The author has endeavoured to catch but some scattered features of her saintly countenance, to collect some rays of this charity, so great in its modesty, so glowing in its obscurity. And in order that, despite the imperfections of the work, the portrait might be like and the echo faithful, he implicitly adheres to accuracy and candour in his narrative. The expressions which he repeats, he has from those who have heard them; the facts which he details have been related by persons actually concerned, or who witnessed them; and his personal appreciations are produced by a long and respectful friendship, which he adduces as the surety and the protection of his undertaking.