Empire, for which purpose, he was advanced with a very formidable Army, as far as the City of Nanking, which in all likelihood he would have been soon Master of, if it had not been Brauly defended by a certain Tartarian Commander, who being sensible that the Fate of the Empire depended on the Preservation of this Place, did, not only with a small number of Troops, repulse the Enemies in their several Attacks, but at last, also surprised the Pirate and his Army, which he put to an entire Rout one Night, when they were overwhelmed with Drink, having the day before celebrated the Birthday of their General.  
This was the same Famous Pirate, who, after he had lost his whole Army in this Occasion, retired with his few Remainders to the Isle of Formosa, from whence he chased the Hollanders, and established himself there. His Son maintained himself after his Father's Death, upon that Island, till the present Emperor of China, forced him to submit to his Obedience, with all his Subjects, except a few, who retired to the Kingdom of Kamboya.  
Thus it may be said without flattery. That the present Emperor, CANG-HI, has acquired more Glory in subduing so many Rebels, and maintaining himself in the Throne, against so many dangerous Enemies, than the Famous Amavang his Uncle, and Guardian to his Father, did, by the Conquest of the whole Empire. For the Conquest of China was not very dearly bought by the Tartars, the Chineses striving to destroy one another at that time, and the bravest among them siding with the Tartars against their Countrymen.  
The Fire of Rebellion being thus extinguished, and Tranquillity restored to the Empire, the next care the Emperor took, was to re-establish a good Order, and suppress such Abuses as were crept into the Government, during the Licentiousness of these intestine Wars, in lieu of which, he endeavoured to re-establish the ancient Vigour of the Laws, and introduce Plenty among his Subjects.  
But as he knew, that nothing could so much conduce to the encompassing of this Design, than if Ministers of known Ability and Probity were put in Offices of Trust, both in the Court and Provinces; it was his main Study to choose such as were best qualified for that purpose, and and to encourage such in their Duty as were in Offices before.  
It is to be observed, that the Constitutution of the Chinese Government is absolutely Monarchical, all depending on One single Head. The inferior Officers have their Dependence entirely on their Superiors; The Governor of each City regulates alone all Affairs belonging to the City under his Jurisdiction; and so does each Governor in his Province. This Form of Government, which in itself considered, is very perfect, requires however, That the Governors of Cities and Provinces, who are invested with the Royal Authority, be of such approved Integrity and Probity, as to be Proof against all manner of Corruption.  
It is almost incredible, what effectual Care the present Emperor takes in the Choice of his Mandarins, especially those of the Provinces and Cities; and with how watchful an eye he overlooks all their Transactions. He does not rest satisfied with the Account he receives from the Court of the Mandarins, and with the Persons that are recommended by them, but he has every where his Spies, who furnish him with secret Intelligence; from whence it comes, that he often chooses quite otherwise, and contrary to their Recommendations; his Chief aim being to advance every one according to his Deserts. For, whenever he observes in any one of his Ministers a more than ordinary Capacity, he never fails to give him particular Marks of his Favour, by bestowing upon him some of the most Eminent and Considerable Offices: On the other hand, if they make the least false steps in the Management of their Trust, this is sufficient to make them lose their Office, if it reaches the Emperor's Ears; But, if any one be convicted of Bribery, he is sure to meet with a Prince who is inexorable in that Point, and without the least Respect to his Degree or Quality, he loses not only his Place, but is Exemplarily punished besides.  
From hence it is, that we have seen such continual Changes among the Mandarins of all degrees. For, within the first four Years, whilst we tarried at Peking, most of the Governors and Vice-Roys of the Provinces, as well as the Chief Members of the several Tribunals or Courts of Peking were displaced; for the Emperor keeps so watchful an Eye over them, that it is next to an impossibility that any of their Faults should long escape his Knowledge.  
We were no sooner arrived at this Court, but we saw four Calao, two Tartars, and two Chinese, deposed from their Offices at once; as was likewise the Precedent of the first Tribunal of the Six, which are the Supreme Courts of the Empire, tho' he was Father-in-law to the eldest Son of the Emperor. At our very first coming to the Royal Palace, we were shown one of these beforementioned Calao, sitting near one of the Gates, and supplying the Place of a Common Sergeant of the Guards; the Emperor, for his Mortification, having condemned him to this Employment.  
Much about the same time, two or three Viceroys were brought to Peking, one of them in Chains, without the least Attendances, and being afterwards convicted of having exacted Great Sums from the Province under his Jurisdiction, he was condemned to Death, the other Two escaped with losing their Offices, their Crimes being not of so high a Nature.  
In the next following Year, the Viceroy of the Province of Tohe-Kiang, who was always a professed Enemy of the Christian Religion, and did with all his Might oppose our Stay in China, being accused of Malversation, was condemned by the Emperor himself, not only to be deprived of his Office, but also to a perpetual Banishment into Tartary.  
Thus this Prince has laid so strict an Obligation upon himself, to conform his Reign in all Respects to the Laws of Equity, and to advance none but Deserving Persons to any Places of Trust, that there is scarce one Instance to be given, when either out of Partiality or Self-Interest he has acted contrary to this so laudable a Resolution.  
Neither is it only in this particular Care of choosing well qualified Mandarins, and his Vigilancy over their Actions, that the Emperor's Goodness to his People is Conspicuous; whenever there happens any public Calamity in his Realm, his Compassion and Inquietude are most evident Proofs, that he looks upon himself rather a Father, than a Sovereign of his People.  
Of this we saw ourselves, several Instances in two Years. For, there happening a great Scarcity, occasioned for want of Rain, in some of the Provinces, which had reduced the Inhabitants to the utmost degree of Misery; this Prince was so sensibly touched with their Calamity, that he not only remitted the whole Annual Tribute, which amounts to betwixt thirty and forty Millions of Livres, and caused the public Granaries to be set open; but he likewise ordered both Corn and Money to be distributed among the most Necessitous of the People.  
And the more effectually to supply the Necessities of the Poor, he gave leave to such of the richer Sort, as had qualified themselves by taking the necessary Degrees for Mandarins, and had undergone the Examen, to buy those Offices, and to furnish a certain Quantity of Corn, to be sent to these places, where they stood most in need of it; And, because there flocked great Numbers of these Miserable Wretches daily to Peking, in hopes of finding some Means of Subsistance there, the Emperor found out a way, at once to supply their Necessities, and to do something for the public Good; For he ordered them to be employed in re-building those Tribunals that are within the Precinct of the Court, by which means he also prevented those Disorders which are the ordinary Effects of an idle Life.  
Upon the occasion of any public Calamity, he debars himself of his ordinary Divertisements, which else he frequently takes at one of his two Royal Country Seats, not far from Peking. We have seen him, during all this Time of that Scarcity of Corn, keep close in his Palace, without appearing in public, unless when he went with his whole Court to the Temple, dedicated to the Sun, there, (according to ancient Custom observed upon such like Occasions among the Chinese) to pray for Rain, by public Prayers and Sacrifices, which he offers to the Supreme Lord of Heaven and Earth; being much more enlightened in this point, than most of the Modern Chineses, who being in this fundamental point of Religion, degenerated from their Ancestors (as they are in many other points), do adore the Material Heavens in lieu of that Supreme Intelligence, which governs the Universe with an infinite Power, Wisdom and Goodness.  
As often as this Prince takes his progress into some of his Provinces (which he does from time to time) on purpose to be informed concerning the true Condition of his People, and in what manner they are Governed by the Mandarins; it is his Custom to appear with a more Affable and Familiar Air than at other times, and to permit even the meanest Workmen or Peasant to approach his person. He speaks to them with so much Affability and Sweetness, as Charms them to the Heart; and among other Questions, which he commonly asks them, he seldom fails to ask, Whether they are satisfied with their present Governors. If he finds any real Occasion of Complaint against any one of the Mandarius, he is sure to be dispossessed of his place immediately; as on the other hand, if his Conduct is recommended by the general Approbation of the People, this is a sure step to higher Dignities.  
It is about seven years ago, when the Emperor in one of his Progresses to the Southern Provinces, passed through Hovingan, which is a large City in the Province of Nanking, and the ordinary place of Residence of the Tsong-ho, or Superintendant General of all the Waters, Rivers, and Canals of the Empire, which is one of the most Considerable places without the Court. This Tsong-ho, being accused of Malversation in his Office, and upon the point of being displaced, besides the paying of a Great Fine; the people of this City presented a Petition to the Emperor, in favour of the said Tsong-ho, who had no sooner perused the Petition, much in Commendation of this Mandarin, but without taking any further Information, he restored him immediately to his Office; as an evident Mark, that nothing could be able to make a more sensible Impression upon his Mind in respect of the Mandarins, than if they treated the people in such a manner, as to be considered by them rather like Fathers than Governors.  
Though it is beyond all Dispute, that the Emperor of China, is the most potent Prince in the World, both in respect of his vast Revenues, and the great extent and Goodness of his Territories; nevertheless is he a great Enemy to Luxury, in respect of his own person; being in this point an exact Observer of one of the Fundamental Laws of the Chinese Monarchy, which forbids all excessive Expenses in the Great Ones, and the Prince himself, unless it be with relation to the public Good.  
Not but that the Expenses of his Household surpass without all Contradiction, much those of the most Magnificent Courts of Europe, by reason of that almost innumerable Multitude of Officers and others, who daily have their Subsistance from Court; But in respect of his own Person, he is the most Exact pattern of Frugality and Modesty. 'Tis true, he is Served at his Table in Gold and Silver, according to his Grandeur, but in other Matters not regulated by Custom, he never shows the least Inclination to Nicety; being contented with ordinary Dishes; and such is his Sobriety, that there cannot be one Instance given when he committed the least Excess in that kind.  
His Palace is of a vast Circumference, resembling in Bigness a considerable City, and to look upon the many large Structures which it contains, and which are all covered with Tiles varnished with a Gold Colour, affording a most Glorious sight, it is no difficult matter to judge that this Palace was intended to be the Seat of a Great Monarch; But as for the Apartments and their Furnitures, even not excepting the Emperor's Lodgings, their Chief Ornament is, that they are kept clean and neat, there being nothing to be seen but some Pictures, a little Guilding, and plain Silk Hangings, of which indeed there is great plenty, because they are so common in China.  
He has built himself a Countryhouse, about two Leagues distant from Peking, where he takes frequently his Divertisements, and retires thither for a good part of the Year. But besides two Great Cisterns and some Canals, which have been made by his Orders, there is nothing to be seen there that bears the least proportion to the Magnificence of so Rich and Great a Monarch. Every thing indeed is very Neat; but in respect of both the Structure itself, and in respect of the Gardens, and the whole Design of the Place, it does not approach to some Country Houses belonging to some Persons of Quality about Paris.  
His Modesty appears as well in his Habit as in all other Things which serve for his proper Use. For, his clothes, unless it be some Sables and Ermines, which as they are very common in this Court, so he makes use of them for the Winter Season for Linings, are of a plain Silk, which is so common all over China, that every body, unless the poorest Sort, makes use of them.  
In a Rainy day you shall see him sometimes dressed in a woollen Cassock, such as is worn among the ordinary Sort of people in China; so, we have seen him sometimes in the Summer appear in a Habit made of nothing but Callicoe, which is the ordinary Wear of the Chinese in their Houses. Unless it be upon some Festival, the only thing which is remarkable and magnificent in his Habit, is a very large Pearl, which during the Summer Season he wears upon his Bonnet, made after the Tartarian Fashion.  
His Chair in which he is carried both within and without the Precinct of the Palace, when he has no mind to go on Horseback, is no more than a kind of a Litter, made of ordinary Wood Varnished over, adorned on the Corners with Copper plates, or Guild Carving of Wood He appears no more Magnificent when he goes abroad on Horseback, the Trappings of his Horse having no other Ornament than a pair of Stirrups of Iron very neatly guilt, and the Reins of his Bridle being of yellow Silk.  
