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236 was secretly desirous of aiding the foreigners, though he wished to throw the responsibility on his ministers. In order, however, to bring the tribunals to terms, Kang-he addressed to them a message, enumerating the merits of the missionaries, in arranging the calendar, casting cannon, and negotiating treaties; stating his confidence in the goodness of their religion, and concluding with his wish, that all who felt inclined to embrace the Christian faith, might do so, without hindrance.

The result of this message was a reply favourable to Christianity, which the emperor immediately confirmed, A. D. 1692. In consequence of this, a fresh accession of missionaries soon flocked to China; and Louis XIV. appointed the sum of 9,200 livres, as a pension to twenty missionaries to China and the east; which was continued by his successor, Louis XV.

A new occasion soon presented itself for the missionaries to ingratiate themselves still further with the emperor. His majesty was seized with a fever, which threatened his life. Remedies were sought from all quarters; which proving ineflfectual, the missionaries tried the celebrated Jesuits' bark, and the emperor recovered. Grateful for the benefit, he gave them a house within the precincts of the palace, ground whereon to build a church, and contributions in money, and materials, towards the completion of the building. Notwithstanding some remonstrances from the public censorate, against the magnificence of this edifice, it was opened in 1702.

The prospects of the mission were now favourable, and success appeared near, had not the work been interrupted by the disputes which broke out among the labourers. In order to understand these