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Rh government, and rendered their attempts unsuccessful. A second embassy was dispatched to China, A.D. 1552, accompanied by Francis Xavier, who ardently desired the gaining of so vast an empire to the Christian religion; and reckoned that he had done nothing, in converting the nations of India, while China was still unattempted. On his arrival at the mouth of the Canton river, he was told, that strangers were debarred from entering the country; and, that if he attempted to land, he would be imprisoned, or put to death. Persisting in his resolution, he induced a Chinese to convey him on shore, during the night, at the island of Sancian, or St. John. He was not permitted, however, to do more than just to land, and die on the shore; where his tomb still remains, with the following inscription in Chinese: "The monument of St. Francis Xavier, of the Society of Jesus, in the great west, who ascended to glory, in the winter of the thirty-first year of Ming Kea-tsing, A.D. 1553."

The zeal of Xavier animated his brethren, but for thirty years they could make no impression on China. During this period, Valignani resided at Macao, and cast many a longing look towards the celestial empire, crying out in the fervency of his desire, "Oh rock! rock ! when wilt thou open?" Not discouraged by difficulties, he looked out for the fittest instruments; who, dead to themselves, and breathing nothing but resignation and martyrdom, should by their skill in the sciences be able to recommend themselves to the Chinese. In 1579, M. Rogier, an Italian Jesuit, arrived in China, where he was soon joined by Matthew Ricci. These devoted themselves to the study of the Chinese language, and made some proficiency in it.