To comprehend all in few words, there appears nothing in any thing which belongs to his Person, which has the least Resemblance to that Pride and Pomp, which is so much affected by the other Asiatic Princes; and it may be truly said of him, That he is sensible, that the true Lustre and Grandeur of a Prince does not consist so much in the exterior Pomp, as in their own Virtues; especially since it must be confessed, That, as his Treasury is vastly Rich, his Empire abounding in all manner of Things, and the Chineses naturally inclined to Industry and all sort of Handiworks, he might with as much ease exceed all the other Princes of Asia in Pomp and Magnificence, as his Empire has the preference before theirs both in Extent and Riches.  
But to let the World see, that it is not out of Avarice or any sordid Temper of his own, that he thus avoids all Profusedness and Luxury in Matters relating to his own Person; he shows himself as Liberal and Magnificent in any thing which has respect to the Public, as he is Sparing in his private Expenses. He is not prodigal of Millions, when they come in Competition with the Welfare of the Empire He does not grudge to bestow Immense Sums in repairing the public Edifices, to keep the Rivers, Channels, Bridges, and Banks, and such like Things, which serve for the Conveniency of Commerce, and Ease of the People, in good Repair: From whence it is easy to judge, that, if he retrenches something from his superfluous private Expenses; he Husbands it for the Benefit of the public Good, in order to employ it for the more exigent Occasions of the State, the Chief aim of this Prince being, to be considered by his Subjects as their Father, not their Master.  
Of this he gave a most Eminent proof about five years ago. The greatest part of his Soldiers (of whom there is a great Number at Peking) were reduced to great Extremity by reason of their Debts, which they had contracted from time to time, the greatest part of their Pay being scarce sufficient to pay the Interest of what they owed. This could not be imputed to any thing else, but the Ill-husbandry of the Soldiers themselves, or at least of their Father's; For their Pay is both very good, and exactly paid every Month; and when they first settled themselves at Peking, they had Houses, Grounds, and Slaves allotted them, sufficient for an honourable Maintenance, every one proportionably to his Quality. Nevertheless the Emperor was no sooner informed concerning their present Condition, but being touched with Compassion, he ordered immediately their Accounts to be Stated, and to be paid out of his Treasury, the whole amounting to above sixteen Millions of Livres.  
And to prevent the like for the future, he issued his Orders, That no private person should presume to advance any Money to the Soldiers upon their Pay, under penalty of losing the Debt; but to supply at the same time the Occasions of the Soldiers in case of Necessity; he commanded, that upon any necessitous Occasion Money should be advanced them out of the Treasury, to a certain limited Sum, to be deducted by little and little out of their Pay, without putting them under the necessity of paying Interest-Money, or rather Extortions, as are usually paid at Peking, when people are droven to the necessity of Borrowing Money.  
About the same time, a Petition being presented to him from the Hia or ordinary Mandarins of his Guards (of whom there are betwixt seven and eight Hundred) and from some other Officers belonging to his Household, That they were much in Debt, and begged Relief from His Majesty; he ordered the Officers of his Household eight hundred Livres apiece, and four hundred to each of such of the inferior Officers, as were unable to pay their Debts, and whose Duty it is to Attend his Person in the progresses he makes throughout the Empire. This Sum which amounted in the whole to above two Millions of Livres, he ordered to be paid out of his privy Purse; because, said he, It would be unjust to lay the Burden of these Debts, which have been contracted by my Domestic Servants, upon the Public Treasury.  
This Extraordinary Generosity of the Emperor, had very near proved the Occasion of a Revolt among those of the Chinese Horse, who being composed of Slaves, as they could not contract any Debts, so they had had no share in the Emperor's Liberality. It is to be observed, that there is a considerable number of these Horsemen entertained among the Tartars, and, that as their Pay is very good, so they for the most part, maintain thereby their Families. Near five thousand of these Slaves assembled themselves near the Royal Palace, in order to present a Petition to the Emperor, in which they begged to be included in the Number of those that were to receive such ample Marks of his Bounty.  
There being not one among all the Courtiers there present, who showed any Inclination to prefer their Petition to His Majesty, they remained for some time in an humble posture, bareheaded and upon their Knees, in the Great outward Court of the Palace; But being soon after informed by some that passed that Way, That the Emperor was gone to take a Walk in the Garden behind the Palace, they surrounded the Garden, and with great Clamour, desired His Majesty to extend his Bounty to them as well as the other Soldiers, they having been ready upon all Occasions to serve him, and sacrifice their Lives for his Interest, with the same Zeal as the rest. But the Emperor taking another way, did, as if he had not heard or understood their Meaning; whereupon some time afterwards, word being brought to the Emperor, That they had forced the first Gate that leads to the Garden, inspite of the Guards; who were not able to resist their Number, he commanded eight of the Ring-leadersto be seized instantly, and the rest to be beaten out of the Court with Sticks; which being done accordingly, this mutinous Rabble was dispersed in an instant.  
But as His Majesty had by this last Act of Generosity, given very ample demonstrations of his Affection and Tenderness for the Soldiery in General; so, upon this Occasion, he resolved to let them see, That he would not suffer himself to be abused, and that he knew how to punish their Insolence. For which Reason, these eight Mutineers were ordered to be tried before the Criminal Court, as well as their Masters, pursuant to an ancient Custom among the Tartars, according to which the Masters bore a Share in the punishment inflicted upon their Slaves, in case of any Misbehaviour, the better to oblige them to keep a watchful eye over their Slaves, that they may not transgress upon others.  
By this Court the eight Slaves were the next day condemned to Death, and their Masters to a perpetual Banishment into Tartary.  
The Emperor however extended his Mercy towards them in mitigating this Sentence, which was only executed upon one, who having been the Chief Ringleader of this Mutiny, was beheaded the same day before Noon, and his Master, who was one of the Mandarins of the emperor's own Guards, lost his place, and was banished into the remotest parts of Tartary.  
The other seven escaped with being sound Whipped, and as a further Punishment were forced to carry, for three Months after about their Necks the Chinese Cangve, which is nothing else but two thick Board's joined together in the middle, like our Pillory Board's, of about three foot Square, and near eighty pound Weight.  
Their Masters were Graciously pardoned by the Emperor, as well as the other Soldiers, and their principal Commanders, who threw themselves at His Majesty's feet, excusing their Fault in not preventing the Design of these Mutineers, and ask his Pardon, ready to submit themselves to any Punishment he should think fit to inflict upon them for the neglect of their Duty. Thus this Great Prince, knowing how to keep an equal Balance betwixt Mercy and Severity, makes himself both beloved and feared by his Subjects, who thereby are kept under a most strict Obligation of performing their Duty.  
As he is in his own Person the greatest Enemy of Idleness and Laziness; but the greatest Admirer of Business, without being the least sparing of his own Person, so it is his Chiefest Study to prevent his Subjects; but especially the Tartars of the Race of Mantcheon, from being ensnared by the Luxurious Life of the Chinese, being sensible, that if they once were brought to tread in the footsteps of the Chineses as to this Point, it would be a very difficult Task for them to maintain themselves in China, which they Conquered with a Handful of Men; only, because they are enured to all manner of Hardships, as their Enemies were swallowed up in Luxury, which had rendered them quite Effeminate.  
'Tis for this Reason that the Emperor, who is a great Master in the Politics of this Government, sends very rarely any of the Tartars as Mandarins to the Southern Provinces of the Empire, where they are more addicted to this Vice than in other Parts; and, if he is sometimes obliged to send some thither, he recalls them as soon as possibly he can. 'Tis for the same Reason of State, that he goes so frequently abroad a Hunting; and that almost every year he takes once, if not twice, a Progress into the Mountainous parts of Turtary.  
For, his Guards and Officers of the Household, as well as most of the Great Men of the Court, or Chief Commanders of his Forces, and other Mandarins of the Court of Peking, being obliged by their Places (at least each in his Turn,) to attend the Emperor's Person wherever he goes; it is upon these Occasions, that by his Example, he animates them to endure the Fatigues of the Campaign, and to follow him wherever he leads the Way, where he is sure never to be sparing of his Person.  
For in these Progresses you shall see him appear in a very common Habit, sometimes a whole day on Horseback, traversing the Mountains and Forests, so that he tires sometimes nine or ten Horses in a day; and oftentimes, according to the disposition of the Ground, does not grudge to march on foot for a considerable time.  
When he returns at Night to his Tent, he is so far from taking any Repose, that he first dispatches all Matters beforehim, in the same manner, as if he were in his Palace at Peking. He peruses and takes an Account of all Petitions laid before him, without delay, which oftentimes takes up good part of the Night, so that he spares these hours from his Sleep, which he has employed in the Daytime for his Diversion. And it is observable, that he leads this sort of Life not for four or five days only, but sometimes for three or four Months together, without Intermission.  
Father Gerbillon, who among all the jesuits attends him most frequently in his Progresses, has attested to me, That he has seen him often all covered with Dust and Sweat, continue the Chase, without changing his Linen or clothes after they came to the appointed Place of rest; and that he has seen him for several Hours together, sitting and exposing himself to the Heat of the Rays of the Sun, without an Umbrello, which constantly attend him wherever he stirs, in great Numbers.  
I have heard the same Author, Gerbillon, relate it to others of our Society, That in one of his Progresses, at a great distance from Peking, the Emperor and his Court were forced to pitch their Tents in a place where it was very difficult to be supplied with any other Provisions, but what the Place afforded, so, that most of his Retinue were forced to be contented with Beef and Mutton, of which you meet with good Store in Tartary. The Emperor, to let them see, that at this Juncture, he could live and be satisfied with what the rest had, ordered, That nothing but Beef and Mutton should be Served upon his Table, till such time that they received new Supplies of Provisions, sufficient for all the rest of his Attendance,  
By these Means he encourages his Subjects to use themselves to undergo all sorts of Fatigues, being never sparing of his own Person upon such like Occasions; as on the other hand, he is sure to lay some Mortification or other upon those, whom he finds addicted to an Idle and Lazy Life.  
For which reason, to prevent the Children of the Chief Men of his Court, of the Tartarian Race, or of those Chinese, who have espoused their Interest, from embracing an idle Life, he makes it his constant Custom to prefer them to such places as are not to be Officiated without a great deal of Trouble.  
So soon as they are of a fit Age to go abroad, he makes them take care and lead his Hounds, when he goes a Hunting; others he employs in managing his Hawks and other Birds of Prey. Some are employed in boiling Tea and other Dishes for his Use, and in Serving them at his Table; some in making Bows and Arrows for his own and his Son's Use. Those who are to be preferred before others, by reason of their Great Quality, or on whom the Emperor intends to bestow some particular Favour, are made Mandarins of his Guards, who lead a very Toilsome Life, being obliged by their Station to be upon the Guard both Day and Night, at least one day in six, to attend every Morning early at Court, and to follow the Emperor in his Progresses.  
As they are commonly chosen out of those who have considerable Fortunes to expect from their Parents or Kindred; so they are the better qualified to bear the Expenses of these Journeys, which are very chargeable, and would be the ruin of People of Moderate Estates, by reason of the great number of Horses and Servants they are obliged to carry along with them, when they are a Hunting in remote places, where meeting sometimes with inhabitable Deserts, they are forced to provide themselves aforehand with all manner of Necessaries for their Sustenance and Conveniency.  
Besides, that thereby these young Gentlemen are enured to all manner of Fatigues and Hardships, the Emperor likewise reaps this Advantage by their constant Attendance upon his Person, to meet with frequent Opportunities to approve their Ability; according to which they are afterwards Advanced to the most Eminent Dignities in the Empire.  
All these beforementioned Qualifications, would questionless be judged more than sufficient among other Nations, to place this Prince among the most Famous Hero's; But the Chinese, who measure the Ability and Qualifications of Great Persons to be entrusted with the Management of public Affairs, by their Skill and Knowledge in all manner of Arts and Sciences, would scarce look upon him, (as they do) as one of the Greatest Monarches that ever ascended the Chinese Throne, if he were not as well Accomplished in this, as in other Matters.  
It is without question, for no other reason, than to conform himself to the predominant Genius of the Chinese Nation, that he applied himself with so much Assiduity to the Study of all the Learning and Sciences in vogue among the Chinese, that there are few Books of Note in that Language, but what he has taken the pains to peruse.  
