Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume II.djvu/374

360 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. regent an admonition, in which, after having made known to him the alarming signs which were appearing in the heavens and on the earth, he said that, to restore peace to the people, the unfortunate project of founding this great city must be resigned, for that the execution of it would he the overthrow of the empire.

The works had been for some days carried on with activity, and the future magistrates of the city were assembled at the palace of Ama-Wang, when the admonitory letter of Father Schall was delivered. The regent began to read rapidly and aloud this courageous remonstrance; but overcome by anger he was unable to finish it. "Why," said he, "has Tang-Jo-Wang the audacity to speak to me in this way?" "The European," answered one of the ministers present, "has not exceeded the limits of his authority or the duties of his office; if you think that he has gone too far, if you blame him, he will henceforward keep silence, and the empire will lose the benefit of his advice." Ama-Wang became calm and began to reflect seriously. The next day he sent for Father Schall, and told him he had done his duty as a worthy President of Celestial Literature, by sending this warning full of prudence and wisdom. The plan was abandoned, and orders were given for the works to cease and the labourers to be sent back to their families. This event made a salutary impression on the minds of both Tartars and Chinese, and reflected great honour on the Christian religion and its ministers.

On the same day when the proclamation appeared announcing that Ama-Wang had abandoned his project, there were still, in the prisons of Pekin, more than 700 unhappy creatures, who had been torn from their labours and their industry to be sent to the new city;