ence it is, that the missioners, who
are sent to the Indies, should be proper for the end proposed; and it is
convenient, on that account, that you come to Portugal and Rome: for not
only many more will be desirous of going on those missions, but you will
make a better choice of missioners, and will see more clearly to what
parts such and such are proper to be sent. You judge yourself of what
consideration it is, not to be mistaken in these affairs; and whatsoever
relation you can send us, your letters are not sufficient to give us a
true notion of what labourers are fitting for the Indies. It is necessary
that you, or some one as intelligent as you, should know and practise
those who are designed for those countries. Besides what it will be in
your power to do for the common benefit of the East, you will warm the
zeal of the king of Portugal, in relation to Ethiopia, which has been
under consideration for so many years, but nothing yet performed. You
will also be of no little use to the affairs of Congo and Brasil, on
which you can have no influence in India, for want of commerce betwixt
them and you. But if you think your presence may be necessary, for the
government of those of the Society who are in the Indies, you may govern
them more easily from Portugal, than you can from China or Japan. For
what remains, I remit you to the Father, Master Polanque, and recommend
myself most cordially to your good prayers, beseeching the Divine
Goodness to multiply his favours on you; to the end, that we may
understand his most holy will, and that we may perfectly perform it."

Father Polanque, who was secretary to Father Ignatius, and confident to
all his purposes, has given testimony, that the intention of the holy
founder was to make Xavier general of the Society. The letter of Ignatius
found Xavier dead. But we may judge of what he would have done, by what
he writ before his death to Ignatius himself, who had testified so
earnest a desire to see him: "Your holy charity," says he in his letter,
"tells me, that you have an earnest desire to see me once again in this
present life: God, who looks into the bottom of my heart, can tell how
sensibly that mark of your tenderness has touched me. Truly, whenever
that expression of yours returns to my remembrance, and it frequently
returns, the tears come dropping from my eyes, and I cannot restrain
them; while I revolve that happy thought, that once, yet once again it
may be given me to