He has got a great part of the Works of Confucius by heart; these being considered among the Chinese, as the Originals of all their Sacred Books, and reverenced as such. To attain to a more perfect understanding of all the most difficult Passages therein contained, he has caused certain Commentaries to be made upon them for his own Use, both in the Chinese and Tartarian Languages, by the most Able Doctors of the Empire; many of whom were employed for ten or twelve Years together, to bring this Work to perfection; and at the same time to explain the Text to the Emperor. The better to show his Veneration for this most ancient Doctrine of the Chinese, he did compose the Prefaces himself, which were put before each of these Commentaries, and published by his Authority.  
He likewise caused the Universal History of China, to be Translated into the Tartarian Language; and the first Translation not being so exact in all its parts as he desired, he ordered a second to be made, which as it was more perfect, so it was augmented with some additional Notes, for the better understanding of some difficult passages. He is so absolute a Master of the whole Body of this History, that, notwithstanding its vast extent, you can scarce mention any passage in it, but what occurs immediately to his Memory.  
Of this we had the opportunity to observe a most remarkable Instance about six years ago. The Emperor had ordered a certain Inscription to be made upon the Tomb of his Uncle on the Mothers-side, who had not long before lost his Life in a Battle sought in Tartary against the King of Eluth, who is one of the West-Tartarian Princes, and had with a considerable Force invaded the Frontiers of China.  
The Doctor who was pitched upon to compose it, and who was looked upon as one of the best of the Imperial College, had; by what mistake, I know not, made a comparison betwixt this Uncle of the Emperor and a Famous General among the Chinese, who in effect, had deservedly acquired the Reputation of a Brave and Great, General; but, who besides other ill Qualities, was stigmatised for want of Loyalty to his Prince: As for the rest, the whole was extremely well done, so it met with the general Approbation of all the Doctors, who were to revise it, and of the Precedent of the College himself, who being at the same time Precedent of the Tribunal of Rites, did present it to the Emperor, who always takes notice of any thing of Moment.  
But what had escaped the Sagacity of so many Learned Doctors, who are considered here as Oracles of all the Sciences known among the Chinese, and who by their Profession, aught to be particularly well versed in History, was at first sight discovered by the Emperor. For, this Prince, recalling to his Memory, beyond what all the rest had done, the Defects charged upon this General in the Chinese History, who had lived above two thousand years before; and being sensible that this Comparison would rather tend to the Dishonour of his Uncle, than to transmit his Great Name to posterity; after he had strictly examined all the Circumstances of the Matter, he resolved to punish this Oversight in the Doctor, who had been the Author of the Inscription, by Banishing him into the Province of Leaotong; and the Precedent, who had the Revising of it, with the Loss of his Place.  
The present Emperor is likewise well versed both in the Rhetoric and Poetry of the Chinese, being a nice Judge both of the Chinese and Tartarian Languages; both which he writes in with the greatest Exactness imaginable, and excels in Politeness of his Speech, the most refined of all his Courtiers. To be short, there is not any kind of Learning in China, but what he is a Great Master of. He is very Curious in his Library, which is composed of all the Valuable Books to be met with in the whole Empire; and many of approved Ability are employed, to search in all places after good Books, out of which the Emperor frequently chooses such, as he judges fit to have a place in his Library.  
Besides these, there are many others, whose constant Business it is, to Translate the best Chinese Books into the Tartarian Language; which is a great Addition to the last, and a vast Advantage especially to the Tartars of Mantchou, as well as to the Missionaries, they being not well versed in the Chinese Characters, by reason of their great variety, could otherwise not attain to the Knowledge of the Chinese Language, and consequently of their best Books, without applying themselves for several years to that Study, which by the Conveniency of these Translations, (easy to be understood in comparison of the Chinese Language) they apprehend without any great difficulty.  
The Arts and Sciences of the Chinese, are not the only Delight of this Prince; for as he judges with the greatest Nicety and Exactness of every thing he thinks worth his taking notice of; so there is not any Science in Europe, that ever came to his Knowledge, but he showed a great Inclination to be instructed in it. The first Occasion which had a more than ordinary Influence upon his Mind, happened (as he was pleased to tell us himself) upon a Difference arisen betwixt Yang quansien, the Famous Author of the last Persecution in China, and Father Ferdinand Verbiest, of the Society of jesus. The Dispute was concerning the Chinese Astronomy, which this Impostor maintained to be very perfect, and not to want any Reformation from the European Astronomers, tho' it was well known, that he understood neither. 'Tis true, he was made Precedent of the Mathematical Tribunal; but for his Advancement to this Dignity, he was not so much beholding to his Ability, as to his perversed Zeal for the ancient Rites of his Country and Religion, in opposition to those who endeavoured to spread the Christian Doctrine among the Chinese.  
Notwithstanding which, most of the Chief Mandarins of the Court, who were not well versed in Matters of this Nature, and prepossessed with a good Opinion of things in relation to their Native Country. Those also who were Members of the Mathematical Tribunal, jealous of their own Reputation; and looking upon it as a signal Affront to see themselves Corrected by Foreigners, did with all their Main and Might espouse Yang-quang sien's Quarrel. Some few Persons of Authority and Credit there were, who, without the least regard to their own Interest, frequently declared in all places wherever there was the least Opportunity, That the Calculations of the Ephemerideses made by the European Fathers Missionaries, were always conformable to the most exact Observations they could make; whereas on the contrary, the Calculations of the Chinese, founded upon the Principles of their Astronomy, proved always defective,  
The Emperor was then scarce seventeen years of Age; and there was at that time a grand Combination of all the Tribunals against the European Astronomy, who in a General Assembly, held for that purpose, resolved to request the Emperor to give a Decisive Sentence in Favour of the Chinese Astronomy. But he proceeded with more Caution in this Matter, than could be expected from his Age; For being resolved to take cognizance of the Matter himself, and to stop the Mouth of all the vain Pretenders to this Noble Science, he sent both to Father Verbiest and Yang-quang sien, who appearing in the Council to give an account of what was to be proposed to them, he asked them in public, whether they could by some Experriment or other make it appear to the Eye, which of these two Astronomers was the most exact in its Calculations? Yang-quang sien stood mute, but Father Verbiest offered to the Emperor. That if His Majesty would appoint a Stick to be given of what length he pleased, that he and Yang-quang sien would endeavour to determine exactly in what place the Shadow of it must fall the next day at Noon. The Emperor having approved of this Proposition, and fixed a certain Stick, Father Verbiest immediately went to work, and by his Calculation demonstrated in what place the Shadow must fall precisely at Noon the next day. Father Verbiest's Calculation having been fully proved by the Event, and Yang-quangsien not being able to calculate it, or to give any other Ocular demonstration of what was proposed to him, the Emperor declared in favour of the European Astronomy.  
Soon after he ordered several more demonstration to be made, which of these two Calculations was the most proper for the Ephemerideses and Observations of the Eclipses; and which His Majesty caused to be present, not only the Mandarins of the Tribunal of Rites, but also several of the Great Men of his Court, in whom he confided most, and from whom he expected to receive an exact Account of every thing that should be transacted in this Affair. Accordingly all these Observations having been found conformable in all respects to the European Calculations, the Emperor commanded that they should be received, and made use of in China, according to the Translation made by Father Adam Shall, into the Chinese Language, under the last Emperor's Reign, which accordingly was put in execution, and continues thus to this day.  
As this Trial of Skill in the Mathematics was the first Occasion that introduced the Father Missionaries into the Emperor's acquaintance; so from that time, he always showed a great inclination to be instructed in the Mathematical Sciences, which in effect, are in great Esteem among the Chinese. It is to be admired, that, being then of Age, which Princes and Great Personages seldom are seen to addict to Study, he did apply himself to it with so much Assiduity, that he made it his Chiefest Delight, sacrificing all his spare Hours to this Study.  
During the space of two Years, Father Verbiest instructed him in the Usefulness of the best of the Mathematical Instruments, and in what else was most Curious in Geometry, the Statique, and Astronomy; for which purpose he wrote several Treatises. It was also about the same time, that he took first to our Music, under the Tuition of Father Peyrera, who not only composed an entire Treatise of Music, but also caused several European Instruments to be made for the Emperor's use; upon some of which, he taught him to play some Tunes.  
The civil Commotions, which happened not long after, did somewhat interrupt, but not suppress his first Attempts of this kind. For, he employed some of his spare Hours, (notwithstanding his continual Fatigues and Business, the effects of these remarkable Revolutions which happened in China) to the repetition of these things he had learned before; and the Flames of these Intestine Broils, being happily extinguished by his Prudence; and all his Subjects, both of the Chinese and Tartarian Race, enjoying the Fruits of Peace and Tranquillity, by the Peace concluded about seven or eight years ago, with the Muscovites; it was then that this Prince began to give fresh demonstrations of his Desire to be instructed in the European Sciences.  
He did the Honour to us four jesuits, Missionaries then at Peking, to receive our Instructions, sometimes in the Chinese, sometimes in the Tartarian Language; but, as the Tartarian is not so difficult as the Chinese, the Emperor being informed, that Father Gerbillon and I, in about eight months' time, had made so much Advancement in it, as to be understood tolerably well; he was pleased to make use of us, to explain to him the Principles of these Sciences, in the Tartarian Language. The better to accomplish ourselves, he assigned us certain Masters for a Month together, who taught us every day in the Tribunal of the Great Masters of the Palace.  
Much about the same time, Father Anthony Thomas, did give him further Instructions concerning the Use of the best Mathematical Instruments, in the Chinese Language, and the practical Part of Geometry and Arithmetic, the principles of which he had formerly been taught by Father Verbiest. He would also have us explain him the Elements of Euclid in the Tartarian Language, being desirous to be well instructed in them, as looking upon them to be the Foundation, upon which to build the rest.  
That every thing might be done with as much Ease and Conveniency as could be wished for, he assigned us a certain large Apartment in the Palace belonging to the late Emperor, his Father is Lodgings; where, he himself used frequently to dine, and pass many Hours in the Day, before we were well in possession of it. Here we were furnished plentifully with every thing we stood in need of, and that in a most obliging manner in the World. For every Morning early, we were attended, and carried to the Palace, by his own Servants and Horses, and were in the same manner conducted back to our Lodgings every Night. Two Mandarins of his Household, well versed in both Languages, were appointed on purpose to Assist us in our Works, and as many Scribes as we pleased, to write every thing fair. There scarce passed a day, but we were called in to the Emperor, who heard our Lessons with a great deal of Attention, and oftentimes he would bestow whole Hours together in our Company, to hear and repeat our Explications; to make the Figures himself, and ask many Questions concerning what remained as yet doubtful; and when we had given our Resolutions, both by way, and Mouth, and in Writing, he would bestow much of his leisure Time, to make his Repetitions in private.  
He did not neglect at the same time to exercise himself frequently in the Calculations and Use of Mathematical Instruments, and in the reiterated Repetitions of the chiefest, Propositions of Euclid, the better to imprint into his Mind their Demonstration; and by this extraordinary Application, he made the Elements of Euclid familiar to himself in five or six Months, that it was impossible to show him any Mathematical Draught or Figure, having relation to any of the Propositions of Euclid, but that he immediately remembered both the Proposition and its Demonstration; having (as he was pleased to tell us himself; I read them over at least twelve times one after another. We did Translate all the most necessary Propositions of Euclid, and their Demonstrations into the Tartarian Language, for his use, as well as the choicest of Archimede's Propositions And with the same Readiness he would remember the Practic and use of the Compass of Proportion, of the best Mathematical Instruments of Geometry and Arithmetic.  
Such was his eager Desire to attain to the perfect Knowledge of these Things, that nothing was able to prevent or hinder his Resolution; neither the various Instances that occur in this Study, nor our want of Skill in the Language. For, if he with any demonstration which he did not well apprehend at first, either because it was more intricate than the rest, or because we wanted proper words to explain ourselves clearly in a foreign Language, he would readily ask sometimes one, sometimes another of us, and that at three or four several times, which way the same was to be understood; and if it happened sometimes that we had not the good fortune to give him a clear Idea of the matter at that time, he would not grudge to defer the further Explication of it, to another time, a convincing Instance of his most Admirable Patience and Attention. He was pleased to tell us one time upon this account, speaking of his own Person; that he never thought he could have too much patience in reference of these Matters, which absolutely required it; and, that from his very Infancy, he had always applied himself, to whatever he undertook, with a great deal of Attention and Constancy.  
