INTRODUCTION.

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the relief of the poor and sick of your own sex, think not I willpass over in silence your distinguished virtues ! It may, perhaps,be asked, why you, who are associated with the hospitallers, whohave regarded them as your superiors, and have always accompaniedthem, have never, equally with themselves, had historians to pub-lish those heroic and charitable deeds which, in whatsoever coun-tries you have been dispersed, have so deservedly obtained theadmiration of the rich and the blessings of the poor ? The reason,alas ! is clear; since the peaceful and secret virtues of religionand charity offer nothing interesting to a corrupted world, whichdemands brilliant acts of valour to arrest its attention—acts buttoo frequently stained with blood, which your tender hands havestanched in silence. Your glory, like that of the God whoseexample you follow, is not of this world. If, indeed, it subsistsany where in all its purity, it must be in the breasts of those whopractise the same virtues ; of those who owe their existence to yourcharitable care, and who, like you, look up to the joys of anotherlife, to console them for the transitory troubles of this.

Let the curious reader now proceed to examine the origin ofhospitals, and he will evidently perceive, that the admirable institu-tions, founded by the true spirit of charity for the relief of sufferinghumanity, where the poor found an asylum, and the sick were