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CHAP. IX.
Legend respecting the Origin of the Mantchoo Tartars.—Father Schall and the King of the Coreans.—Rash Enterprise of the Regent of the Empire.—Ama-Wang listens to the Advice of Father Schall.—Influence of that celebrated Missionary.—The Claimants of the ancient Dynasty.—Their Friendliness to Christianity.—Dissensions among the Chinese Claimants.—They are Destroyed by Ama-Wang.—Death of that illustrious Tartar.—Majority of the young Emperor.—Application of Father Schall.—His Advice to the Emperor.—Intimacy between Father Schall and the Emperor.—Chun-Tché loves and favours Christianity.—Progress of the Missionaries.—Construction of a beautiful Churcii at Pekin.—Zeal of the Christians.—Religious Associations.—Titles conferred by the Emperor on Father Schall and his Ancestors.—Sickness of Chun-Tché.—Exhortations of Father Schall.—Death of the Emperor.—His Funeral.
The new Chinese empire soon became firmly organised by the energy, and, we may also say, by the capacity of the Mantchoo Tartar race.
These men, who until that time had thought of nothing but keeping flocks and herds, and hunting and fishing, in their vast forests and broad rivers, were found better calculated than had been imagined to become good governors of provinces and wise rulers; and their firm belief in their future high destiny contributed much to enhance and confirm their success. They were persuaded that their nation, having miraculously descended from heaven, was destined to accomplish great things on earth.