After he was sufficiently instructed in the Elements of Geometry, he ordered us to compile a whole System of both the Theoric and Practic of Geometry, in the Tartarian Language, which we afterwards explained to him in the same manner as we had done with the Elements of Euclid. At the same time, Father Thomas made a Collection of all the Calculations of Geometry and Arithmaticks (in the Chinese Language) containing most of the Curious Problems extant, both in the European and Chinese Books, that treat of this matter.  
He was so much delighted in the pursuit of these Sciences, that besides betwixt two and three Hours, which were set aside every day on purpose to be spent in our Company, he bestowed most of his leisure time, both in the day and at night in his Studies. 'Tis to be observed, That this Prince, as he is a declared Enemy of a Lazy and Idle Life, so he never goes to Bed but very late, and rises early; from whence it came, that, tho' we were always very careful in being at Court early in the Morning, it happened frequently, that before we could get out of doors, he had already sent for us, either to Revise some of his Calculations, or perhaps a new Problem; For it is almost incredible, with what Assiduity he applies himself to investigate some new Problems, which have some reference to those that have been explained to him before; and how he did make it his chief Divertisement, to put in practice whatever he had learned of most Curious in Geometry, and to perfect himself in the Management of the most useful Mathematical Instruments.  
For which purpose, besides those that were formerly presented to his Father (which were carefully preserved by his Orders) he caused many more to be made, the management of all which he could learn to understand, even to the Nicest Point. These were committed to the Care of Father Peyrera, and Father Suarez, who being two Persons that spared no pains in Encouraging the Emperor's Zeal, did manage the whole to the entire Satisfaction of His Majesty.  
We on our side, were likewise not negligent in obliging the Emperor with what Mathematical Instruments we had in our Custody, proper for his Use, among which was a very fine and large Demycircle, fitted for Geometrical Operations, being a present of the Duke de Maine. This he did not only make frequent use of in the Gardens of his Palace, but likewise in his Progresses, when it was always carried upon the Back of one of the Mandarins of his Household, who notwithstanding its Weight, was not a little proud of the Honour in being entrusted with this precious Burden. By the help of this Instrument, he would frequently measure sometimes the height of a neighbouring Mountain, sometimes the distance of some remarkable place or other, and that in the presence of his whole Court, who were surprised to see that their Emperor managed this Instrument, and performed the Operations with the same dexterity and good success, as Father Gerbillon a jesuit, who always used to attend His Majesty in his Progresses.  
Immediately after our first arrival at Peking, we presented him with two excellent Machine's, in which one might observe the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon, with the different Aspects of the Planets, for every day in the Year, and for many Ages together. We stand indebted for the Invention of these two most Curious Machine's, to those of the Academy Royal. The Emperor having commanded us to show him the perfect Use of them, and how to apply them to the Chinese Calendar, ordered these two Machine's to be placed on each side of his Throne, in one of the Principal Apartments of his Palace, where I saw them standing but the day before my departure out of Peking; a most convincing Proof of the great Esteem the Emperor has for these as well as all other curious [and useful Mathematical Instruments.  
Ever since that time, he has shown a most particular Inclination and Esteem both for the French Mathematical Instruments, and other Works and Curious Contrivances; those we had the Honour to offer to His Majesty, having had the good Fortune to meet with his Approbation above all the rest.  
It was no wonder if the Esteem the Emperor had for the European Mathematical Instruments, soon influenced most of the Great Men at Court to tread in his footsteps; and if those who honour us with their good Will and Favours, do often engage us, to let some be brought over for them; being sensible that they cannot make their Court with better hopes of Success, than by making a Present of some Curious Mathematical Invention or other, to the Emperor, who not only receives very favourably, all what is offered him in this kind, but shows so much Eagerness for his being furnished with them from all Parts, that he has caused all the Meathematical Instruments, that were in the hands of the Governors of the Maritime Provinces, to be brought to Peking.  
To encourage this Noble Desire, we sent to our Brothers the Fathers, Fontenay le Comte and Visdelou, to desire them to furnish us with such Instruments as we judged most proper for the Emperor's use. These Fathers sent us several of the most Curious Mathematical Instruments, some Phosphorus', both solid and liquid, and other such like Rarities; which we having made a Present of to the Emperor, he received them with all the Marks of Joy, and a most particular Esteem. But these Fathers, being afterwards invited by the Emperor to his Court, they and their Presents met equally with the most obliging Receiption in the World. Among several other Mathematical Instruments they presented to His Majesty, there were several Levels with two Pendulums, to distinguish the Seconds, for Celestial Observations, which by reason of their great Exactness and Usefulness, being highly extolled by the Emperor, he assigned them convenient Places in his own Bedchamber; And the Prince, who is declared Successor of the Empire, and shows no less Inclination for these Curiosities than his Royal Father, being extremely taken with them, and discovering his Intention to us, I went strait ways to our House, and presented him with the only of the same kind, I had left, which he accepted of in a most extraordinary obliging manner.  
After we had completed our Explications both of the Practical and Speculative Geometry, in the same Method as we had made use of before, when we instructed the Emperor in the Elements of the Euclid, he showed so much Satisfaction in having attained to this Noble Science, that, to give the World some manifest Proofs of his Esteem for these Works we had composed, he ordered them to be Translated out of the Tartarian into the Chinese Language. He himself took the pains to prefix a Preface to each of them, and to have them Revised and printed in his own Palace, and to have them published throughout the whole Empire in both Languages, as a most evident Sign of his laudable intention, to introduce the European Sciences into China, and to render them familiar to all his Subjects; and having observed in his third Son, (who is a young Prince of about seventeen years of Age, and endowed with many NobleQualifications) a more than ordinary Genius for these Sciences, he taught him the Principles of Geometry in person.  
I do not question but there are not a few, who will look upon this so Extraordinary Inclinations and Assiduity towards these Sciences (which without all Contradiction, are not sufficiently to be praised in a private person) as rather unblamable than commendable in so Great a Prince, who bears the Weight of so vast an Empire as that, of China, upon his Shoulders; But, if we will take the pains to make due Reflections upon the due Character and present State of the Chinese Empire and Nation, who at all times have made Learning the Foundation-stone of their Government, and the knowledge of Sciences the Steps by which to ascend to the highest Dignities and Employments, we shall be forced to confess, That the emperor's Extraordinary passion for, and delight in these Sciences, aught to be considered as the Effects of a most refined piece of Policy of France, who has an absolute insight into the true Nature of the Art of Government.  
It is undeniable, that of late years, if you except Moral Philosophy, which is the principal Study that meets with Encouragement among the Modern Chineses. This Nation has neglected most of these Sciences, which rendered their Ancestors Famous to Posterity, and were questionless the Chief Cause of the flourishing Condition of their Empire. The present Emperor being inspired with a most glorious Ambition to restore the ancient Glory of this Empire, he judged nothing could be more conducing to attain this Great End, than if he could receive these most useful Arts and Sciences, which were once the Glory of this Nation, and, by his own Example, encourage his Subjects to follow his footsteps.  
The Emperor being thus instructed in all the parts of Geometry, applied his Thoughts to the Study of Philosophy; For which Reason, he commanded us to Compile a Body of Philosophy in the Tarvirian Language, and to follow the same Method we had observed in our Mathematical Treatises, which appeared to him the most easy and natural. The Success, wherewith it had pleased God hitherto to bless our Endeavours, increased our Wishes and Hopes of the same, if not better Success in this; and, as we were fully persuaded, that this might prove one day the most proper Means, and be consequently of the utmost Consequence to dispose the Hearts of the Chinese, especially those who have any relish of Learning, towards the receiving of the Gospel; we were not sparing in any thing which we thought might contribute towards the introducing a good Philosophy among them.  
For this purpose we consulted most of the Ancient and Modern Philosophies; but among all of them, found none more suitable for our Purpose, than the Ancient and Modern Philosophies of Mr. Duhamel, a Member of the Royal Academy, by reason of the Solidity, Purity, and good Connexion of the Doctrine contained in this Treatise; which, therefore we made our Guide to bring our Work to the desired Effect.  
But the Emperor being about the same time attacked by a most dangerous Distemper, it was the Advice of his whole Court, and especially of his Physicians, upon his Recovery, to desist for some time from his Studies, as being prejudicial to the re-establishment of his Health. This Prince, being for the abovementioned Reason obliged to be more remiss in his applications to these Sciences, we only showed him a short Logic, which we intended as an Introduction to our Phisolophical Work, of which we had given a Scheme in a large Preface. It was upon this score, that, in lieu of pursuing the same Method and Purpose we intended before; we saw ourselves under an indispensible Obligation to conform ourselves to the present Disposition and particular Inclinations of the Emperor; which, as we had observed, being of late, for the most part, bend upon the knowledge of the Structure of the Human Body, upon its various Operations and most surprising Motions, we, contrary to our former Design, applied ourselves to Treat of this, with the utmost Care and Application.  
But because the Chinese, for all their great Reputation of having for many years past, had the ablest Physicians, have at present but a very confused Knowledge in Anatomy; we were forced to extend this Treatise to a much larger Bulk, than we at first intended, and to give a true Idea, first of all the Parts of the Humane Body in general, and to treat of each afterwards in particular; and to represent the several Relations and Connexion's betwixt them, to give them a right Idea of the whole Occonomia Animalis. We did not neglect to insert in this Treatise all the most Curious and useful Discoveries of our Modern Anatomsts, especially those of Mr. Du Verney, and of some other Learned Members of the Royal Academy, who have distinguished themselves before others in this, as well as in all other kind of Learning.  
We showed the Emperor twelve of fourteen of these Propositions, with their proper Figures and Explications, just as he was returned out from one of his Progresses, he frequently makes into Tartary; he was so extremely pleased with them, that, to show how much he was delighted with them, he ordered his Chief Painter, who is a Great Master of his Art, to lay aside all other Things, and to make it his whole Business to draw these Figures with all the Exactness he could.  
Nevertheless, as this Work required more Application and Assiduity, than was consistent with the Emperor's Health, so our Labour was interrupteb for some time by the Emperor's Command, whose Curiosity inclining rather at that time to the investigating the Causes of some of the most noted Distempers, wherewith he had either been formerly, or was still afflicted; he ordered us to endeavour to inform him concerning the Causes of these Distempers, according to the Principles of our Modern European Physicians.  
God Almighty, who by his Providence had given us this favourable Opportunity, to touch more effectually the Heart of this Great Prince in favour of the Christian Religion and its Ministers, did also assist us in making a Considerable Progress in this Matter. For in two or three months' time, we writ 18 or 20 small Treatises, each Treating of a certain Distemper in particular, pursuant to the Method prescribed to us by the Emperor. They met with the good Fortune of being not only Approved, but also very pleasing to the Emperor, who extolled them in Public, and sent for us into his Presence, to be Witnesses ourselves of the Satisfaction he showed upon this Occasion. To give us an ample proof of his Acknowledgement, he pitched upon the most proper Recompense that could be bestowed upon Ministers of the Gospel, and at our most Earnest Request, he, by his public Edict granted the free Exercise of our Religion, and consequently freed its Professors from those dangers that had threatened them for many years last passed.  
In some of the first of these Treatises we had, upon the occasion of speaking of the internal Chemical Remedies, enlarged ourselves upon their Excellencies, in respect of this Particular, that besides their Qualities of Curing or giving Ease in many Distempers, they had this peculiar Prerogative before other Medicines, that they were not so nauseous, and taken in less quantity. The Emperor having conceived a particular Curiosity to see some Effects of it, was very desirous to see some Experiments made of this kind. We did all what in us lay to decline this province, in representing to him, that we having no experience in Matters of this Nature, durst not attempt a thing of such Moment; But this Prince, who by some small things of this Nature, he had seen us do before, judged that we might undertake this also with the same hopes of Success, would not admit of our excuses.  
