120 narrative of the right revd. le fevre. 
64 fairs: I know nothing else, and am not acquainted with worldly af- 
44 fairs,—surely if you had known me better you would not have had 
such strange thoughts about me.” This reason appeared to satisfy 
them, and they said one to onother: 44 He has come to teach reli¬ 
gion.” They ordered we to he loosened and seated at a respectable 
ditance, while they continued putting many questions, but less im- 
, portant and urgent. I cannot remember them all: true they are al¬ 
most similar to those mentioned above;—fatigued by so many ques¬ 
tions, I felt quite ’weak and begged leave to withdraw. Then the 
Mandarins went to take my answers to the king who was, it appears, 
satisfied with them. I have never been ill treated since. 
In the fear lest a European vessel should soon come to ask my 
release and that of the men of my boat, the King ordered that my 
cause should be terminated within fifteen days: otherw ise it would 
have lasted at least three months. After having heard and examined 
superficially iny depositions, they hastened to pass the sentence. It 
was excessively severe, and yet in accordance with the laws of the 
Country. We were all to have our heads cut off without any delay. 
The King confirmed it only with regard to the pilot: hut as to me 
and the crew we were reprieved until further orders, that is we 
were not to he put to death. According to the sentence issued by the 
Mandarins, all that belonged or was thought to belong to me, was to 
he confiscated for Jthfc Royal Treasury, but the King dared not admit 
such a clause. He knew well that he would be, on some future day, 
obliged to return every thing willingly or by force: he then ordered 
that all my property should be carefully kept, and that ten dollars 
should be given -me monthly, out of my own money, for my food and 
other expences: which was duly executed until my departure * for 
Singapore. 
We owe this caution and royal clemency to the Captains of the 
French Navy, who have come to Touron to claim the Missionaries 
who had been incarcerated, and especially to Admiral Ceeille, by 
whom they were sent, 
DOMINIQUE LEFEVRE, 
Ev, d y Isauropolis Vic. Apos. dc la Cock. Occident. 
