 In 1853 the Taiping rebels took possession of Nanjing, then of Shanghai, but abandoned the latter in 1854.Bishop de Besi left for Rome in 1847, leaving the government of the mission to his coadjutor, Bishop Maresca.In 1849 the latter was named administrator of the Diocese of Nanjing, but returned to Europe, owing to ill health, on 8 April 1855.