To work therefore we went, taking for our Guide the Dispensatory of the Sieur Charas, Director of the Royal Laboratory; The Emperor assigned us a large Room within the Palace, where we set up a Laboratory. Here you might have seen several Sorts of Furnaces, with most Instruments and Utensils requisite for Chemical Operations; which pursuant to the Emperor's Orders, who is never sparing upon such like Occasions, were all of Silver. We were busy in preparing several Sorts of Conserves, Lymphs and Essences, for three Months together, and the Emperor would sometimes honour us with his Presence, and took such particular Satisfaction in those Preparations, that he ordered them to be preserved for his own Use.  
More than this, he caused many Golden and Silver Vessels to be made, in which he carried these Medicines in his Progresses, which he took a peculiar Fancy in, and would give them upon occasion to his Children, the Great Men of his Court, and others of his Attendance. It must truly be confessed of this Prince, that his Natural Inclinations are very Charitable; for no sooner does he hear of any of his Servants being ill, but he sends his Physicians to them, and liberally furnishes them with what is most precious among his Medicines. Of this we have had several times experience ourselves; as often as any of us happened to be afflicted with any Distemper.  
We had the good Fortune to see many Sick people, and among them, several of the Emperor's Household, to be relieved by these Medicines we had brought along with us out of Europe. The Emperor falling sick some time after; and having for some time made use of the Chinese Remedies, but with little Success, had recourse to ours, which produced the desired effect. His Physicians jealous of their Reputation, did all what in them lay to restore him to his Health, but to little purpose, all proving ineffectual, except the Quinquina, of which the two Fathers, De Fontenay and Visdelou, who arrived very fortunately at that time, had brought a good Quantity along with them. Heaven, which upon this as well as several other Occasions, was pleased to give us a particular Mark of its Mercy; being willing to make use of our Assistance as a Recompense to this Prince, for the Liberty granted to the Professors of the Christian Religion in the preceding Year; and as a further Engagement to extend his Bounty more and more towards the Preachers of the Gospel, to whom he stood indebted for the preservation of his Life, as he himself was pleased publicly to declare in the presence of most of the Grandees of his Court.  
There are very few who have tarried for any considerable time at Peking, but what know with how much Esteem and Affection Father Verbiest was received by this Emperor; but it is also undeniable, that he never gave him such particular proofs of his Esteem, as he did to us for several years past, whilst we had the Honour of being instrumental in promoting his Studies in the Mathematics.  
Those who are acquainted with the Chinese Court, where every thing is carried on with a singular Grandeur, are not ignorant, how rare a thing it is to see their Emperors enter into a familiar Conversation with their Subjects; and how difficult a thing it is, even for the Greatest Men in the Empire, and the Princes of the Royal Blood to approach his person, unless it be upon the Occasion of some public Festival, will perhaps be scarce able to believe, that we had so free an Admittance; especially considering that we were Religious persons, and Foreigners.  
The whole Court have been eye-witness (to their great Surprise) of the private Audiences and Conferences we had duly every day, no body being admitted to be present, but three or four Eunuches of the Emperor's Bedchamber; where the Chief Subject of our Discourse was concerning all manner of Sciences, the Manners and Customs, and what else was worth our Observation in the European, and some other States of the World. As there was not any Subject, wherewith we used to entertain this Prince with more particular Satisfaction, than the Glorious Actions of Lewis the Great, so I can testify it myself, That there was not any thing of this Nature, in which he took more delight to be informed in. At last, he gave us such ample Marks of his great Esteem, that he would absolutely command us to sit down near his side; an Honour never granted before to any Body living, unless to his own Children.  
But if he is lavishing in his Bounty towards us in private, he is not sparing of it in public, having given sufficient proofs to the World, of a particular Affection and Esteem. Every body knows in what manner Father Verbiest was honoured by him, both in his Life-time and after his Death. Very few are unacquainted in what Splendid manner Father Thomas was invited and received in China; and how the first five French jesuits Missionaries, were received with no less Honour at his Court. The Muscovites have been eye witnesses of Honours conferred upon the Fathers, Peyrera and Gerbillon, at the Treaty of Peace betwixt their Plenipotentiaries and those of China, about eight Years ago. It was the Entertainment of the whole Court of Peking at that time, when Father Grimaldi was sent by the present Emperor as his Envoy into Muscovy. I will leave it to others to testify, how honourable I was Treated by his Special Orders, by all the Governors of the Provinces, and others, and that frequently in the presence of the Missionaries of several other Nations, and of the English and Portugese Merchants; especially, at that time when I received his special Instructions to go into France; and how it acquired me so extraordinary a Reptitation throughout all the Eastern-parts, (even among the Enemies of our Nation) as is source to be credited.  
We indeed, as well as all the other Jesuits, which formerly were entrusted with any public Employments by the Emperor of China, made it our constant Business to insinuate both to the Prince and his Grandees, that we were not desirous of these Honours, which were not very agreeable to the Humility taught by the Gospel; but inspite of all our Excuses, it was the Emperor's Pleasure to heap upon us from time to time these public Marks of his Favour, looking upon them as the most proper Means to promote our Interest, both among the Great Men and common People; and to give the more Authority and Weight to the Profession and Doctrine of the Christian Religion.  
The same Curiosity which had led the Emperor towards the Improvement of our Sciences, did also induce him to be informed concerning the Chief Points of our Religion. The first knowledge of them he drew from divers Consultations he had with Father Verbiest, under pretext of Conferring with him about some of the most Valuable Sciences of Europe. He has also read several Treatises upon this Subject, which were presented to him by some of the Father's Missionaries. That which he delighted in most was an excellent Piece of the Famous jesuit, Father Ricei, which he kept by him above six Months. You may believe we did not let slip any Opportunity that offered, to speak to him concerning the true Principles of Christianity. He permits to the Jesuits Missionaries the free exercise of our Religion within the precinct of his own Palace; and he has been often heard to say, that, to judge of the Christian Religion according to its Principles and Progress it had made in China, he did not question, but that it would become the Established Religion there.  
He has laid aside already many of the most ancient Superstitions of the Chinese. As for instance, there is scarce any body in China, (unless he be a Christian) but what, if he is to undertake any thing of Moment, chooses a certain Day and Hour, to begin it in. There is a special Apartment belonging to the Tribunal of the Mathematics, where their whole Business is, to choose by many Superstitious ways, Places, Days, and Hours, for any thing of Moment that is to be taken in hand. It is no longer than in the Minority of this present Emperor, that three Mandarins of the Mathematical Tribunal, were condemned by the Regent's of the Empire, to lose their Heads, for no other Reason, than having been not careful enough in Observing the exact Hour, when the Emperor's Brother's Funeral was to have been begun; they looking upon this Neglect as ominous, if not Fatal to the whole Imperial Family.  
'Tis true, the Emperor has hitherto out of a Principle of Policy, not abolished this Tribunal; but he has more than once told us himself, that he makes not the least Reflection upon their Observations; and it is certain, that in all Matters relating to his own Person, he takes his Resolutions beforehand, which he afterwards sends to the Tribunal. Thus for instance; when he was going to Marry his eldest Son, the Mathematical Tribunal, unto whom it belongs (according to a most ancient Custom among the Chinese) to determine which of the several Persons proposed aught to be preferred before the rest, received his Instructions to choose the same Person the Emperor had pitched upon before, which was done accordingly. The same Method he makes use of when he intends to take a Progress; when he always sends his Orders to this Tribunal, what day he intends to set out, and their Resolutions are always agreeable to his prefixed Time.  
It is next to a Miracle, to see a Prince so Potent, so Absolute, whose Commands are a Law, and executed without delay, surrounded with such a number of Courtiers, addicted to their Pleasures and all manner of Luxury, so moderate in his person, and so great a Master of his passions, as this Monarch. He is naturally of a Colerick Disposition, notwithstanding which, it has been observed upon many Occasions, both in respect of public or private Affairs, that he so absolutely controls his Anger, as scarce ever to punish an ill Action immediately, but generally delays it to another time, sometimes for Weeks and Months; looking upon this as the most proper means to make punishment bear a due proportion to the Fault committed, and consequently to maintain a good Order in the State.  
Of this we observed a most memorable Instance about six years ago. The Emperor happening to fall dangerously ill in one of his progresses, which he made in the Mountainous parts of Tartary to Hunt, according to his Custom; he sent Post for his Son, who was declared his Successor. Some of the young Prince's Domestics, having conceived some hopes of seeing their young Master surmounted upon the Throne, had not only showed their Satisfaction in their Countenances, but also had let slip some Words, which having reached the Emperor's Ears, immediately after his first Recovery, he was extremely vexed at their Indiscretion; but considering that at this Juncture of time, it would turn to the no small prejudice of his Health, if he should give vent to his Anger; he mastered his passion, and delayed their punishment to a more seasonable Time. After he had pretty well recovered his former Strength, he asked his Physicians, whether without any Danger to his Health, he might discharge a little Choler, which had oppressed him for some time? And his Physicians having given their Consent, he ordered them to be sound Bastonaded, beginning with the Forster-Father of the Prince, who was then his Governor; and some of the Chief Eunuches of his Chamber, he banished to the utmost Confines of Tartary. But it ought to be observed here, that a good Bastonade or Whipping, is an extraordinary Punishment in China, and some other Eastern-Parts, which do not leave behind them any Slain of Infamy, as it is with us in Europe; nothing being more frequently to be seen, than, that the Emperor's Servants, after they have been thus Chastised, are put in their former Stations again, and are admitted again even into the Emperor's presence, who looks upon them never the worse for this Reason, if they make an Amends for their past Misdemeanour by their future Good behaviour.  
The present Emperor of China is no less Master of his other, than of this Passion, and especially of that which is so predominant in most Courts of the Asiatic Princes, and which at all times have been so far from being considered in China as a Vice, that it has rather been authorised by Custom. Within the Palace are entertained great Numbers of young Maids, chosen out of the Fairest of the whole Empire, to be at the Disposal of their Prince; And it is an ancient Custom among the Tartars, not to marry any of their Daughters, but, what has been first presented to the Emperor, who, without any further formality, may retain which he pleases of them, for his own use; which is, besides this, looked upon by their Kindred as a singular Honour done to their Family.  
It is to these most dangerous Customs, which have proved the ruin of so many Emperors; the Chineses may chiefly attribute these many Revolutions, which have happened in their Empire, their Princes being thereby enticed to abandon themselves altogether to Voluptuousness, and whilst they passed the greatest part of their time among their Concubines, leave the whole Management of public Affairs to their Eunuches and other Favourites.  
But the Emperor, who at this time sits upon the Chinese Throne, is so far from indulging himself in these Pleasures, that on the contrary, he avoids even the least Opportunities, and takes all the Precautions he can to render himself proof against all these Temptations.  
About some years ago in one of his Progresses into the Province of Nanking; they presented him, according to Custom, with seven of the Handsomest Maids of the whole Province; but he was so far from accepting of them, that he would not so much as look upon them. Some of his Courtiers, who had free access to his Person, having abused this Liberty, by endeavouring to entice him to Voluptuousness, they were never after looked upon with a good eye by this Prince, who found several ways to chastise them afterwards for their Misbehaviour, to make them sensible how little Satisfaction he took, and how much he stood upon his Guard against these Allurements, which serve only to debase a Generous Soul.  
To remove all opportunities of being drawn into the Snare of those pernicious Pleasures, he employs his Time in the more Noble exercises both of his Mind and Spirit; such as Travelling, Hunting, Fishing, Horseraces, Exercises of Arms, Reading of Books, and the Study of useful Sciences. It is for this Reason he delights so much in taking long Journeys, where the Women never follow the Court; and, besides that, he allots himself every Year, at least three Months for Hunting amongst the Mountainous parts of Tartary, where even Necessity itself, oblige the whole Court to abate much of these Pleasures they are wont to enjoy in China; he frequently takes a Progress of 15 or 20 days, to the Imperial Tombs of his Family, where he spends most of his time in Hunting.  
When he is at Peking, or at one of his two Country Seats near that City, he often spends the greatest part of the Day in Hunting. For this purpose, he has a very fine Park, about a League's distance from Peking, of a quadrangular Figure, surrounded with a very high Wall, containing about sixteen Leagues in Circumference, where great numbers of wild Beasts and Fowl are entertained for his constant Diversion. And as he takes particular Delight in Hunting the Tiger, so he constantly takes care to have some young ones bred up in a small Park behind his Palace, which serve him for his Diversion when they are grown up.  
