M. Perboyre, the subject of this memoir, was born in 1802, and completed his glorious career, by martyrdom, on the Chinese Mission, in 1840, in the 38th year of his age. Until he was thirty-two, his life presented not salient features to attract the attention of the external world. It was a life of prayer and patient usefulness, with nothing extraordinary about it, except-and what an exception! -that, according to their continuous testimony, those who knew him best were unable to discover in him 'the least shadow of an imperfection'. Owing to his weak health, his superiors had long persuaded themselves that whilts M. Perboyre was admirably fitted for the work of forming subjects for the Apostolic ministry, it was quite impossible that he should ever take an active part in it himself. However, in 1835, yielding, they could hardly explain why, to his intense desire, they allowed him to depart for the Chinese Mission.