For the same reason it is the Emperor, delights extremely in Fishing, and is well versed in every thing belonging to it. Sometimes you shall see him Fishing in the River of Peking, sometimes in the Ponds belongining to the Gardens of his Palace, and his Country Seats; sometimes he casts a Net, at other times he Fish's with the Angle; We have oftentimes received the honour of being presented with some of the Fish he catched with his own hands; which is looked upon among the Chinese, as a most particular mark of the Emperor's Favour.  
As for the Horseraces, tho' they are not so frequently practised, yet once or twice a year he keeps Public Horseraces for his whole Court. Every one of the Princes and Grandees do here produce their finest and Swiftest Runners in their Stables. The Emperor likewise puts in his own Horses, and sets a considerable Prize, to be carried by the Horse, that first comes to the end of the Race. The Tartars in general are great Admirers of the Races, and Ride sometimes Races of six or seven Leagues long, without taking breath, and with so much eagerness, that often Horse and Man drops by the way, notwithstanding which, there do not want others, who readily supply their places.  
The Horses commonly used among the Tartars, no more than those of the Chinese, don't come near our European Horses of any Value, either for shape, or Generosity and Spirit. But they have this Advantage before most of our Horses, that they are kept with much less Trouble and Charges; and yet will endure more Fatigues and run both longer and swifter.  
We have told you before that this Prince is very aderoit in managing the Bow and Firelock, as well as in other Bodily Exercises; and what wonder is it, if he takes particular delight, to instruct his Sons in the same exercises, of which he is so great a Master himself.  
He is no less careful in keeping his Troops in continual exercise; Four Months in the year are appointed on purpose for the exercising the Soldiers in all sorts of Military Actions; to wit, two Months in the Spring, and two in Autumn; but especially those quartered in and about the City of Peking, of which one fifth part is drawn out into Field, to do their exercises every day. Sometimes the Emperor takes a review of them altogether, sometimes some part of them in Person, where Prizes are allotted those who manage their Arms with most dexterity. When they Shoot at the Mark, every Foot or Horse Soldier, who Shoots with his Arrow within the Circle receives a Reward of three Shillings and sixpence.  
If but a private Centinal's place be vacant in the Emperor's Troops, there are many ready to offer their Service; whereas in Europe, our Officers cannot complete sometimes their Companies, but with a great deal of Trouble; the Emperor lays his strict Commands upon his Officers, always to pick out those they find most Accomplished in managing their Arms, and other Military exercises, there being none to be admitted without having undergone the Toil of it. But, when any place either of a Common Soldier, or Mandarin of his Guards, happens to be vacant, the Emperor takes effectual Care himself, that his Orders as to this point, may be put in execution with the greatest exactness imaginable. For, so often as a vacant place is to be supplied among the Troops of the Household, those who desire to be admitted into it, are brought into His Majesty's presence, who examines them concerning such Matters as belong to their several Stations, and always gives preferrence to those, whom he finds best Qualified.  
The present Emperor never neglects any thing which he judges may in the least contribute to the Preservation and Securi-of the State. He was no sooner instructed in what belong to the Casting of Cannons, as used in Europe, but he caused a great Quantity to be cast in Imitation of them; and many of his Subjects to be instructed in the Management of the Great Artillery, as well for Cannoneering as Bombarding of places. He ordered a prodigious Quantity of Brass Field-pieces to be made, which are portable upon a Horse or Mule; another Horse being allotted to each, for the Carriage and Ammunition belonging to it, all of his own Inventing.  
In a late Battle fought betwixt his Troops and those of the Tartarian King of Eluth, it had been observed, that the Enemy by their Fire-Arms, had done the greatest mischief to his Forces; that their continual Firing upon his Horse, had forced them back out of their Lines, and consequently had prevented them from putting the Enemies. Army to an entire Rout; ever since, the Emperor has taken care to have part of his Troops, but especially those of his Household, to be instructed as well in the Management of the Firelock, as of the Bow.  
What leisure time this Prince has, is altogether employed, either in the Improvement of his Mind, or useful exercise of his Body. For besides what is spent in Reading of the Chinese Books, and European Treatises concerning many Arts and Sciences, after he has been fully instructed in the use of the Mathematical Instruments, nothing is more frequent, for some years last passed, than to see him either at Peking, or at his Country Seats, nay even in his Progresses into Tartary, to take the greatest Pleasure in the World to make some Astronomical or Geometrical Observations, by the help of those Mathematical Instruments, which are carried after him, wherever he goes. Sometimes you would see him to take the height of the Sun at Noon; sometimes the Hour and Minute with an Astronomical Ring, to investigate the elevation of the Pole. At other times, you might find him measuring the height of some Tower or Mountain, or the Distance of some remarkable Places. Oftentimes he would employ himself in Calculating the length of the Shadow of a Stick at Noon of a certain day. As the Observations made by the Emperor, and those of Father Gerbillon, who commonly attended him in his Progresses, and made his Observations at the same time with the Emperor, did generally agree very exactly with one another; so the whole Court was overjoyed at it, and there was scarce any Prince, or Person of Quality, who were not desirous, to have at least their Children instructed in those Sciences, which they so much admired; but despaired of ever being able to attain to the Knowledge of them themselves.  
After Father Fontenay and Father Visdelou came to Peking, the Emperor had the Curiosity to be instructed by them concerning the use of the Pendulum, fitted for Celestial Observations, and of the Level, and some other Instruments, which these Fathers presented to the Emperor, immediately after their arrival. They were not sparing in their Labour, and after they had explained to him many Curious Propositions concerning several points of Astronomy; they having likewise mentioned to him two new Methods to find out the Eclipses, of the Invention of Mr. Cassini, and Mr. De-la-hire; he was so extremely taken with them, that he would needs be informed concerning these Methods, for which reason he ordered these Fathers to draw up the necessary Figures for their Explication.  
To give the most ample demonstration to the World that could be, how much he delighted in all these noble Exercises, he resolved to re-establish the most useful Arts and Sciences in his Empire. That which chiefly made him take this Resolution, was his frequent Conversation with the European Authors, and especially those of France, who have treated of these Matters; Add to this, that we never let slip the least opportunity that offered, for to enlarge ourselves in our Discourses upon the Subject of those several Famous Academies, erected ender his present Majesty's Reign in Paris, for the Encouragement of Arts and Sciences; and to what a degree of perfection the same were brought, under the protection of Lewis the Great, who by his Royal Munificence had drawn thither the most Eloquent Masters of all kinds.  
It was in Imitation of that same Model, we had given him of this Academy, the present Emperor of China laid the Foundation of an Academy of Painters, of Engravers, Carvers, and other Artists in Brass and Copper; for Clock-Works and Mathematical Instruments; assigning them certain Apartments about five Years ago within the precinct of his own Palace, give them all due Encouragement, and to create among them a kind of Emulation, he used to set them for Patterns those pieces which were made in Europe, and especially those made at Paris. And as he is an excellent Judge both of the Goodness and Beauty of all Sorts of Curious Workmanship, he has every day, if he is at Peking, or every other day, if at one of his Country Houses, at a certain hour brought to him the several pieces of these New Academnians. He takes a view and examines every thing with all Nicety imaginable; finds fault with what is defective, and gives due praise to those that deserve it; and retains for his own use what he finds as most exact and perfect. He also bestows some Public Marks of his Favour upon all those Artists, whom he finds industrious in improving their Natural Talon, and passionate for to bring their Pieces to the utmost degree of perfection; Some of whom he has elevated to the Dignity of Mandarins, and has caused them to be invested with those Ceremonies and Titles which are the ordinary Marks of these Honours, the Emperor was pleased to bestow upon them.  
The present Emperor of China, as absolute a Master as he is, both of his Subjects and Passions, would not be looked upon by the Chinese, as an accomplished Monarch, if besides his many other great Qualifications, he had not also a particular Respect and Tenderness for his Kindred. As the principal Duty in reference of those that are next of Kin, consists in that respect which is due from Children to their Parents, and in the tenderness of Parents to their Children; So this Prince has signalised himself in these two points, to the highest degree.  
As to what relates to the first of these two Duties, which is considered among the Chinese, as one of the most Essential parts of Morality; the present Emperor having been bereft of both of the Emperor his Father, and the Empress his Mother, in his very Infancy; the old Empress his Grandmother, which survived them for a considerable time, was always both in her life-time, and after her death, the true Object of his filial Respect; as the Prince was the most perfect Pattern of Dutyfulness, that ever was heard of before, even in China itself. She was the only person, that took care of his Education; and it is incredible, with what Submission he could receive her Instructions; how he never failed to attend her continually, and what Inquietudes might be observed in his very Countenance, when at any time he had notice given him, that she was never so little out of Order; upon which occasion, he has sometimes left off Hunting immediately, and Rid three or fourscore Miles Post, to give her a Visit.  
But those that have been Eye witness of what he did at the time of Her Death, will readily confess that nothing could pass his Tenderness towards his Grandmother. For he caused not only the whole Court, but the whole Empire to go into Mourning, for fifteen days together, that the Dead Body of the Empress lay in State, there was a general suspension of all public Affairs; All the Grandees and Mandarins, even to the most inconsiderable Officers were forced to attend Day and Night in the several Courts of the Palace, where, notwithstanding the Rigour of the Winter Season, they were to bewail the Loss of this Princess.  
He himself could not be persuaded to leave the Coffin, and would sometimes tarry in the same Apartment where She lay, whole Nights together without taking rest. He ordered a most magnificent Funeral to be Celebrated, which cost several Millions, to give the most evident proof of his respect to the deceased Princess, he followed the Corpse in Person with his whole Court, as far as to the Place of Burial, which was 25 Leagues distant from Peking.  
But it is to be observed, that it was near four Months after her Death, before the Celebration of these Funeral Rites; the Emperor having caused the Corpse to be deposited in the mean while in one of the Royal Palaces without the City, whither he followed it on foot, with all his Children, that were of a fit Age to walk.  
During these four Months, it laid in State there, the Emperor went constantly three or four times a Week, to pay his Duty to the Deceased, and to Deplore the Loss of this Incomparable Princess. Near the Sepulchre where her Body was Interred, he built a very Magnificent Palace, surrounded with a great many fair Lodgings, for the convenient Entertainment of a Considerable Number of Gentlemen, whose Business it was to do all imaginable Honour to the Memory of this Princess, by their Lamentations, and other Ceremonies used among the Chinese upon such like Occasions.  
For whole three years after, neither he nor his whole Court took any public Divertisements; such as Plays, Music, Feasting, etc. During which time, he took several Progresses every year to the Sepulchre, (notwithstanding its distance from Peking) where he spent his time in giving all the imaginable Demonstrations of his Respect towards the deceased Princess; and continues it since, after the expiration of these three years allotted for the Mourning.  
I have it from very good hands, that even to this day, when he happens to pass by the Apartment where the Empress died, he cannot forbear to shed Tears.  
As the present Emperor of China, has made himself the Admiration of the Chinese, by these unparallelled Examples of Piety and Filial Respect to his Illustrious Grandmother; so the Love he bears to his Children, and the Care he takes without intermission of their Education, have no less gained him the Hearts of all his Subjects.  
At the beginning of the year 1694, (when I left China) he had fourteen Sons, and a great many Daughters living, by several Wives, who for the most part are Dignified with the Title of Queen; it being sufficiently known, that Polygamy is more encouraged in China, than in any other part of the World, because the Chineses look upon a numerous Posterity, as the greatest Happiness in this World. We had the Honour of being acquainted with ten of the fourteen Sons, who were all very Handsome, and gave us great hopes of their future Creatness, the other four living, being as yet not past their Infancy.  
Those who have the Tuition of these young Princes, are chosen from among the most Learned Doctors of the Imperial College. Their Governors are persons of the first Rank, and of known Merit, who have been brought up at the Emperor's Court from their Infancy. Besides these, the Emperor himself keeps a watchful eye over all the Actions of these Princes, and takes particular Notice of what progress they make in their Studies; sometimes he peruses their Compositions, and makes them explain some Passages in their Books in his presence.  
But, above all, he makes it the Chief Care of his Life, to see them instructed in every thing tending to Virtue and the useful Exercises of the Body. No sooner are they able to walk upright, but they are taught to mount on Horseback, to use both the Bow and Fire-Arms; which Exercises are their daily Recreations and Divertisements. He will not allow them to be too tenderly used, but on the contrary orders them to be accustomed in their early Years to all sorts of Fatigues, and even the coursest sort of Meat. I cannot forbear on this Occasion to give you an Account of what I heard Father Gerbillon relate one day upon this Subject, about six years ago, after his return from a long Journey into Tartary, whither he had attended the present Emperor in one of his Progresses.  
The Emperor had at that time taken along with him only his Eldest Son, and two more, to wit, the Third and the Fourth; but after he had spent some days in Hunting, he sent likewise for four more of his Sons, the eldest of those being but Twelve, and the youngest Nine years of Age. All these young Princes were for a Month together every day on Horseback, a Hunting among the Mountains of Tartary, exposed to the Heat of the Sun, with their Bows in Hand, and Quivers at their Backs, which they managed with so much Dexterity, that their passed not a day, but each of them killed some wild Fowl or other; and the first time they went abroad a Hunting, the youngest killed two Stags with his Arrow.  
They were well versed in and spoke both the Tartarian and Chinese Languages; and had already made such progress in the Study of the Chinese Characters, that the youngest was come to the last Book of the Morals of Confucius, having gone through the three first Parts before. The Emperor will not suffer them to be encouraged in the least Fault they commit, their Education being much more strict, than what is commonly practised in Europe; for which Reason it is, that if those, to whose Tuition they are committed, should pretend to dissemble or hide any of their Faults, they are sure to meet with severe Punishment from the Emperor.  
It is an ancient Custom among the Chinese, to dignify the Emperor's Children with the Title of King, as soon as they are arrived to the Age of Sixteen or Seventeen, at which time they are provided with a Palace, their own Servants, and a proportionable Revenue to sustain their Grandeur; But, when I left China, the present Emperor kept as yet his eldest Son with him in his own Palace, without any particular Attendance, though he was then near three and twenty years of Age, was Married, and had several Children. The Emperor is extremely fond of him, and to give him his Due, he is a young Prince very Deserving; Handsome, Witty, and endowed with many other Noble Qualifications.  
The Tribunal of Princes, and of Officers of the Crown, did some years ago present a Petition to the Emperor, in favour of this Son, whom they desired to be Dignified with the Title of King. But the Emperor, without answering their Petition, kept him near him as before; and we have seen him duly every day go to that Apartment next adjoining to the emperor's, which is the School of the Princes, where they pass the greatest part of their Time in their Studies, and other useful exercises. His Majesty comes thither frequently to visit them, and examines them what progress they make.  
But above all the rest, the Education of his Second Son, who is declared Hoang-Tai-Tse, That is to say, Hereditary Prince, or Successor in the Empire, he being the Firstborn by the Empress his first Spouse; the Education, I say, of this Prince, seems to be the Chiefest Care of the present Emperor: There is a particular Tribunal appointed, whose Business it is, to instruct this Prince in every thing that belongs to the Accomplishment of so Great a Monarch, and to the Art of Government; The Emperor his Father, is extremely vigilant in every thing that concerns his Education, and takes an exact Account from time to time of all his Actions, being willing to qualify him in time for the Management of so vast an Empire. And it must be confessed that this Prince, who now is of about twenty three years of Age, is one of the Handsomest Persons in the whole Court of Peking, and that he is preferable to all others in respect of his many Noble Qualities; there being not one-among all his Domestics, but what speak of him with the greatest Reverence that can be, and are fully persuaded, that he will tread in his Father's Footsteps, and be one day, one of the most Glorious Monarches, that ever ascended the Chinese Throne  
But, that which obliges us to have a most particular Esteem for this Prince, is, that being by the Emperor his Father always inspired with favourable Sentiments in respect of the Christian Religion and the Missionaries, we have always observed in his Person an Affection for us, equal to that of the Emperor.  
It is about five year passed, when the Emperor having shown him the Observatory of Peking, and all the Mathematical Instruments there, he told the Prince, That the Empire of China stood indebted to Father Verbiest, for these many Curious and Magnificent Engines, making a large recital of the services done by this Father, and the other Missionaries, to the late Emperor his Father.  
The same day that I had my Audience of leave from the Emperor, this young Prince made me a Present of one of his own Suits of clothes, which is looked upon as a most particular Favour among the Chinese; and this Present was accompanied with Words, so obliging on his side, that I have all the reason in the World to have a high Esteem of so extraordinary a Person. It was, indeed, our opinion, that it was by the Emperor's means, I received this Favour from the Prince, he having sent twice to me a little before, to know, Whether Hoang-Tai-Tse made me any Present?  
Not long after, this young Prince made likewise a Present of one of his own Suits of clothes, to Father Gerbillon, with about fifty Pistols in it, accompanied with this obliging Message; That being sensible that the Missionaries did not look for any Recompense of this Nature, he had sent him this small Present, as a Token of his Affection, and of the Satisfaction he took in the Recovery of the Emperor his Father, who stood indebted for it, to the Care of Father Gerbillon.  
The same day that Father de Fontenay, and Father Visdelou came to Peking, the Emperor being indisposed, and keeping his Bed, could not immediately admit them to his Presence, as he would certainly have done, if he had been well; But Hoang-Tai-Tse, having received a very advantageous Character of them before, was very desirous to see them, and received them in a most obliging manner. This Prince, who is very well versed in all the Books and Sciences of the Chinese; having understood, that Father Visdelou had made a considerable progress in these Studies, was very desirous to be convinced of the Truth of it.  
For which purpose, having showed him divers of the most difficult Passages in some of their Ancient Books, which Father Visdelou explained with a great deal of exactness, he was overjoyed to see, that this Father was as well versed in the Chinese Books, as most of their own Doctors. But his satisfaction increased more and more, when having asked Father Visdelou, concerning the Conformity betwixt the Doctrine of Confucius, and the Ancient Chineses, and the Christian Religion; he received for Answer from this Father, That this Ancient Doctrine was so far from being contradictory to the Christian Religion, that there was a great uniformity betwixt both their Principles. This Prince being thereby brought to the knowledge of some of the Fundamental Points of the Christian Religion, seems to be convinced, as well as the Emperor his Father, That the Ancient Doctrine of the Chineses was founded upon the same Principles with the Christian Religion.  
I say, as well as the Emperor his Father; For, it is to be observed, that it is a considerable time ago, this Prince has been convinced of this Truth; of which he has given us very evident and Authentic Proofs upon several occasions. And it was, without question, this Consideration, that prevailed with him, to allow the free Exercise of the Christian Religion throughout his Dominions, in so Public and solemn a manner, which I am well satisfied, he would never have done, (he being a very Politic Prince) if he had had the least doubt that the Fundamental Maxims of the Christian Religion, which flow from the Law of Nature and are its perfection, were contradictory to those of the Ancient Chineses; which if considered in its genuine Purity, and according to the Principles Established by the Ancient Sages of China, free from those additional Corruptions inserted by their Modern Doctors, is altogether the same with the Law of Nature, The Emperor was fully convinced of this Truth by the reading of that excellent Treatise of Father Ricei which Treats expressly of this Matter; and being in so high an esteem among all the Learned Men of China, did, as we mentioned before, at last fall, into the Emperor's hands; which induced him to grant us the free exercise of our Holy Religion, which we would not as much as have hoped for, without the particular Assistance and Mercy of the Almighty.  
The Title belonging this Great Prince of being the Chief or Supreme Head of their Religion, and his exquisite Judgement, improved to the highest degree, by the long Study of so many Books, especially of them relating to those Ancient Chinese Religion, must needs be a great Weight to any unbyass'd Person.  
As to what relates to Hoang-Tai-Tse, I have it from unquestionable hands, That since my departure from Peking, he treads altogether in his Father's Footsteps, and gives our Missionaries frequent Proofs of his Esteem and Affection both for their Religion and Persons. Just as I was ready to Embark in the Port of Cantore, in order to my return into France, I received a Letter from Father Gerbillon, in which he assured me, That in one of the late Progresses of the Emperor into Tartary, in which he attended, as he was always used to do, the young Prince had heaped upon him all the Marks of a particular Esteem and Affection, that could be imagined. That so, being desirous to see some Tables for Calculations, composed by Father de Fontenay and Father Visdelou, for the Emperor, he had instructed him in the use of them; The Emperor had been so much taken with the usefulness of them, that he had been the first who had shown them to Hoang-Tai-Tse, who ever since carried them in a Case, fastened to his Girdle. That one day, this young Prince asked him concerning the God of Heaven; upon which occasion, Father Gerbillon, having made a short Harangue upon this Subject in his presence, he heard him with a great deal of Satisfaction and Attention; and at another time engaged him to explain him half a page out of the Holy Scripture.  
The Brothers of this Prince, but especially the eldest, who besides many other rare Qualities, has a most excellent Natural Genius, treat us at all times very favourably, as well as the two own Brothers of the Emperor, who in this point exceed all the other Princes of the Blood.  
This favourable Disposition of the Imperial Family, and most of the other Princes towards the Christian Religion, and those who publish it in the Capital City of Peking, has communicated itself to most of the Persons of the first Rank; and the Example of their Sovereign has made so deep an Impression upon the rest, even to the Mandarins and other Officers of the Court, that there are few who have not very favourable Sentiments of us.  
But what is the most surprising, and which has been looked upon almost like a Prodigy to all the World, is, that the two Chief Ministers of State, have given us such public and extraordinary Demonstrations of the Affection and Esteem they bore towards the Gospel. I mean the Lord Gosan, and the Lord Ming. The first of these two is the same Illustrious Person, who, for a considerable time has been the Chief Supporter of the Christian Religion and the Missionaries in China, and who signalised his Zeal of late in making use of all his Interest and Rhetoric to persuade, first the Emperor, and afterwards the Sovereign Court of Rites (the same Tribunal which for this Age last passed, has appeared so dreadful to the Preachers of the Gospel) to approve and conform themselves to the Emperor's Resolution of granting to us in most Solemn and Authentic manner, the free exercise of the Christian Religion.  
What relates to the Second, to wit, the Lord Ming, tho' it must be confessed, that hitherto, he has not had the same Opportunity to give us such public and Signal Proofs of his Zeal and Protection, as the other illustrious Lord: Nevertheless, we are entirely satisfied as to his favourable Disposition towards our Cause; knowing him to be ready upon all Occasions to do what Service he can, to promote the Advancement of our Religion, and to second the Zeal of our Missionaries; for which reason, we ought to consider him as a Main Pillar of the Christian Religion in China; and whose Affection does not in the least fall short of that of the Lord Gosan. If it were permitted me, to publish certain Particularitick relating to this Subject, which I am very well acquainted with, to my own Knowledge, I could relate such things as would give sufficient Cause for the whole Church to rejoice at.  
To put the last Hand, as I may say, the finishing Struck to the Portraiture of this Great Prince, I will make bold to say, That in so many Respects he resembles Your Majesty, that like You, he would be one of the most Accomplished Monarches that ever wore a Crown; if he could likewise attain to that Happiness to resemble You in one point more, which makes Your Illustrious Reign appear with greater Lustre in the Christian World, I mean in that point which relates to our Religion.  
To attain to this happiness, the present Emperor of China must embrace the Christian Faith, and profess it with the same Sincerity as You. It is next to an impossibility for us to dive into his Thoughts, as to this point, or to guests at what he keeps concealed in his Breast. But if it may be allowed us, to judge by these things we have been eye-witness of, by the knowledge he has of the Fundamental parts of our Religion, and the Esteem he shows, or at least seems to show for it; by the public protection he affords to the Missionaries, and the favourable Sentiments he has concerning them and our Religion, inspired into his Subjects, the Chiefest Men of his Court into the Princes, his Sons, nay even into him, who is declared his Successor in the Empire; We may, I think, without presumption conceive some hopes, that this Great Prince is not far from the Kingdom of Heaven.  
What else can be concluded from these many Favours, he heaps without intermission upon the Ministers of the Gospel? Some of the most Remarkable, I have had occasion to mention before. Since which, he has extended his Bounty further than ever before to our Missionaries. For he thought it not sufficient to allow them Lodgings within the precinct of his Royal Palace at Peking, but not long after my departure, generously assigned them a very spacious piece of Ground in the same place, for the Building of a most Magnificent Church, to be dedicated to the True God; and they are not without hopes that he will be the Founder of it himself.  
If this Prince had the Happiness to be actually become a Member of our holy Church, and had taken a firm Resolution to communicate the same to all his Subjects; it is scarce to be imagined, he could give us more evident proofs of his Satisfaction, than he has done of late, on the account of the happy progress of the Gospel in his Dominions, after the publication of his Edicts in favour of the Christian Religion; Let us see what the Hollanders themselves say upon this point, the following Relation being an Abstract of some Letters sent from Macao and Peking, towards the end of the Year 1695, which is inserted in their Historical Transactions, printed at the Hague: The Emperor of China, since the 
An. 1697 for the Month of Febr.  Publication of his Edict, whereby Freedom is granted to all his Subjects, to embrace the Christian Faith, takes so much Satisfaction to understand the good Success the Missionaries meet with in all Parts of the Empire, in Converting Great Numbers of the Chinese, that he has given Permission to two Italian jesuits, who were at his Court, to go, and Preach the Gospel in the most remote Provinces under his jurisdiction; the People having earnestly desired, that some Fathers might be sent thither, to show them the way to Heaven. And the favourable Disposition of this Great Monarch towards the Christian Religion, gives us all imaginable Hopes, to see the whole Empire of China receive the Christian Faith within the next Hundred Years.  
Besides which, they give us an Account of the Conversion of six or seven Persons of Great Quality and Authority among the Chinese; which, as they say, makes so great a Noise in the Court, that their daily Entertainment is there, concerning the Christian Religion. They add, That among the common People, the Number who are ready to receive Baptism, is so Great in some Parts of the Empire, that the Missionaries who are there, are not sufficient to Administer it to all that are desirous of it. That the Emperor is often heard to speak very favourably of our Religion; That he takes particular Delight in the Conversion of his Subjects, and speaks much in Commendation of the Zeal the Missionaries show in their Function. And that he has made more presssing Instances to four Jesuits, that are at his Court, to send without delay for more of their Fraternity, to aid and assist them in their Ministerial Function.  
I am sure this was one of the Principal Instructions I received from this Prince, at that time when I was ready to repass the Seas, as I have had the Honour to give an Account of it to Your Majesty. He desired then, that above all other things, such of the French Jesuits as were then in the East-Indies, might be forthwith sent into China; but especially Father Tachard, and Father le Comte. For, having understood that both of them were designed by Your Majesty, to go as Missionaries into China, as well as we, he was extremely desirous to have them at his Court. And it was a considerable time before, to wit; when he invited Father Fontenay and Father Visdelou thither, That he had given his express Commands, to induce Father le Comte (for whom he had a most particular Respect) to come to Peking with his Companions.  
But as Providence would have it, when I came to the Indies, I could not meet with any one Jesuit that was in a Condition to undertake so long a Voyage. I made therefore all possible dispatch to return into France; and, pursuant to the Instructions received from this Great Prince, to address myself to Your Majesty, to solicit for as many Missionaries to be sent into China, as could be had; but especially of the same Character with those that are already at his Court, with whom he is satisfied to the highest degree.  
For it is to be taken notice of, That the French Jesuits, such as are well Versed in all Sorts of useful Arts and Sciences, are the Persons of whom this Prince makes the greatest Account; he persisting in his Resolution, to make use of them, with those employed there already, to erect a kind of Academy within his Palace, subordinate to Your Royal Academy; of which he has conceived so high an Idea, since that Time we have shown to him, and Translated some of our Treatises into the Tartarian Language; That his Resolution is, that from thence, as the most excellent and pure Springhead, may be taken most of these Memoirs, which are to be the Subject Matter of those Works he intends to have Translated into the same Language, especially those who treat of our Arts and Sciences, which he intends to encourage with all his Might throughout all his Dominions.  
Great Advantage must needs accrue from this Project to the Christian Religion, when those who are to be employed upon this Subject, may be of great use in propagateing the Faith, by giving Assistance to the rest in their Ministerial Function; it being rationally to be supposed, that by divideing the several Subjects in hand betwixt them, according to their different Talents, they may bestow great part of their time in promoting the Doctrine of the Gospel, which ought always to be their Principal Aim. Besides which, they will have the opportunity of obliging the World every year with many Curious and exact Observations and Reflections concerning divers Matters; as likewise with the Translations of the best Chinese and Tartarian Treatises, which may not a little conduce towards the perfecting of some of our Arts and Sciences. In return of which, our Learned Men will not be backward in furnishing them with what new Discoveries are made here, for the Benefit of the Chinese, which, as we hope, may be made use of with good Success; to meet with the easier an Access among the Learned Men, the Great Men of the Court, the Princes and Empe our himself; and will furnish us with frequent opportunities to enlarge ourselves upon the Fundamentals of our Religion, which by degrees, through the Grace of God, may dispose them to the embracing of the Faith.  
For it has been sufficiently proved by the Experience of this last Age, That, since God has pleased to make the Missionaries Instrumental in introducing and planting the Christian Religion in China, of all other natural Means nothing has contributed so much to the accompllishment of this Great Work, than their knowledge of all useful Sciences, from whence we may rationally infer, that even to this day, he would have us have recourse to the same Methods, to root out Paganism in this Empire.  
It has been a general Observation, That the Chinese, whose Genius is much elevated above all other Pagan Nations, and who consequently are sooner brought to understand and follow the Dictates of right Reason, are commonly sooner prevailed upon than the rest, to be instructed in the fundamental Principles of the Christian Religion, and to yield to the Truth of the Gospel; provided matters be made perspicuous to them, and in a Method agreeable to their Genius by such persons, as have before deserved their Esteem, and acquired a great Authority among them, by their Ability and an exemplary Life; God Almighty, who upon these Occasions, is always very Bountiful in showing his Mercy, and regulating the inward Motions of hearts, having extended his Mercy in a peculiar manner to the Chinese, so, that by the affluence of his Spirit, many of the most Learned among them have acknowledged their Error in their mistaken Wisdom, and submitted with all Humility to the Doctrine of the Gospel.  
All this duly considered, who can reasonably doubt, but, that, when by God's singular Inspiration You resolved some Years ago, to send some French Jesuits into China, to be employed in the Conversion of the Infidels; it was by the same Motive that You gave them Your Instructions concerning the Improvement of Arts and Sciences? And that Providence having been pleased to second Your Great and Holy Intentions, has raised such a favourable Disposition in the Hearts of the Chinese, and of the Emperor of China himself towards these Missionaries, that this Prince has thought it convenient to Solicit Your Majesty, for a far greater Number of them.  
What is it we may not hope for from the happy Effects of Your Heroic Zeal, to which You put no Bounds, for the good of God's Cause? If we may presume to presage of the future by what is passed, especially in respect of what Your Majesty has been pleased to do of late Years in favour of the Missions into the Eastern Countries, into Ethopia and the Indies; only upon a bare Prospect of introducing our Religion among these Pagans; we may promise ourselves all the hopes for Success from those sent into China, which alone are more valuable than all the rest together, because they are likely to bring a greater Number of Infidels to the Church, than may be expected from all the other Parts of the World, provided there were a proportionable Number of Ministers to the Multitude of those who show a greater willingness to be instructed, sent into those parts.  
The present Emperor of China's Bounty in granting free Liberty to all his Subjects to embrace the Catholic Faith, is alone a sufficient Motive to induce us to live in hopes, that we may see that vast Empire of China, entirely reduced under the Obedience of Christ. But if this Great Prince should lead the way, and encourage his Subjects by his own Example, we have all the reason in the World to hope, that we may see this Great work accomplished under the Auspicious Reign of Your Majesty.  
It must be confessed, that without almost a miraculous Providence of God, it is not easy to hope for the Conversion of so Great and Potent a Prince, who is a Pagan. But let us consider on the other hand, the extraordinary Esteem he has always shown for, and the powerful Protection he affords to the Christian Religion; Let us, I say, consider that this Prince is free from all these Vices, which being contrary to the Rules of our Religion, proves frequently the Main stumbling-block to Pagan Princes to embrace the Faith of Christ; and that he has made all these Moral Virtues, which are so rarely to be met with in a Pagan Prince his constant practice; all these things considered together, we may not without great reason presume to hope, that the same God who has raised such favourable Inclinations towards our Religion in the Heart of this Prince, may be prevailed upon to extend his Boundless Mercy towards him, especially if the Faithful in their servant Prayers to him, do implore his Mercy in behalf of this Prince and his Subjects.  
I say, in behalf of this Prince and all his Subjects; For, as this Emperor is invested with an absolute Power over all his Subjects, as he is most Famous throughout all the Orient by reason of his extraordinary Genius, Wisdom, Learning and uncommon Probity; so, we have all the reason in the World to believe, that, if he should be prevailed upon to embrace the Christian Religion, his Examples would be sufficient to induce all his Subjects to tread in his footsteps, who, for their number, exceed all Nations in Europe. And it is not improbable, but that, considering the light Esteem those Nations bordering on China, have conceived of their extraordinary Wisdom, and how much they are inclined to follow their Maxims and Customs, this would be prevailing enough with many to be entirely reconciled to our holy Religion.  
The most fortunate Opportunity that could be wished for, the most advantageous for the Establishment of our Church, and the most Glorious to Your Majesty, who seems to be chosen by Heaven, the happy Instrument of advancing the honour of the Church, to Crown all the Actions of Lewis the Great with this, the most Glorious of all Your Erterprises. Nothing less can be imagined to be a Recompense bearing the least proportion to that Heroic Zeal and Magnanimity, of which Your Majesty has given such ample Demonstrations to all the World within these ten Years last passed, during which, after You had protected the Church, both by the force of Your Arms, and Your unparallelled Conduct, against the Joynt-power of Europe, You were, notwithstanding all the Advantages on Your side, nevertheless disposed to offer Peace to Your Enemies upon very advantageous Terms on their side, out of a Generous Motive for the Public Good; and the universal Benefit of the Church.  
Among those Vows and Prayers, which we send without intermission up to Heaven, for the Conversion of the present Emperor of China and all his Subjects, we are never forgetful to offer our hearty Thanks to God, for the Conclusion of the last Peace, which in all probability will prove more advantageous to China than Europe itself. For by the re-establishing a free Commerce, our Ships will not want Opportunity to carry every Year some new Missionaries to the utmost Parts of the East; so that we may reasonably expect to be Rejoiced with the most agreeable News of the Conversion of many Thousand Chinese, by the Assistance of these Fathers, who are to be sent thither under Your Majesty's Protection, to labour for the Increase of the Empire of JESUS CHRIST.  
I live in hopes to hear suddenly, that some more of our Fraternity are to be sent by Your Majesty, with the first Ships designed for China, where, I am sure, they will be at least as well received, as any other Nation. And I hope from Your Majesty's Goodness, that I may be thought Worthy to be one of their Company, to return with all possible speed into that Part of the World, where the Sun has its Rise. It shall be my Chief aim, there to second Your extraordinary Zeal in propagating the Christian Religion among the Infidels, in the most remote Parts of the World; And, as a particular Acknowledgement of these Favours You have been pleased to heap upon me, I shall not neglect the least Opportunity of publishing, wherever I come, Your Great Actions; but especially to give an exact Account of what I have seen, during my stay here, to the present Emperor of China, who, of all other Princes, takes the greatest Satisfaction in hearing of Your Glorious Erterprises, and is the most worthy of Your Esteem and Friendship.  
To conclude, I will join my hearty Prayers, with all the Faithful Chineses, who look upon Your Majesty as their Chief Supporter, for the Preservation of Your Royal Person and Family, as an unfeigned Testimony of the most profound Respect and Devotion, wherewith I presume to subscribe myself,  
Your Majesty's Most humble, most obedient, and Most faithful Servant, J. BOUVET, of the Society of JESUS.  
FINIS.